Tawheed al-Asma was-Sifaat
: Belief in Allah’s Names and Attributes
Allah says: “To Him belongs all the Best Names. All that is in the Heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”[9] Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) narrates: “Allah has ninety-nine Names, and whoever believers in their meanings and acts accordingly will enter Paradise…”[10]
Tawheed al-Asma was-Sifaat[11] is to believe and affirm all the Names and Attributes of Allah found in the Qur’aan and the Ahaadeeth of Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam). The Names and Attributes of Allah should be accepted without any alteration, whether in words or meaning. They should be understood in the absolute sense and free from human deficiencies because the similarity between the Attributes of Allah and mankind is only of name and not in degree. For example, Allah says: “That He may punish the hypocrites, men and women, and the pagan men and women, who have an evil opinion of Allah. A circle of evil is around them; Allah is Angry with them, Curses them and has prepared for them an evil end.”[12]
In this verse, Allah is described with the Attribute of Anger. It is wrong to believe that Allah’s Anger has any similitude to those of the humans. It is also wrong to change the meaning of the verse saying, ‘His Anger must mean His Punishment, because anger is a sign of weakness and weakness cannot be attributed to Allah, etc… It is sufficient to believe in the Attribute of Allah and believe that “There is nothing like unto Him.”[13]
The Names and Attributes of Allah should be accepted and affirmed without inquiring about their exact nature. Believing in their apparent meaning is an obligation and deeply reflecting about Allah is an innovation, as the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Reflect upon the creation and do not reflect upon Allah.”[14]
The Essence of Shirk in Tawheed al-Asma wa-Sifaat:
Shirk in Tawheed al-Asma wa-Sifaat is to give other than Allah, the qualities (Attributes), which are specific of Allah Alone. For example, amongst the Attributes of Allah is that He is the Knower of the Unseen (Ghayb[15]) and He alone knows what the heart conceals. Allah says: “Say, ‘None in the Heavens and the earth know the Ghayb (Unseen) except Allah, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected.”[16] Therefore, to consider someone other than Allah to have the knowledge of the past, future or the Unseen is Shirk (associating partners with Allah).
This concept of Tawheed distinguishes Islam from many other religions. Those who have studied comparative religion can very easily realize that, while the Jews made their Creator like the creation[17], the Christians make the creation like the Creator[18].
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[9] Soorah al-Mumtahinah (60): 24.
[10] Saheeh al-Bukharee vol.8. no. 419.
[11] Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H) said: “From Eemaan in Allaah is Eemaan in what He has described Himself with and what His Messenger Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) described Him with, without tahreef and ta’teel, and without takyeef and tamtheel…” [Al-’Aqeedah al-Waastiyyah, p.3]
[12] Soorah al-Fath (48): 6.
[13] Soorah ash-Shoorah (42): 11.
[14] Refer to Silsilaat as-Saheehah, no. 1788.
[15] Everything, which is hidden from people of future and past occurrences, and what is not seen, is exclusive of Allah’s Knowledge.
[16] Soorah an-Naml (27): 65
[17] As in Genesis (33): 24-30 where it has been claimed that Allah came in the form of a man and lost in a wrestling match with Prophet Yaqoob. [Glory be to Allaah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him.]
[18] In their claim that Prophet Essa, who lived a life like any other human being and was then helplessly crucified, was Allah. [Glory be to Allaah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him.]