Knowledge & Devotion · Names & Attributes of Allah

Understanding Allah's Names and Attributes

Learn about rulings, beliefs, and sources regarding Allah's names and attributes.

7 questions · Hard · about 4 minutes

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1. Are the names of Allah limited to ninety-nine?

  • No, Allah’s names are not limited to ninety-nine. (correct answer)
  • Yes, Allah has only ninety-nine names.
  • Yes, but scholars may add more by opinion.
  • No one may speak about any of Allah’s names.

Why

The hadith about ninety-nine names means that whoever learns those names will enter Paradise; it does not mean that Allah has only ninety-nine names. The scholars are unanimously agreed that Allah’s names are not limited to that number. Some names are known through the Qur’an and Sunnah, while others Allah has kept in the knowledge of the unseen.

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2. According to Ahl as-Sunnah, how are Allah’s names related to His Essence and attributes?

  • They all refer to Allah’s one Essence, while their meanings and attributes differ. (correct answer)
  • They refer to different separate beings.
  • They all have exactly the same meaning with no difference.
  • They are symbolic titles with no real meanings.

Why

Allah’s names are the same in one respect and different in another. They are the same because they all refer to Allah, the one divine Essence. But they differ in meaning, because each name points to a distinct attribute: al-‘Aleem points to knowledge, al-Qadeer points to power, al-‘Azeez points to might, and so on. Thus the names refer to one Lord, while the attributes indicated by those names differ.

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3. How are Allah’s names determined?

  • Only through the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah. (correct answer)
  • By reason and personal opinion.
  • By adding names that sound respectful.
  • By deriving names from any action Allah mentions.

Why

The names of Allah are tawqeefi, meaning they can only be known through divine revelation and sound texts. No one may call Allah by a name that Allah did not call Himself or that His Messenger ﷺ did not use for Him. Reason, personal preference, and ijtihad cannot establish divine names. Attributes and actions may be broader in wording, but Allah’s names must be limited to what is proven in the texts.

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4. What is the belief of Ahl as-Sunnah regarding Allah’s names and attributes?

  • Affirm what Allah affirmed for Himself without distorting, denying, asking how, or likening Him to creation. (correct answer)
  • Compare Allah’s attributes to the attributes of created beings.
  • Deny any attribute that the mind cannot fully grasp.
  • Ask how every attribute works before believing in it.

Why

Ahl as-Sunnah affirm the names and attributes that Allah affirmed for Himself and that His Messenger ﷺ affirmed for Him. They do so without distorting their meanings, denying them, discussing how they are, or likening them to the attributes of creation. They affirm Allah’s rising over the Throne and His descending in the last third of the night in a manner that befits His Majesty, without imagining how or claiming contradiction between authentic texts.

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5. How should Muslims understand the idea of developing qualities based on Allah’s names and attributes?

  • They should develop praiseworthy qualities loved by Allah within Islamic limits. (correct answer)
  • They should claim attributes that belong only to Allah.
  • They should try to imitate Allah perfectly in every attribute.
  • They should ignore the meanings of Allah’s names completely.

Why

It is not appropriate to say that a person should “adopt Allah’s attributes” without qualification, because some attributes belong exclusively to Allah, such as being the Creator, Provider, and God. The correct meaning is that a believer should develop praiseworthy qualities that Allah loves in His slaves, such as mercy, knowledge, generosity, forbearance, kindness, and forgiveness, while staying within the limits of sharee‘ah. Human qualities never resemble Allah’s perfect attributes.

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6. Which name is established in the cited report: al-Sitteer or al-Sattaar?

  • Al-Sitteer is established if the hadith is authentic; al-Sattaar is not proven as a name. (correct answer)
  • Al-Sattaar is the only established name.
  • Both are equally established as names in the Qur’an.
  • Neither may be discussed in any way.

Why

The names of Allah are tawqeefi, so Allah may only be called by names established in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah. The source states that al-Sattaar is not proven as one of Allah’s names, though it may be used as a description because description is broader than names. As for al-Sitteer, it is mentioned in a hadith; if the hadith is authentic, then it is one of Allah’s names. Both words point to the meaning of concealment, but only a proven text can establish a divine name.

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7. Can Allah be called by names derived from actions such as plotting, mocking, or deceiving?

  • No, such actions may only be mentioned in qualified contexts and are not used as names. (correct answer)
  • Yes, any action mentioned in the Qur’an may become a name of Allah.
  • Yes, as long as the person intends respect.
  • No, because Allah never requites wrongdoers.

Why

Actions such as planning, plotting, mocking, or deceiving may be mentioned regarding Allah only in specific contexts where they indicate perfect justice and requital against those who plot, mock, or deceive. They are not attributed to Allah in an unrestricted way, and names are not derived from them. Therefore, Allah is not called “the Plotter,” “the Mocker,” or “the Deceiver” as general names.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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