Why should we try to understand the names of Allah?

Because Allah says so in the Qur’an

…. وَلِلّهِ الأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا The most beautiful names belong to Allah : so call on Him by them;..." (Surah Al A’raf 7:Verse180)

Reported by Abu Hurayrah (RA) Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: To God belong 99 names, 100 minus 1, anyone who memorizes them will enter Paradise; {Bukhari}

Because we say: لا الہ الا اللہ There is no god but Allah

La ilaaha ill Allah We are declaring that ALLAH is: Single Unique Unequalled Independent Creator Master

 The one we pray to  The one we call upon  The one we obey  The one we ask for help  The one we think of in times of need  The one we thank in times of joy

This concept is called Tawheed

Names and attributes of Allah are an essential part of Tawheed.

Misconceptions about God in different religions and cultures

Image of God In western cultures: An old man with a long white beard who sits in the clouds

Different imaginary portrayals of Jesus (AS)

Michelangelo painted an image of God in the Sistine Chapel

Greek God

Some religions have a concept of: God of Good God of Evil

Some religions believe anything that “looks” more powerful than man is god.

Sun God

God to some is personified in animals or some super natural being.

Holy Person

Most common misconceptions

God is in everything

Allah Himself has given us an idea about Himself

Chapter 112 : Surah Al Ikhlaas قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ Say (O Muhammad) He is Allah, (the) one. Allah the Self Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co- equal or comparable to Him.

Understanding Allah’s names is understanding with:  knowledge  clarity  sincerity who we are worshipping.

Three types of senses of Allah’s beautiful names They point to the one being described They point to qualities that are taken directly from them They point to qualities that are indirectly taken from the name

The Beneficient

The Merciful

الرحمان رحم الرحیم Mercy الحی القادر The able The alive

Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem They point to the one being described, i.e. Allah They point to a quality that is directly taken from it, i.e. Rahm (Mercy) They point to indirect qualities not taken from the name itself. i.e. the quality of life (al-hayaat), and power (al-qudrah)

Such is the case with all the names of Allah

The Unique

The One

الواحد ال احد The One The Unique البدیع الحمید The Praiseworthy The Incomparable

There are Four Classes of origins of Allah’s Names

1. The Proper name that includes all the meanings of each name and quality or characteristic or attribute.

Allah is the personal name of god Nothing else can be called Allah It has no gender and no plural Other names are always used to describe Allah and never the other way round

2. Those which include a characteristic of Allah’s self

The All Hearing

The All Seeing

The All Knowing

3. Those which indicate nullification, negation or impossibility of any imperfection or fault

The Holy

The Source of Peace

4. Those which characterize Allah’s actions

The Creator

The Evolver

The Shaper of Beauty

The Sustainer

All things Bright...

… and Beautiful

All creatures great …

… and small

All Things wise …

And Wonderful

The Lord God made them all

Each little Flower that opens

And Each little Bird that sings

He made their glowing colours

He made their shiny wings

The Purple Headed Mountains

The Rivers Flowing by …

The Sunset

... and the morning

The Brightness of the Sky

The Cool Winds in the Winter

The Pleasant Summer Sun

The ripe fruit in the garden

He made them everyone

The Sovereign Lord

The Guardian of Faith

The Protector

The Mighty

Note to Teacher Give handout of 99 names of Allah Can also give cassette/CD of 99 names of Allah Play clip of 99 names of Allah before beginning the presentation