Praise be to Allaah.
In order to make it clearer, we could word the question differently and say:
Is it permissible to derivefrom the attributes and actions of Allaah
that He has confirmed for Himself names for Him by which He may be
called and by which His slaves may call upon Him, and which may be
added to the list of His names so as to attain thereward mentioned in
the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
"Allaah has ninety-nine names. Whoever memorizes them will enter
Paradise" Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2736) and Muslim (2677), or are
there guidelines concerning the derivation of His names from His
attributes and actions?
It is essential first of all to ascribe wisdom to Allaah, may He be
exalted, for He is absolutely perfect, and He is to be named and
described in a manner that is befitting to Him. People should be
guidedby that which He has told them in His Book of His perfection,
majesty and might; to Him all things return and He hasgreat wisdom.
But we shall try to understand His names and attributes based on what
is mentioned in the Qur'aan and Sunnah,and ponder that so that we
might derive some guidelines for defining His most beautiful names.
The scholars differed concerning that which the brother asked
about,which let them to differ concerning the number of the beautiful
names of Allaah and definition of guidelines concerningthem. Some of
them regarded it as the matterof worship only, in which there is no
room for ijtihaad and qiyaas (analogy), as was the view of Ibn Hazm.
Some of them were very lenient about this matterand allowed calling
Allaah by names such as al-Mutakallim (the Speaker), al-Mureed
(theWiller) and every other word by which Allaah is described in the
Qur'aan and Sunnah. This was the view of Ibn al-'Arabi al-Maaliki and
others.
Some scholars took a middle approach; they studied the reports of the
divine names and found that if an attribute implied a senseof praise
only and could not be taken as implyingimperfection or fault in any
way, such as hearingand sight, then in the texts names were derived
from it, so Allaahcalled Himself al-Samee' (the All-Hearing) and
al-Baseer (the All-Seeing).
But if an attribute could be taken as implying imperfection in some
way, such as speaking, for example, as speakingmay include lying,
wrongdoing and other bad meanings, in which case it is a shortcoming
and silence is preferable to it, so we do not find a divine name that
is derived from this attribute, so we do not find that one of the
names of Allaah is al-Mutakallim (the Speaker).
This was the view of the great scholar Ibn Taymiyah and his student
Ibn al-Qayyim, and it is the view of most of our contemporary
scholars.
Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Sharh al-'Aqeedah
al-Isfahaaniyyah (1/19-20):
As for calling Allaah, mayHe be exalted, Mureed (Willer) and
Mutakallim (Speaker),
These two names are notmentioned in the Qur'aan, or among the well
known divine names. Their meanings are true, but the well known divine
names arethose by which Allaah may be called upon, and are mentioned
in the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and which imply perfection and praise in
and of themselves.
Knowledge, power, mercy and so on are in and of themselves
praiseworthy attributes, and the names which point to them are
praiseworthy names.
As for speech and will, they may be divided intopraiseworthy types
such as truthfulness and justice, and blameworthy types such as
wrongdoing and lying. Allaah can only be described in praiseworthy
terms, not blameworthy ones, hence His names do not include
al-Mutakallim (the Speaker) or al-Mureed (the Willer). End quote.
He also (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Bayaan Talbees
al-Jahamiyyah (2/10-11):
Allaah has the most beautiful names, by which He has called Himself,
and has revealed them in His Book and taught to whomever He willed
among His creation, suchas al-Haqq (the Truth), al-'Aleem (the
All-Knowing), al-Raheem (the Most Merciful), al-Hakeem (the Most
Wise), al-Awwaal (the First), al-Aakhir (the last),al-'Aliy (the Most
High), al-'Azeem (the Almighty),al-Kabeer (the Most Great) and so on.
All of these names are names of praise which indicate praiseworthy
meaning, and have no blameworthy meaning. To Allaah belong the most
beautiful names, and He is perfect in all ways. Names which are more
general in meaning and may be applied to both good and bad things are
not found among the beautiful names of Allaah. End quote.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Mukhtasar
al-Sawaa'iq (2/34):
The names of Allaah does not include al-Mureed (the Willer),
al-Mutakallim (the speaker), al-Faa'il (the Doer) or al-Saani' (the
Manufacturer), because these names may apply to both good and bad.
Rather He is described bypraiseworthy names such as al-Haleem (the
Forbearing), al-Hakeem (the Most Wise), al-'Azeez(the Almighty), the
One Who does what He wills. End quote.
He also (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Madaarij al-Saalikeen
(3/415-416):
That which may carry meanings of both perfection and imperfection is
not included among the divine names, such as al-shay' (thing) and
ma'loom (known). HenceHe is not called al-Mureed (the Willer)
oral-Mutakallim (the Speaker), because these names may carry good and
bad meanings. This is based on subtle understanding of the divine
names and attributes, so think about it. And Allaah is the Source of
strength. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Sharh
al-Waasitiyyah (1/86):
Hence Allaah did not call Himself al-Mutakallim (the Speaker),
although He speaks, because speech may be good or bad, and it may be
neither good nor bad. Evil cannot be attributedto Allaah, and idle
speech cannot be attributed to Him either, because it is foolishness;
only good can be attributed to Him. Hence He did not call Himself
al-Mutakallim (the Speaker), because the names are as Allaah has
ascribed to Himself. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "And
(all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allaah" [al-'A'raaf 7:180].
They do not include anything that suggests imperfection. End quote.
See also the answer to question no. 39803 and 48964 .
For more information please see the book Mu'taqad Ahl al-Sunnah
wa'l-Jamaa'ah fi Asma' Allaah al-Husna by Dr Muhammad ibn Khaleefah
al-Tameemi (50-59).
And Allaah knows best.
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