The Exalted, Magnificent and Perfect Qualities of The Names of Allah
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Peace,
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The Exalted, Magnificent and Perfect Qualities of The Names of Allah (Al-Asma Ul-Husna)
B’ismi-Allah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim... Allah, who created me with His Names (exalted, magnificent, and perfect qualities), is Rahman and Rahim!Let us heed the fact that a ‘name’ is only used as a reference to an object or quality. A name does not explain what it references in totality, but merely alludes to an identity, or an attribute of an identity. Sometimes, a name is used only to channel the attention to multiple qualities, without revealing anything about the identity.
In the case of the Names of Allah, let us contemplate the following Are the Names of Allah a collection of fancy titles of a God beyond? Or, are they references made to the creational properties of Allah (which the senses and conditionings externalize!) with which the entire known cosmos and everything in it becomes manifest from nothingness into a shadow existence?
Once this reality is fully conceived and comprehended we may move on to the Names of Allah.
The Quran, which has been conveyed as a Dhikr, i.e. ‘the remembrance of man’s essential reality’, is actually a disclosure of the Names to expound ‘Uluhiyyah’. It is the Totality of the Names (all of the Names that have been imparted to us and that comprise our existence) that man has been endowed with and is invited to remember! Some of these have been disclosed in the Quran and some were revealed by the Rasul of Allah. One can never say that the names that refer to Allah are limited to only 99. Let us give an example... There are many names, such as Rabb, Mawla, Kareeb and Hallaq, that are mentioned in the Quran but are not included as part of the 99 Names. The name Mureed, which alludes to the attribute of ‘will’ (i.e. He does as He wishes) mentioned in the verse ‘yaf’alu ma yureed’, is also not included among the 99 Names. Contrarily, the names Jalil, Wajid and Majid are all included in the 99 Names but are not mentioned in the Quran. Thus, it would be a mistake to confine the Names of Allah to only 99, when the Dimension of the Names designates the infinite quantum potential, which involves the act of observing in Allah’s Knowledge. Man is provided with these Names as a reminder of their own true essence. Perhaps once one remembers and lives accordingly to their essential reality, many more Names will be disclosed to them. Also, we may say heaven alludes to this truth too, while we may not even be aware of the Names that pertain to and compose the universes within universes of infinite existence!
The observing One, the one being observed, the observation, are all ONE!
The enlightened ones (Ulul Albab) have used the phrase ‘the shadow existence’ to mean ‘the things we perceive do not exist in and by themselves but they are compositions of Names that manifest according to the perceiver’.
In fact, even the phrase ‘Name compositions’ is metaphorical; it is only to adapt the dual view to the One reality. Absolute reality is the observing of the ‘multidimensional single frame’ by the One who ‘manifests Himself every moment in yet another wondrous way’. (Quran 5529) What we refer to as ‘Name compositions’ is only like one stroke of the paintbrush on this magnificent picture.
Due to having a name all perceivable things seemingly have a separate individual existence, whereas, because there is no God beyond, what is really perceived as an existent object is essentially none other than the materialized Names (qualities) of Allah.
This being said, the One denoted by the Names cannot be divided or fragmented into pieces, it is not composed of parts, it is even beyond concepts such as being ‘absolute One’, ‘illimitable’, ‘infinite’ and so on. It is ‘Ahad-us-Samad’ (the Absolute Self-Sufficient One) and only mentioned this way in the Quran once! Allah, HU, other than whom nothing exists! This knowledge cannot be comprehended by the human mind unless it is revealed or divinely inspired and observed in one’s consciousness! The mind, logic and judgment cannot survive here. He who attempts to intellectualize this reality will only be misguided. This reality is not open for debate! Any urge to do so will only reveal ignorance !
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And to Allah belongs the most Beautiful Names, so turn to Him through the meanings of His names. And leave the company of those who practice deviation (fall into duality) concerning His Names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing.” (Quran 7180)
That is, leave the company of those who restrict the Names with their humanly values, and fail to recognize the reality of the Beautiful Names and who do not know Allah is respect of His Akbariyyah!
“And believes in (confirms) the Most Beautiful (Names) (to be his essential reality), we will ease him towards ease.” (Quran 926-7)
Even the consequence of good is related to the Names
“For the doers of good (ihsan) is the Beautiful (Names) and more (pleasure). No darkness (egotism) will cover their faces (consciousness), nor derogation (which results from deviating from one’s essence). Those are companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally.” (Quran 1026)
Allah’s Absolute Essence (dhat) cannot be likened to anything in existence. With His greatness (Akbariyyah) He is free from becoming limited or conditioned by His creation or the attributes denoted by His Names, which constitute one point amongst infinite others. In other words, what is referred to as the Dimension of Names is like a multidimensional holographic single frame. And, despite the fact that it is perceived as the realm of multiplicity, this realm of activity is essentially a unified field of existence created with the compositional qualities in His knowledge.
To summarize before going further...
The qualities and attributes that we have come to acquire through revelation as the Names of Allah (singular in nature) are the very structural compositions that manifest the totality of all the universal dimensions, from nothingness into this shadow (holographic) existence. This reality, of which earthly vicegerency aspires to become aware, is far beyond the reach of the cruel and ignorant.
The Dimension of Names is the ‘exalted, magnificent, and perfect attributes and qualities’ with all its sub-dimensions and inner-existence!
Let us now ponder on the world perceived by humanity... and then “raise our gaze to the heavens and observe” as the Quran states, without dogmatic views and bigotry, with the understanding of universality formed by proficient knowledge!
What value does a world based on our miniscule perception have in comparison to the magnificence, glory and perfection of the universe?
I hope, in the light of this understanding, we can approach the Names of Allah with the awareness that their revelation depends on the purging of the individual consciousness (based on its limited perception and conception of the Book of Knowledge) and that their effects pertain to the whole of the cosmos, constantly manifesting new meanings and expressions.
...To read more, click on the link above.
May Allah increase our science
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HU
HU’Allahulladhiy la ilaha illa HU!
Whether via revelation or through consciousness, HU is the inner essence of the reality of everything that is perceived... To such extent that, as the reflection of Akbariyyah, first awe then nothingness is experienced and, as such, the Reality of Hu can never be attained! Sight cannot reach HU! HU denotes absolute obscurity and incomprehension! As a matter of fact, all names, including Allah are mentioned in connection with HU in the Quran!
“HU ALLAH is AHAD.”
“HU is RAHMAN and RAHIM.”
“HU is AWWAL, AKHIR, ZAHIR and BATIN.”
“HU is ALIY and AZIM.”
“HU is SAMI and BASIR.”
And also the last three verses of Chapter al-Hashr...
It is also important to note that using HU as a prefix to other Names is first to establish incomparability (tanzih) and then to denote similarity (tashbih) in reference to the given Name. This should be remembered at all times.
AR-RAHMAN
Ar-Rahman signifies the materialization of the essence of every iota with Allah’s Names in His knowledge. In modern terms, it designates the quantum potential. It is the potential of the source of the entire creation. It is the name of the Dimension of Names! All things obtain their existence at the level of knowledge and will with the attributes denoted by this name.
As signified by the verses “ar-Rahmanu ala’l arsh’istiwa” (Quran 205) and “ar-Rahman Allamal Quran, Khalekal Insan, Allamul bayan” (Quran 551-4). Rahman is the reality that manifests in consciousness! The ‘mercy’ is in the act of ‘manifesting it into existence.’
The narration of Muhammad (saw) that ‘Allah created Adam in the image of Rahman’ means the knowledge aspect of man reflects the qualities of Rahman, i.e. the qualities of the Names.
The essence (dhat) of man is also related to the name Rahman. As such, the polytheists are not able to comprehend the notion of prostrating to Rahman (Quran 2560) and Satan (the mind, illusion) rebels against Rahman (Quran 1944). These verses indicate the manifestation of the essence of ‘Man’.
AR-RAHIM
Ar-Rahim is the Name that brings the infinite qualities of ar-Rahman into engendered existence. In this sense, it is the ‘observation’ of the potential. Ar-Rahim observes itself through the forms of existence, by guiding the conscious beings to the awareness that their lives and their essential reality are comprised of and governed by the Names.
“...And is ever He, Rahim to those who believe in their essential reality” (Quran 3343).
Ar-Rahim is the source of the plane of existence referred to as ‘heaven’.
Ar-Rahim is the producer of the angelic state.
AL-MALEEK
The Sovereign One, who manifests His Names as he wishes and governs them in the world of acts as He pleases. The one who has providence over all things.
“Subhan is He in whose hand (governance) is the Malakut (the force of the Names) of all things, and to Him you will be returned (the illusory self – ego will come to an end and the Absolute Reality will be discerned). (Quran 3683)
The Sovereign One who has no partners!
He who is blessed with this awareness will find himself only in absolute submission to al-Maleek! Objection and rebellion will cease. Al-Maleek is the foremost quality pertinent to the phenomenon known as its manifestations through a continuum (arsh-i istiwa).
“Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth glorify (tasbih, with their unique dispositions) Allah, the Maleek, the Quddus, the Aziz, the Hakim (to manifest whatever meanings He desires).” (Quran 621)
AL-QUDDUS
The One who is free and beyond being defined, conditioned and limited by His manifest qualities and concepts! Albeit the engendered existence is the disclosure of His Names, He is pure and beyond from becoming defined and limited by them!
AS-SALAM
One who enables a state of peace by emancipating individuals from the conditions of nature and bodily life and endows the experience of ‘certainty’ (yakeen). One who facilitates the comprehension of Islam for the believers, and enables the heavenly state of existence called ‘Dar’us-Salam’ (the explicit manifestation of our implicit potentials). (Quran 365
This name is triggered by the name ar-Rahim
“‘Salam,’ a word from a ‘Rahim’ Rabb shall reach them (they will experience the manifestation of the Name Salam) !”
AL-MU’MIN
The One who enables the awareness that He, by respect of His Names, is beyond what is perceived. This awareness reflects upon us as ‘faith’ (iman). All believers, including Rasuls and angels, have their faith rested upon this awareness, which frees the mind from the enslavement of illusion. While illusion can deter the mind, which uses comparison to operate, it becomes powerless and ineffective in the sight of faith.
The inherent quality of the Name al-Mu’min manifests itself directly from Awareness in one’s consciousness, thereby rendering obsolete the effect of illusion.
AL-MUHAYMIN
The One who maintains and protects the manifestations of His Names with His own system (al-Hafidhu war-Rakiybu ala kulli shay)!
Al-Muhaymin also designates the One who safeguards and protects (the trust).
The root word of al-Muhaymin is amanah (trust), mentioned in the Quran as the trust from which the heavens, the earth and the mountains refrained, but which ‘Man’ (the twin brother of the Quran) accepted. Essentially, it indicates the consciousness pertaining to the knowledge of the Names, symbolized as the angel ‘SPIRIT’, which is then passed on to Man, the vicegerent on earth. That is, the ‘trust’ signifies living with the awareness that your essence is comprised of the Names. This works in conjunction with the name al-Mu’min. The angel (force) named SPIRIT also possesses a form since it is also a manifestation, and as such, it is Hayy and Qayyum due to the perfection of its ‘faith’ in the infinite qualities of the Names.
AL-AZIZ
The One who, with His unchallengeable might, disposes as He wishes. The One whose will to do as He likes, nothing can oppose. This name works in parallel with the name Rabb. The Rabb attribute carries out the demands of the Aziz attribute!
AL-JABBAR
The One whose will is compelling. The corporeal worlds (engendered existence) are compelled to comply with His demands! There is no room for refusal. This ‘jabr’ (compelling) quality will inevitably express itself and apply its laws through the essence of beings.
AL-MUTAKABBIR
The One to whom the word ‘I’ exclusively belongs. Absolute ‘I’ness belongs only to Him. Whoever, with the word ‘I’, accredits a portion of this Absolute ‘I’ness to himself, thereby concealing the ‘I’ness comprising his essence and fortifying his own relative ‘I’ness, will pay its consequence with ‘burning’ (suffering). Majesty (Absolute ‘I’ness) is His attribute alone.
AL-KHALIQ
The ONE Absolute Creator! The One who brings individuals into the existence from nothingness, with His Names! Everything al-Khaliq creates has a purpose to fulfill, and according to this unique purpose, possesses a natural predisposition and character. Hence it has been said“characterize yourselves with the character of Allah” (Tahallaku biakhlakillah) to meanLive in accordance with the awareness that you are comprised of the structural qualities of the Names of Allah!
AL-BARI
The One who fashions all of creation (from micro to macro) with unique functions and designs yet all in conformity with the whole, like the harmonious functioning of all the different organs in the body!
AL-MUSAWWIR
The fashioner of forms. The One who exhibits ‘meanings’ as ‘forms’ and devises the mechanism in the perceiver to perceive them.
AL-GAFFAR
The One who, as requisites of divine power or wisdom, ‘conceals’ the inadequacies of those who recognize their shortcomings and wish to be freed from their consequences. The One who forgives.
AL-QAHHAR
The One who executes the effects of His Name ‘Wahid’ and renders invalid the seeming existence of the relative ‘I’ness.
AL-WAHHAB
The One who bestows and gives unrequitedly to those He wishes, oblivious of deservedness.
AR-RAZZAQ
The One who provides all necessary nutrition for the survival of any unit of manifestation regardless of its plane of existence.
AL-FATTAH
The One who generates expansion within individuals. The One who enables the recognition and observation of Reality, and hence, that there is no inadequacy, impairment, or mistake in the engendered existence. The One who expands one’s vision and activity, and enables their proper usage. The One who enables the recognition and use of the unrecognized (overseen).
AL-ALEEM
The One who, with the quality of His knowledge, infinitely knows everything in every dimension with all its facets.
AL-QABID
The One who exercises His verdict by retaining the essence of an individual’s Name reality. The One who restrains and enforces withdrawnness.
AL-BASIT
The One who opens and expands; the One who enables dimensional and in-depth sight.
AL-KHAFID
The One who abases. The One who capacitates a state of existence which is far from reality. The creator of the ‘asfali safileen’ (the lower state of existence). The former of the vision of ‘multiplicity’ to conceal the reality.
AR-RAFI
The One who exalts. The one who elevates conscious beings to higher states of existence; to enable the realization and observation of their essential reality.
AL-MU’IZZ
The Giver of Honor. The One who bestows honor to whom he wishes and holds them in esteem over others.
AL-MUDHILL
The One who exposes dishonor in some and degrades below others. The One who deprives from honorable qualities and compels to humiliation with the veil of ‘I’ness (ego).
AS-SAMI
The One who perceives His manifestations at every instance. The One who enables awareness and comprehension.
This name triggers the Name al-Basir.
AL-BASIR
The One who is constantly observing His manifestations and evaluating their outputs.
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AL-HAKAM
The Absolute Judge whose judgment (verdict) is irresistibly applied.
AL-ADL
The One who provides each of His manifestations their due right in consonance with their creation program. The One who is absolutely free from unjustness or tyranny.
AL-LATIF
The One who is subtly present in the depths of every manifestation. The One whose favors are plentiful.
AL-HABIR
The One who is aware of the manifestations of His Names at all times. The One who allows his manifestations to discern the level of their comprehension via their outputs.
AL-HALIM
The One who refrains from giving sudden (impulsive) reactions to events, but rather evaluates all situations in respect of their purpose of manifestation.
AL-AZIM
The magnificent glory beyond any manifestation’s capacity of comprehension.
AL-GHAFUR
The One who’s Mercy should never be doubted or given up on. The One who enables necessary cleansing and triggers the name Rahim to bestow blessings.
ASH-SHAKUR
The One who allows the proper use of His bestowals in order that He may increase them. The One who enables the due evaluation of resources such that more can be attained. This name triggers the name al-Karim. If this name is not activated in one’s life, one will be obstructed from a connection with Allah and not able to duly use his resources, turning his attention to other things and hence becoming veiled from the blessings of Allah. This leads to ‘ungratefulness’, which is defined as the inability to adequately evaluate and use blessings. Eventually this results in total deprivation.
AL-ALIY
The Highest (or the Sublime). The sublime One who observes existence from the point of reality (essence).
AL-KABIR
The magnitude of the worlds He created with His Names are incomprehensible.
AL-HAFIZ
The One who provides all requirements to preserve and maintain existence.
AL-MUQEET
The One who facilitates the expression of the Name al-Hafiz by providing the necessary material and spiritual platform for it.
AL-HASIB
The One who maintains individuality by holding them to account of their behavioral output through the mechanics of ‘consequence’
In doing so, an indefinite flow of formation is established.
AL-JALIL
The One who, with His magnificent comprehensiveness and perfection, is the sultan of the world of acts.
AL-KARIM
The exceedingly generous and bountiful One who bestows His bounties even upon those who deny His existence. The ability to READ (iqra) is only possible through the activation of this Name, which lies dormant within the essence of every individual.
AR-RAQIB
The One who watches over and keeps under control the manifestations of His Names, with His names, at all times.
AL-MUJIB
The One who unequivocally responds to all who turn towards Him (in prayer and invocation) and provides their needs.
AL-WASI
The All-embracing. The One who embraces the whole of existence with the expressions of His Names.
AL-HAKIM
The One whose power of knowledge appears under the guise of ‘causes’, hence creating causality and leading to the perception of multiplicity.
AL-WADUD
The creator of attraction. The creator of unconditional and unrequited love. The essence within every beloved!
AL-MAJEED
The One whose majestic glory is evident through His magnificent manifestations!
AL-BAITH
The One who constantly transforms new dimensions of existence. As a requisite of the mechanism denoted by the verse “Everything in the heavens and earth asks from Him; at every instance HU (the Absolute Essence of Existence) manifests Himself in yet another way! ”(Quran 5529), al-Baith continually creates new experiences.
The expression of this name in respect to humanity is depicted in ‘amantu’(Comprises the six fundamentals of belief in Islam. It consists of belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His Rasuls, Doomsday and destiny , that all good and evil are from Allah.) as ‘to believe in life (resurrection) after death’ (bath’u badal mawt) and the verse “That you will certainly change dimensions and transform into bodies befitting those dimensions!”.(Quran 8419)
We said ba’th (resurrection) is to taste death and to commence a new state of life after death... However, resurrection is also possible here on earth in this plane of existence. Like the resurrections of wilayah (sainthood), nubuwwah (prophethood), and risalah (the personification of Allah’s knowledge)! As all of these stations comprise new states of life.
To give an example, we may say ba’th is like the germination of a seed to sprout its plant, or ‘give shoot to new life’. Similarly, life emerges from death (dormant inactive potential). In relation to the new state of existence, the previous state is considered as a ‘grave’ (qabir).
“That Hour (death) will definitely come – there is no doubt about it. And Allah will definitely resurrect the beings (individual forms of consciousness) in their graves (bodies) (to continue their lives through new bodies)!” (Quran 227)
ASH-SHAHID
The One who witnesses His existence through His own existence. The One who observes the disclosure of His Names and witnesses His manifestations! The enforcer of the reality that there is no other observer but Himself.
AL-HAQQ
The absolute and unequivocal reality! The source and essence of every function in manifestation!
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AL-WAKIL
The One who provides the means for self-actualization. The One who advocates and protects those who place their trust in Him, providing them with the most auspicious outcomes. He who believes in the potential of the name al-Wakil in his own essence, will have confirmed his faith in all the Names (all his potentials). The source of the mystery of vicegerency lies in this Name!
AL-QAWWI
The One who transforms His power into the enabling potential for the manifestation of existence (hence comprising the force of the whole of existence).
The One who forms the angelic state.
AL-MATIN
The One who sustains the world of acts, the steadfast, the creator of robustness and stability, the provider of strength and resistance!
AL-WALIYY
The One who guides and enables an individual to discover their reality and to live their life in accordance to their essence. It is the source of risalah (personification of Allah’s knowledge) and nubuwwah (prophethood), which comprise the pinnacle states of sainthood (wilayah). It is the dispatcher of the perfected qualities comprising the highest point of sainthood, risalah, and the state one beneath that, nubuwwah. While the expression of nubuwwah is indefinitely functional, the expression of nubuwwah applies only to earthly life. A Nabi continues to live at the same state of perfection after death, but his explicit role as a Nabi is no longer active. On the other hand, due to its inherent saintly qualities, risalah continues infinitely (as it does with saints).
AL-HAMID
The One who observes and evaluates His universal perfection on worldly forms manifested by His Name al-Waliyy.
Hamd belongs only to Him.
AL-MUHSI
The creator of the ‘forms’ (micro to macro) comprising the seeming multiplicities, each equipped with unique qualities and attributes, within UNITY.
AL-MUBDI
The One who originates the whole of creation in the corporeal worlds, all with exclusive and unique qualities.
AL-MU’ID
The One who restores life to those who turn back to their essence.
AL-MUHYI
The One who enlivens and enlightens! The One who enables the continuation of the individual’s life through the application of knowledge and the observation of one’s essential reality.
AL-MUMIT
The One who enables a ‘taste’ (experience) of death. The One who allows a transition between one state of existence to another.
AL-HAYY
The source of names! The One who gives life to the Names and manifests them. The source of universal energy, the essence of energy!
AL-QAYYUM
The One who renders Himself existent with His own attributes, without the need of anything. Everything in existence subsists with al-Qayyum.
AL-WAJID
The One whose qualities and attributes are unfailingly abundant. The manifest One. The One, from which nothing lessens, despite the abundance of His manifestations.
AL-MAJID
The magnificent and glorious One with unrestricted, infinite generosity and endowment (benevolence).
AL-WAHID
The One and only! ‘ONE’ness far beyond any concept of multiplicity. The ONE, that isn’t composed of (or can be broken into) parts (as in pantheism). The ‘ONE’ness that renders duality obsolete! The ‘ONE’ness that no mind or intellect can fully comprehend!
AS-SAMAD
The Pure Whole One! Free from the concept of multiplicity! Not formed of adjoining parts. Far from conceptualization and limitation. The self-sufficient One, in need of nothing!
An authentic hadith narrates “As-Samad is such that it bears no space or emptiness within it (all, whole, one).”
AL-QADIR
The One who creates (discloses, manifests) and observes His knowledge with His power without depending on causality. The One who is absolutely boundless!
AL-MUQTADIR
The Determiner. The absolute possessor of all power pertaining to creation, governance, and disposition.
AL-MUQADDIM
The One who expedites (or prioritizes) the manifestation of Names according to their purpose of creation.
AL-MU’AKHKHIR
The One who delays manifestation in consonance with His name al-Hakim.
AL-AWWAL
The first and initial state of existence, the essential Name.
AL-AKHIR
The infinitely subsequent One, to all creation.
AZ-ZAHIR
The self-evident One, the explicit, unequivocal and perceivable manifestation.
AL-BATIN
The unperceivable reality within the perceivable manifestation! The source of the unknown (Awwal, Akhir, Zahir, Batin, HU!)
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AN-NUR
The Knowledge that is the source and essence of everything! The essence of everything is Nur; everything is comprised of knowledge. Life subsists with knowledge. Those with knowledge are the ever-living ones (Hayy), while those who lack knowledge are like living dead.
AL-HADI
The guide to the truth. The One who allows individuals to live according to their reality. The articulator of the truth. The guide to reality.