The jurisprudence of the names of the Most Beautiful

Sheikh A. D. Abdul Razzaq bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Badr Introduction In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate Praise be to Allah in all circumstances, described with the attributes of greatness and majesty, the One, the Self-Sufficient, the Eternal, the Sustainer, the Great, the Most High. To Him belong the most beautiful names, the highest attributes, glory, and perfection. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone, without partner or associate, exalted above partnership, likeness, and similitude. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, the exemplar for servants in intentions, sayings, and actions. Peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and his companions. After: This is a beneficial and useful compilation—by Allah’s permission—for the most noble and most beneficial understanding of the “Fiqh of the Names of Allah the Most Beautiful.” I have explained more than one hundred of Allah’s beautiful names, preceded by foundational introductions in the understanding of this great chapter. I have been keen in preparing it to be clear in wording and easy in style, with attention to presenting evidences and mentioning proofs from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the noble Prophet, clarifying what is easy from the aspects of worship and faith-related effects, which are the requirements of belief in Allah’s names. I have benefited greatly from the statements of the firm scholars, especially Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, his student al-Allama Ibn al-Qayyim, and Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sa’di—may Allah have mercy on all of them. Originally, this was a series of lessons I presented via the Saudi Radio Station, the Holy Quran Radio, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, protected by Allah. The series consisted of eighty-two weekly episodes. I am not a knight or a hero in this field; rather, my situation is as the poet said: I walk behind the noble’s caravan, lame, hoping for what my lame leg does not decree. If I catch up with them after they have gone ahead, how many times does the Lord of the heavens bring relief to people? And if I remain in the barren land, cut off, there is no shame on a lame person in that. I ask Allah, the Generous, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, the One, the Self-Sufficient, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of Glory and Honor, who has facilitated benefit through Him, to make this beneficial compilation easy to be of benefit, written, and sincere for His Face. I ask Him to make it pure for His noble face, for the community, and for the reader, from the gardens of bliss. I hope from Allah that He grants us all a generous share of His saying: “Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred except one; whoever memorizes them will enter Paradise.” And that He forgives my mistake, my ignorance, and my excess in my affairs, and guides me to the straight path. Surely, He is the Most Respondent, the Most Hopeful, and He is sufficient for us and the best disposer of affairs. I thank Allah, the Most High, and praise Him abundantly, good and blessed praise, for what He has bestowed and favored me with in preparing and publishing this book. I ask Allah, the Blessed, to accept it from me with good acceptance. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing. I must also thank—after thanking Allah—everyone who contributed to the production of this book through advice, consultation, review, editing, printing, publishing, or translating it into other languages. Special thanks and recognition go to my noble father, Sheikh Abdul Mohsin Al-Badr, may Allah reward him well and raise his rank in the highest Paradise. He listened to the entire recitation I read to him and provided valuable notes, useful guidance, and corrections. May Allah make that in the balance of his good deeds. I pray that Allah bless his life and offspring, and prolong his life in obedience to Allah and good deeds. I also thank my esteemed teacher, Sheikh Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz bin Aqeel, who kindly reviewed this book and wrote a commendation for it. I ask Allah to reward him with the best reward. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. May Allah send peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions. Written by: Abdul Razzaq bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Badr May Allah forgive him, pardon him, have mercy on him, and on his parents, and all Muslims. On the first day of Jumada al-Akhirah, in the year 1429 AH.