AbdurRahman.org [Allah's Names and Attributes in the Qur'an ]

Allah's Names and Attributes in the Qur'an

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/

Author: Shaik. Ibn Taymiyah

Chapter One

The following is included in this idea of how Allah describes Himself in Surat al-Ikhlas, (chapter 112) which equals a third of the Qur'an11, where He says:

"Say He is Allah The One, Allah The Eternal. He never begot, nor was begotten. There is none comparable to Him."

And He described Himself in the greatest Ayah (verse) in His Book (i.e., Ayat al-Kursi):

"Allah, there is no god save Him, The Living, The Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtake Him. Unto Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. Who is he who intercedes with Him except by His permission? He knows that which is before them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His Knowledge except what He wills. His seat (kursi) contains the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is The Sublime, The Great." (al-Baqarah 2/255)

Therefore, Allah protects whoever reads this Ayah at night and no devil can get close to him until morning. Allah has also said:

"Depend on The Living One, He Who will never die." (al-Furqan 25/58).

And He, the Glorified, has said:

"He is The First (al-Awwal) and The Last (al-Akhir), The Outward (as-Zahir) and The Inward (al-Batin)12; He is The Knower of All Things." (al-Hadid 57/3)

Knowledge:

"He knows that which goes down into the earth and that which comes out from it, and that which descends from the heavens and that which ascends into it. He is The Merciful, The Forgiving." (Saba' 34/2)

"With Him are the keys of the unknown (mafatih al-ghaib), none but He knows them. He knows what is in the land and the sea; not a leaf falls but He knows it; not a grain amid the darkness of the earth, naught of wet or dry but (it is recorded) in a clear record." (al-An'am 6/59)

"No female conceives or gives birth except with His Knowledge." (Fatir 35/11)

And He has said:

"That you may know that Allah is able to do all things, and that Allah knows all things." (at-Talaq 65/12)

Might:

And He has said:

"Indeed, Allah is the One Who gives livelihood, The Lord of Unbreakable Might." (adh-Dhariyaat 51/58)

Hearing, Seeing:

And He has said:

"Nothing is like Him; and He is The Hearer, The Seer." (ash-Shura 42/11)

And He has said:

"Lo! Comely is this which Allah admonishes you to be. Lo! Allah is ever Hearer, Seer." (an-Nissa' 4/58)

Will:

And He has said:

"If only, when you entered your garden, you had said: That which Allah wills is; There is no strength save in Allah." (al-Kahf 18/39)

And He has said:

"If Allah had so willed it, those who followed after them would not have fought one with the other after clear proofs had come unto them. But they differed, some of them believing and some disbelieving. And if Allah had so willed it, they would not have fought one with the other; But Allah does what He wills." (al-Baqarah 2/253)

And He has said:

"The beast of cattle is made lawful unto you [for food], except that which is announced unto you [herein], hunting being unlawful when you are on pilgrimage; Indeed, Allah ordains that which He wills." (al-Ma'idah 5/1)

And He has said:

"Of whomsoever it is Allah's will to guide, his heart He expands into Islam; And of whomsoever it is His will to send astray, his heart He made closed and narrow as if he were engaged in sheer ascent." (al-An'am 6/125)

Love:

"And do good; Indeed, Allah loves those who do good." (al-Baqarah 2/195)

And He has said:

"Act equitably; Indeed, Allah loves the equitable." (al-Hujurat 49/9)

And He has said:

"So long as they are true to you, be true to them; Indeed, Allah loves those who keep their duty." (at-Tawbah 9/7)

And He has said:

"Truly, Allah loves those who repent, and loves those who care for cleanliness." (al-Baqarah 2/222)

And He has said:

"Say, [O Muhammad, to mankind]: If you love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you." (Al'Imran 3/31)

And He has said:

"Allah will redeem a people whom He loves, and who love Him." (al-Ma'idah 5/54)

And He has said:

"Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in ranks for His cause, as if they were a solid structure." (as-Saff 61/4)

And He has said:

"He is The Forgiving, The Loving." (al-Buruj 85/14)

Mercy:

And His saying:

"In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful."

"Our Lord! You comprehended all things in mercy and Knowledge." (al-Mu'min 40/7)

And He has said:

"He is Merciful to the believers." (al-Ahzab 33/43)

And He has said:

"My Mercy has embraced all things." (al-A'raf 7/156)

And He has said:

"Your Lord has prescribed for Himself Mercy." (al-An'am 6/54)

And He has said:

"He is The Forgiving, The Merciful." (Yunus 10/107)

And He has said:

"Allah is better [than any one] at guarding, and He is The Most Merciful of those who show mercy." (Yusuf 12/64)

Pleasure and Anger:

"Allah takes pleasure in them and they in Him." (al-Ma'idah 5/119)

And He has said:

"Whoever slays a believer intentionally, his reward is Hell for ever. Allah's wrath is against him and He has cursed him." (an-Nissa' 4/93)

And He has said:

"That will come to be because they followed that which angered Allah, and shunned that which pleases Him." (Muhammad 47/28)

And He has said:

"When they angered Us, We punished them." (az-Zakhruf 43/55)

And He has said:

"But Allah was adverse to their being sent forth and held them back." (at-Tawbah 9/46)

And He has said:

"It is most hateful in the Sight of Allah that you say that which you do not." (as-Saff 61/3)

Coming:

"Will they wait until Allah comes to them in canopies of clouds, with the angels? Then the case will have been already judged." (al-Baqarah 2/210)

And He has said:

"Are they waiting to see if the angels come to them? Or your Lord [Himself]? Or some of the Signs of your Lord? That Day Signs of your Lord will come." (al-An'am 6/158)

And He has said:

"Nay! When the earth is pounded to powder, then your Lord will come and the angels will come rank upon rank." (al-Fajr 89/21-22)

And He has said:

"A day will come when the heaven and the clouds will be rent asunder and the angels will be sent down in a grand descent." (al-Furqan 25/25)

Face and Hand:

"Only the Face of your Lord of Might and Glory will remain." (ar-Rahman 55/27)

And He has said:

"Everything will perish save His Face." (al-Qasas 28/88)

And He has said:

"What kept you (Iblis) from falling prostrate before that which I have created with My Hands." (Sad 38/75)

And He has said:

"The Jews said: Allah's Hand is tied.' May their hands be tied and may they be accursed for the [blasphemy] they utter. Rather, both His Hands are widely outstretched; He gives and spends as He pleases." (al-Ma'idah 5/64)

Eyes:

"Wait patiently for the Command of your Lord, [O Muhammad], for verily you are in Our Eyes." (at-Tur 52/48)

And He has said:

"We carried him [Nuh] on an [ark] made of planks and nails; It floats under Our Eyes, as a reward for him who was rejected." (al-Qamar 54/13-14)

"I have maintained you [Musa] with My Love that you might be reared under My Eye." (Ta Ha 20/39)

Hearing:

"Allah has indeed heard her who argued with you [O Muhammad] concerning her husband, and who complained unto Allah; Allah hears the argument between both of you; Indeed, Allah is Hearer,Seer." (al-Mujadalah 58/1)

And He has said:

"Verily, Allah heard the saying of those [the Jews] who said: Allah is poor and we are rich." (Al'Imran 3/181)

And He has said:

"Do they think that We do not hear their secrets and their private counsels? Indeed [We do], and Our Messengers are by them to record all." (az-Zakhruf 43/80)

Seeing and Hearing:

"Indeed, I will be with you [Musa and Harun], Hearing and Seeing." (Ta Ha 20/46)

And He has said:

"Is he then unaware that Allah sees?" (al-'Alaq 96/14)

And He has said:

"Who Sees you when you stand up [to pray]? And [sees] your movements among those who fall prostrate [in worship]? Indeed, He, and only He, is The Hearer, The Knower." (ash-Shu'ara' 26/218-220)

And He has said:

"Say [unto them]: Act! Allah will see your actions, and [so will] His Messenger and the Believers." (at-Tawbah 9/105)

Power of Planning: He has said:

"He is, in His Power, Supreme." (ar-Ra'd 13/13)

And He has said:

"They [the unbelievers] plotted and planned, and Allah planned too; Allah is The Best of Planners." (Al-'Imran 3/54)

And He has said:

"So they devised a plot: and We devised a plot while they perceived not." (an-Naml 27/50)

And He has said:

"Indeed, they devise a plot [against you O Muhammad] and I devise a plot [against them]." (at-Tariq 86/15-16)

Forgiveness:

"If you do good openly or conceal it, or if you forgive evil, indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Powerful." (an-Nissa' 4/149)

And He has said:

"Let them forgive and disregard [the transgressions of others]. Do you not wish that Allah forgive you? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (an-Nur 24/22)

Might:

"And the might belongs to Allah and to His Messenger." (al-Munafiqun 63/8)

And He has said about Iblis (the Satan):

"[Iblis] said: Then by Your might, I will lead all of them astray'." (Sad 38/82)

And He has said:

"Blessed be the Name of your Lord, Full of Majesty, and Honor." (ar-Rahman 55/78)

Oneness:

"Therefore, worship you Him and be you steadfast in His Service; Do you know of anyone who can be named along with Him?" (Maryam 19/65)

And He has said:

"There is none comparable to Him." (al-Ikhlas 112/4)

And He has said:

"Do not set up rivals to Allah when you know [The Truth]." (al-Baqarah 2/22)

And he has said:

"Yet there are some people who take (idols as] rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that which is the due) of Allah (only), but those who believe overflow in their love of Allah." (al-Baqarah 2/165)

And He has said:

"Say: Praise be to Allah, Who begets no son, Who has no partner in [His] dominion and Who [needs] none to protect Him from humiliation;' And Magnify Him with all magnificence." (al-Isra' 17/111)

And He has said:

"All that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth glorifies Allah; To Him belongs Dominion; To Him belongs Praise; He is Able to do all things." (at-Taghabun 64/1)

And He has said:

"Blessed is He Who sent down the Criterion [al-Furqan] to His Servant [Muhammad], that He may warn all creatures. He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, no son has He begotten; Nor has He any partner in His Dominion. It is He Who created all things and ordered them in due proportions." (al-Furqan 25/1-2)

And He has said:

"Allah did not beget a son; Nor is there any god along with Him; Otherwise each god would have taken away what he had created and some of them would have lorded over others. May Allah, Be Glorified above all that they allege. He knows what is hidden and what is exposed. May He Be Exalted over all that they ascribe as partners [to Him]." (al-Mu'minun 23/91-92)

And He has said:

"Do not invent similitudes for Allah; Indeed, Allah knows and you know not." (an-Nahl 16/74)

And He has said:

"Say: My Lord forbids only indecencies whether open or secret, sin and wrongful oppression. You're associating with Allah that for which no Revelation has been given, and you're saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge." (al-A'raf 7/33)

Settling on the Throne:

(Al-Istiwa' A'la Al-'Arsh)

"The Beneficent One, Who is Settled on the Throne (al-Arsh)." and "Then He Mounted the Throne."

Allah repeated this theme six times in the Qur'an.

"Verily! Your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six days; Then He Mounted the Throne." (al-A'raf 7/54)

And He has said:

"Verily! Your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six days; Then He Established Himself on the Throne." (Yunus 10/3)

And He has said:

"Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see; Then He Mounted the Throne." (ar-Ra'd 13/2)

And He has said:

"The Beneficent One, Who is Established on the Throne." (Ta Ha 20/5)

And He has said:

"Then He Mounted the Throne, The Beneficent One." (al-Furqan 25/59)

And He has said:

"Allah created the heavens, the earth and all that is between them in six days; Then He Mounted the Throne." (as-Sajdah 32/4)

"He it is Who created the heavens and earth in six days; Then He Mounted the Throne."13 (al-Hadid 57/4)

Highness:

And He has said:

"Behold! Allah has said; 'Oh Jesus! I am taking you and raising you up to Me." (Al'Imran 3/55)

And He has said:

"Rather, Allah raised him up to Him." (An-Nissa' 4/158)

And He has said:

"To Him good words ascend, and He elevates the pious deed."14 (Fatir 35/10)

And He has said:

"O Haman! Build me a tower, that I may reach the roads, - the roads of heavens, and that I may climb up to the God of Moses, though verily I think he [Moses] is a liar." (Ghafir 40/36-37)

And He has said:

"Do you feel secure that He Who is in Heaven will not cause you to be swallowed up by the earth when it shakes? Or do you feel secure that He Who is in Heaven will not send against you a wind casting down pebbles from the sky? That is that you may know the manner of My Warning." (al-Mulk 67/16-17)

And He has said:

"He created the heavens and the earth in six days; Then He Mounted the Throne. He knows all that enters the earth and all that emerges there from and all that comes down from the sky and all that ascends therein; He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah is Seer of what you do." (al-Hadid 57/4)

Omnipresence:

And He has said:

"There is no secret conference of three but He is their fourth, nor of five but He is their sixth, nor of less or more but He is with them wherever they be: And afterward, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did. Indeed, Allah is Knower of All Things." (al-Mujadalah 58/7)

And He has said addressing Abu Bakr in the cave during the Hijrah:

"Grieve not. Indeed, Allah is with us." (at-Tawbah 9/40)

And He has said:

"Indeed, I will be with you, Hearing and Seeing." (Ta Ha 20/46)

And He has said:

"Indeed, Allah is with those who protect themselves and with those who do good." (an-Nahl 16/128)

And He has said:

"Be patient and persevering, for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.15 (al-Anfal 8/46)

And He has said:

"How often a small company overcame a big one by Allah's Help! Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere." (al-Baqarah 2/249)

Speech:

"Whose words (Hadith) can be truer than Allah's?" (an-Nissa' 4/87)

And He has said:

"Whose utterance (Qil) can be truer than Allah's?" (an-Nissa' 4/122)

And He has said:

"When Allah said (qala): O Jesus, son of Mary" (al-Ma'idah 5/116)

And He has said:

"Perfected is the Word (kalimatu) of your Lord in Truth and Justice." (al-An'am 6/115)

And He has said:

"To Moses Allah spoke (kallama) directly." (an-Nissa' 4/164)

And He has said:

"And of whom (messengers) there are some unto whom Allah spoke (kallama)." (al-Baqarah 2/253)

And He has said:

"When Moses came to Our appointed place, and his Lord spoke (kallama) unto him." (al-A'raf 7/143)

And He has said addressing Musa:

"We called him (nadainahu) from the right side of [Mount] at-Tur and made him draw near to Us for communion." (Maryam 19/52)

And He has said:

" When your Lord called (nada) Moses: Go unto the wrong-doing folk'." (ash-Shu'ara' 26/10)

And He has said:

"And their Lord called both of them (nadahuma) [Adam and Hawwa']: Did not forbid you That Tree, and tell you (wa-aqul): Lo! Satan is an open enemy to you?" (al-A'raf 7/22)

"On The Day He will call unto them (yunadihim) and say: Where are My partners who you fabricated?" (al-Qasas 28/62)

And He has said:

"On The Day He will call unto them (yunadihim) and say: What answer gave you to the messengers?" (al-Qasas 28/65)

And He has said:

"If anyone of the pagans seeks your protection, grant it to him so that he may hear the Words (kalam) of Allah." (at-Tawbah 9/6)

And He has said;

"A party of them used to listen to the Words (kalam) of Allah, then used to distort it knowingly after they understood it." (al-Baqarah 2/75)

And He has said :

"They wish to change God's Words (kalam); Say: You shall not follow us.' Thus Allah said (qala) before hand." (al-Fath 48/15)

And He has said:

"Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book of your Lord; None can change His Words (kalimatihi)." (al-Kahf 18/27)

And He has said:

"Verily this Qur'an narrates (yaqussu) unto the Children of Israel most of the matters which they dispute." (an-Naml 27/76)

And He has said:

"This is a Blessed Book (kitabun mubarakun) which We have sent down." (al-An'am 6/92)

And He has said:

"Had We send down this Qur'an on to a mountain, verily you would have seen it humbled and rent asunder for fear of Allah." (al-Hashr 59/21)

And He has said:

"When We substitute one Verse (Ayah) for another and Allah knows best what He reveals-they say: You are but a fabricator; But most of them know not. Say: The Trustworthy Spirit (i.e., Gabriel) has brought it (The Qur'an) from your Lord in Truth, in order to strengthen those who believe, and as Guidance and Good Tidings for Muslims. We know well that they say: It is a man who teaches him; The language of him they falsely point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear." (an-Nahl 16/101-103)

Looking at Allah:

"Some faces, That Day, will beam (in brightness and beauty), looking toward their Lord." (al-Qiyamah 75/22-23)

And He has said:

"(Relaxing) on couches looking (at their Lord)." (al-Mutaffifin 83/35)

See Tafsir Ibn Kathir, for support of my translation of this verse. (The Translator)

And He has said:

"For those who do good, is the best (reward given) and more* (thereto). (Yunus 10/26)

And He has said:

"There they have all they desire; And there is still more with Us." (Qaf 50/35)

And the Qur'an is full of Verses which deal with this topic; Whoever studies the Qur'an carefully searching for guidance from it, the truthful path will be clear to him.

*According to some interpretations: "They See Allah's face."