Saturday 31 Mar 2018
Lesson 11: The names of Allah are Husnaa (Pinnacle of perfection), and what are the 4 forms of Ilhad (Distortion)?
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- The names of Allah are described as “husnaa”, i.e. at the pinnacle of perfection
- We have been commanded in the quran to make mention of his names and a severe weartning has been made aha-inst those who make Ilhaad (distortion, deviation, rejection) and that indeed Allah will hold them to account with a severe reckoning
- Allah says: “And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them, and leave the company of those who believe or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names. They will be recompensed for what they used to do.” [Surah Al-Ar’raaf (The Heights) verse 180]
- Therefore it is important for EVERY muslim to make time to study the beautiful names of Allah and that he/she understands these names and attributes correctly
- Allah says: “Verily, those who turn away from Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc. by attacking, distorting and denying them), are not hidden from Us. Is he who is cast into the Fire better or he who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what you will. Verily! He is All-Seer of what you do (this is a severe threat to the disbelievers).” [Surah Fussilat (They are Explained in Detail) verse 40]
- All of the names of Allah are husnaa, Allah due to his perfection, might, majesty and greatness is not names except with the most perfect and beautiful of names.
- Likewise Allah does not have any attribute except that it is perfect
- The praise of Allah is only made upon the most perfect and best of praise
- Nothing can take the place or replace the names of Allah
- Allah mentions his names as being husnaa in four places in the Qur’an
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- Al-A’raaf (The Heights) verse 180
- Al-Israa (The Journey by Night) verse 110
- Daa-Haa (Ta-Ha) verse 08
- Al-Hashr (The Gathering) verse 24
- Each of the names of Allah has an attribute of perfection associated with it
- Each of the attributes of Allah has an attribute of perfection associated with it similarly
- All of Allah’s names and attributes indicate absolute perfection, not a single one of them has any element of deficiency associated with it.
- Every name of Allah carries a distinct attribute of perfection and meaning which is unique from all the others, no two names of his are the same.
- What are some examples?
- Therefore, when one looks at the names and attributes of Allah, they all indicate Allah
- Ibn Qayyim said all the names of Allah are praise, had they been merely names with no meaning, then this would not have indicated any praise or perfection. Rather all the names carry attributes which are upon the pinnacle of perfection
- When one considers all the above, it becomes clear that learning the names and attributes of Allah is something one MUST learn and put into practice. For example, when Allah says “And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them”, then this can only be actualised by understanding them in the first place so that one knows what he or she is saying when calling upon Allah with his names.
- If one does not know the meanings of the names and attributes of Allah, then it may be that his/her dua becomes inappropriate, for example someone asking Allah for mercy, yet using his name that he is the most severe in punishment
- If you were to look into the Qur’an you can find many places where the names of Allah are mentioned, e.g. at the end of a verse, and the names always correspond to the context of the verse.
- What are some examples?
- Ibn Qayyim says Allah loves that the creation be upon the
- Allah is the All-Knowing, so he loves those of Knowledge
- That he is the All Perfect and loves Perfection
- He is the Oft-Forgiving, and loves those who forgive others
- He is The Appreciative, so loves the thankful
- Etc
- Importance of leaving the ones who make Ilhad (distortions) in the names of Allah
- Linguistically Ilhad means to incline away or distort something
- These people make distortions of the names of Allah away from their realities
- Ilhad takes many forms from the people of innovation
- Allah warned against this ilhad severely, therefore it is upon every muslim to learn about it so that you can stay away from it
- There is a saying: Learn the evil not for the sake of the evil, but in order to safeguard yourself from it, for indeed the one who does not know the evil from the people will fall into ti
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- 4 Forms of Ilhad:
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- 1. To take the names of Allah give them to the Idols
- For example, Al-laat, Uzza and Manaat were distortions of Allah’s names, the polytheists distorted the original names and gave these new names to their Idols
- To name allah with a name which is not befitting of his might and majesty.
- This will happen whenever one makes up or invents a name which is not from the Qur’an and Sunnah
- For example the christians name Allah “The Father” and philosophers used to say call Allah some sort of “prime mover/force”. Some people of innovations used to call Allah the engineer of creation
- To reject the names of Allah is ilhad
- Many of the people of Innovation do this
- To make comparison or resemblance between the names of Allah and his creation then this is ilhad.
- Allah says in the Quran: “The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you mates from yourselves, and for the cattle (also) mates. By this means He creates you (in the wombs). There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” [Surah Ash-Shura (The Consultation) verse 11]
- 1. To take the names of Allah give them to the Idols
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- Q&A:
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- What about the name “As-Sattaar”?
- What about people saying “Mother nature”?
Home work: memorise the 4 forms of Ilhad