Is there any authentic Hadeeth that combines all of the Most Beautiful Names of Allaah The Almighty?
Is there any authentic Hadeeth that combines all of the Most Beautiful Names of Allaah The Almighty?
What is agreed upon its authenticity, is the Hadeeth that was narrated by Al-Bukhaari on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Verily, Allaah has ninety-nine Names, a hundred less one; whoever counts (and preserves) them, will enter Paradise.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
As for the narrations that mentioned and listed the Most Beautiful Names of Allaah The Almighty and the narration reported by At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah in His Sunan and others on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: Verily, Allaah has ninety-nine Names, a hundred less one; whoever counts (and preserves) them, will enter Paradise. He is Allaah, other than whom there is no deity. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. The Sovereign, the Pure…” then listed ninety-nine names [Both of them are weak narrations and cannot be attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Moreover, in the narration reported by At-Tirmithi, there is (Al-Waleed ibn Muslim) who Tafarrad (i.e. narrated it alone) with such narration. He is a camouflaging reporter (Mudallis) in At-Taswiyyah.][1]
Ibn Hajar said: “And the weakness [of this narration], according to the two Sheykhs (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim), is not just the Tafarrud of Al-Waleed ibn Muslim, rather the differences in it, Al-idhtiraab[2], his Tadlees[3], and the possibilty of Idraaj[4].”[5]
So this Hadeeth combined some Names that are proved by the evidences of the Holy Book of Allaah The Almighty and the authentic Sunnah along with some other Names that neither authentic proof mentioned them nor an explicit proof explained them.
Such narration and others like it that listed the names are Mudrajah (added by the narrator to the words of the original text of the Hadeeth) and are not from the statement of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. This is cannot be hidden from the scholars and those who have the knowledge of the Hadeeth of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
Perspectives of the scholars regarding such narrations:
Ibn Hajar Al-‘Asqalaani, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “The most correct opinion is that listing them (Such names) is a kind of addition made by the narrators.”[6]
As-San‘aani said: “The scholars of the science of Hadeeth agreed that listing them (i.e. names) is a kind of addition done by some narrators.”[7]
Sheykh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said after he mentioned both narrations that are well known by the whole Islamic nation and that mentioned the Names of Allaah The Almighty. They are the two narrations reported by At-Tirmithi in his book; Al-Jaami‘, and Ibn Maajah in his book; As-Sunan, then said: “The scholars of the science of Hadeeth have agreed that both narrations cannot be authentically ascribed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and they are not from the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him; but rather, they included some words of the Salaf (righteous predecessors).”[8]
The narration of At-Tirmithi mentioned some added names and they are as follows:
Names that are derived from the verbs:
Such names can in no way be attributed to Allaah The Almighty for many reasons. Amongst them are:
Derivation is a kind of inventing the noun form. This cannot be accepted for the Names of Allaah The Almighty are never something to be invented; but rather, He The Exalted as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “O Allaah, You are the First and there is nothing before You; You are the Last and there is nothing after.”[9]
Because deriving the Names of Allaah The Almighty from His actions indicates a condition which the religion has not come with and this goes against the explicit proofs of the Noble Book and Honorable Sunnah. Allaah The Almighty says:
{It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair.}[Al-Ahzaab: 36]
Because the characteristics of the noun differs linguistically and technically from the characteristics of the verb. Noun indicates generalization, comprehensiveness and inclusiveness of the characteristic of the verb. Amongst such that are the verbs of Al-Makr (planning) and Ghadhab (Anger). Allaah The Almighty says:
{But they plan, and Allaah plans.}[Al-Anfaal: 30]
Then is it possible to derive the noun from the verb? It is not linguistically[10] or technically possible to do so. Also, the verb Al-Ghadhab (Anger) in the saying of Allaah The Almighty:
{O you, who have believed, do not make allies of a people with whom Allaah has become angry. They have despaired of [reward in] the Hereafter.}[Al-Mumtahanah: 13]
Then is it possible to derive from such verb a name for Allaah The Almighty? It is not at all possible.
We have known that All the Names of Allaah The Almighty are Tawqeefiyyah (i.e. limited strictly to that which is mentioned in the Quran and authentic Sunnah) and mind has nothing to do with them. Our role is just to preserve and not to derive and invent them.[11]
Because Allaah The Almighty is the best One Who can describe and praise His Exalted self. So if this praises (i.e. that Allaah The Almighty made) is a noun, then it will be the best in thanking and praising Him The Exalted. If what is reported takes the form of an attribute, then it will be the best in its position as an attribute for Him The Exalted. If what is reported is in the verb form, then it will be the best in praising and commending Allaah The Almighty in this form. This is what the humans cannot realize, comprehend or contain. Therefore, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “I cannot praise You enough; You are as You have praised Yourself.”
In the following lines, we will mention some of the names that are proved not to be among the Most Beautiful names of Allaah The Almighty:
1 and 2- Al-Khaafid Al-Raafi’ (the Degrader, the Exalter): They substantiated their opinion with the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, does not sleep and it is not befitting that He should sleep. He lowers the Balance and raises it.”[12]
They are not reported in the noun form, but rather they are reported in the verb form. So they are not proved to be among the Most Beautiful Names of Allaah The Almighty?
3 and 4-Al-Mu’izz (the Honourer) and Al-Muthill (the Humiliator): The proof of those who attributed them to Allaah The Almighty is the words of Allaah The Almighty:
{You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.}[Aal-‘Imraan: 26]
They also cannot be included among the Most Beautiful
Names because they are verbs.
5-Al-‘Adl (the Just): It was reported in a form in which Allaah The Almighty commanded Justice in His Exalted saying:
{Indeed, Allaah orders justice and good conduct.}[An-Nahl: 90]
It is not also proved.
6-Al-Jaleel (The Majestic) this form also was neither reported in the Book nor in the authentic Sunnah; however, what is mentioned in this regard is found in the words of Allaah The Almighty:
{Blessed is the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.} [Ar-Rahmaan: 78]
7 and 8- Al-Baa‘ith (Resurrector), Al-Muhsi (the Reckoner): They are only reported in their verb forms in the Holy Quran. Allaah The Almighty says:
{On the Day when Allaah will resurrect them all and inform them of what they did. Allaah had enumerated it, while they forgot it; and Allaah is, over all things, Witness.}[Al-Mujaadilah: 6]
They are mentioned in the verb forms as we can observe and they are not from the Names.
9 and10 - Al-Mubdi’(the Originator), Al-Mu‘eed (the Restorer): Those who attributed to Allaah The Almighty such two names substantiated their opinion by the worda of Allaah The Almighty:
{Indeed, it is He who originates [creation] and repeats.}[Al-Burooj: 13]
They are two verbs as you see and have nothing to do with the Names.
11 and 12 -Al-Muhi (the Giver of Life), Al-Mumeet (the Taker of Life): Those who attributed to Allaah The Almighty such two names substantiated their opinion by the words of Allaah The Almighty:
{He gives life and causes death, and to Him you will be returned.}[Yoonus: 56]
They are two verbs and are not from the Names.
The word Mumeet is mentioned in a limited form and does not make any sense alone. It is in the saying of Allaah The Almighty:
{Indeed, He who has given it life is the Giver of Life to the dead.}[Fussilat: 39]
Also, the noun form is not mentioned alone in this form.
Names mentioned in a weak proof:
13 and 14 –Al-Waajid (The Finder) and Al-Maajid (The Noble): Both names are mentioned in a weak Hadeeth. It was reported by At-Tirmithi on the authority of Abu Tharr, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Allaah The Almighty said: “That is because I Am Al-Waajid (The Finder) and Al-Maajid (The Noble). I do whatever I want.”[13]
It is well established that the beliefs cannot be proved with a week Hadeeth. Rather, the most important matters of beliefs ever are the Names and Attributes of Allaah The Almighty. Thus they are to be taken from authentic evidences.
15 and 16 -Al-Muqsit (The Equitable): Those who gave Allaah The Almighty such two names substantiated their opinion by the saying of Allaah The Almighty:
{Say, [O Muhamad],"My Lord has commanded equity.} [Al-A‘raaf: 29]
It is just a command from Allaah The Almighty with equity. It is not a Name of Allaah The Almighty as you see.
Some Names mentioned annexed and were not mentioned independently. Amongst them are:
17 and 18 – An-Noor (the Light) and Al-Badee‘(the Originator): Those who gave Allaah The Almighty such two names substantiated their opinion by the saying of Allaah The Almighty:
{Allaah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.}[An-Noor: 35]
It is mentioned restricted, annexed and compound from two words (Light of the heavens and the earth), if the word of An-Noor (light) mentioned alone or the word of heavens and earth deleted, the verse will not make any sense. That is not the way of the noun; but rather if the noun mentioned independently, it surely makes sense such as: {It is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful} and {And He is the Hearing, the Seeing.} and so on.
19- Also the name of Al-Badee‘ (the Originator) is mentioned in restricted way in the saying of Allaah The Almighty:
{Originator of the heavens and the earth.}[Al-Baqarah: 117]
So if the word of heavens and earth deleted, the word Al-Badee‘ will not make any sense. Accordingly, it can be established in this form.
20 and 21-Al-Daarr (the One who harms), Al-Naafi’ (the One Who benefits): No evidences reported them except in a form other than that of the noun as the saying of Allaah The Almighty:
{And if Allaah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him.}[Al-An‘aam: 17]
As you see it is a name of harming not a Name for Allaah The Almighty and as the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “Know that even if all mankind were to come together to benefit you in some way, they could not do so unless Allaah has decreed that for you, and if they were to gather together to harm you in some way, they could not do that unless Allaah has decreed that for you.”[14]
22-Al-Jaami‘ (the Gatherer): It is mentioned in the saying of Allaah The Almighty:
{Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt.}[Aal-‘Imraan: 9]
It is also one of the annexed names; Jaami‘ An-Naas (Gatherer of people). It was mentioned independently and thus it cannot be mentioned alone without such addition.
23-Al-Maani’ (the Withholder): Those who gave Allaah The Almighty such name substantiated their opinion by the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “O Allaah, none can withhold what You give and none can give what You withhold.” It is as you see it is derived from the verb form.[15]
24-Ar-Raashid (The Guide): Those who gave Allaah The Almighty such name substantiated their opinion by the words of Allaah The Almighty:
{Or whether their Lord (really) intends to guide them to right course.} [Al-Jinn: 10]
As you see it is not from the Beautiful Names of Allaah The Almighty. It is in the object form.
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[1]Tadlees At-Taswiyyah: It is a type of Tadlees Al-isnaad (chain of transmission). It takes a place when a narrator narrates a Hadeeth from his sheykh with his Isnaad and then he drops the name of a weak narrator between two reliable narrators who have known each other and met each other. (Translator)
[2] Al-Idhtiraab means incompatibility found in chains of transmission or texts with the inability to grade one superior to the other or combine between them. (Translator)
[3] Tadlees means a narrator reports a Hadeeth in a way that gives impression that he heard the Hadeeth directly from the narrator he mentions while he actually heard it through someone else in between. (Translator)
[4] Idraaj means additional speech in a Hadeeth from one of the narrators that is mistaken to be from the statement of the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him. What is meant here is that a group of scholars believe this list of 99 names to be the addition of one of the narrators and not from the statement of the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him. (Translator)
[5] Refer to Fat-h Al-Baari by Ibn Hajar (11/29) and Al-Asmaa‘ Al-Husna by ‘Abdillaah Al-Ghisn (115).
[6] Bloogh Al-Maraam min Adilat Al-Ahkaam Hadeeth No. (1396).
[7] Al-Asmaa‘ Al-Husna by Prof. Mahmood ‘Abdur-Raaziq Ar-Ridhwaani (1/97).
[8] Ibid.
[9] Reported by Muslim.
[10] Noun in the Arabic language has some characteristics that are unlike that of the verb such as having the article of definition, Tanween, preposition and annexation.
[11]Excerpted from the book entitled “Al-Asmaa‘ Allaah Al-Husna” by Prof. Mahmood ‘Abdur-Raaziq Ar-Ridhwaani (1/105). It is the best thing mentioned in this regard. May Allaah reward him for us and Islam the best.
[12] Reported by Muslim (179).
[13] Reported by At-Tirmithi in Sifaat Al-Qiyaamah (4/656) (2495) and Al-Albaani deemed it Da‘eef (weak) in Da‘eef At-Targheeb wat Tarheeb (1008).
[14] Reported by At-Tirmithi in the book of Sifaat Al-Qiyaamah war Riqaaq wal Wara‘” (4/667) (2516).
[15] Reported by Al-Bukhaari.
