[Q 638] Using Allah’s Beautiful Names

QUESTION:

Question regarding عقیدہ (belief) about Allah Ta‘ala and His صفات (attributes).

What is the correct Islamic belief regarding the أسماء وصفات of Allah Ta‘ala? During du‘a or prayer, if a person directly refers to a sifat/attribute instead of explicitly saying “Allah,” for example saying phrases such as:

“I bow to Al-Ghafoor” or “O Ar-Rahman, forgive me” or calling upon a divine attribute directly. Is this permissible.

Is there any difference between using the Names of Allah (Asma-ul-Husna) and referring to the صفات themselves independently? Also, what would be the ruling if someone uses physical or bodily descriptions for Allah Ta‘ala, or speaks in a way that may imply direction, limbs, or human-like qualities?

ANSWER:

Besides the personal name of Allah Ta‘ala (“Allah”), there are countless attributive names (Sifati names), among which the well-known ninety-nine names are mentioned in the blessed Hadith, and many attributive names of Allah Ta‘ala are also mentioned throughout the Qur’an al-Majid. Just as calling upon Allah عزوجل by His personal name is rewarding, similarly calling upon Him through any of His attributive names is also permissible and Mustahab (recommended). In the Qur’an al-Majid, Allah تبارك وتعالى has commanded that He be called upon through His Asma al-Husna (Most Beautiful Names), and in the blessed Ahadith there is also teaching and encouragement to call upon Him through His attributive names. It is also mentioned that there is virtue in the acceptance of du‘a when saying three times: “Ya Arham ar-Rahimin” (O Most Merciful of those who show mercy), which itself is calling upon Allah through His attributes.

Therefore, Allah عزوجل may be called upon through His personal name as well as through His other Asma wa Sifat (Names and Attributes), and one should adopt the utmost respectful manner when doing so. Likewise, there is no difference between calling upon Allah through the Asma al-Husna and through His attributes.

As for calling upon Allah through such attributive names whose meanings may be ambiguous, the scholars state that whichever wording has been used in the Qur’an and Hadith may be used. However, one may not add personal explanations, invented descriptions, or translations from one’s own side regarding them. If used exactly as transmitted, then it is permissible.

Allah Ta‘ala states in the Qur’an al-Majid:

قُلِ ادْعُوا اللّٰهَ اَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمٰنَؕ-اَیًّا مَّا تَدْعُوْا فَلَهُ الْاَسْمَآءُ الْحُسْنٰىۚ

Translation: “Say, “Call upon ˹Him as˺ Allah or call upon ˹Him as˺ Raḥmān (The Infinitely Gracious); however you call ˹upon Him˺, He has the most beautiful names.”

(Surah Bani Isra’il, Verse 110)

In another place, Allah Ta‘ala states:

وَ لِلّٰهِ الْاَسْمَآءُ الْحُسْنٰى فَادْعُوْهُ بِهَا۪

Translation: “And the most beautiful names belong to Allah so call upon Him with them.”

(Surah Al-A‘raf, Verse 180)

In a blessed Hadith, the teaching was given to call upon Allah عزوجل through the attributive names “‘Afuww” (The Most Forgiving) and “Karim” (The Most Generous):

عن عائشة، قالت: قلت: يا رسول الله أرأيت إن علمت أي ليلة ليلة القدر ما أقول فيها؟ قال: ” قولي: اللهم إنك عفو تحب العفو فاعف عني “. هذا حديث حسن صحيح
(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 3513)

Many Ahadith contain the subject of calling upon Allah Ta‘ala through His attributive names.

Accordingly, Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله تعالى عنه narrates that once he was sitting with the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم while a man was praying. When the man completed his prayer, he made the following du‘a:

’’ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُکَ بِأَنَّ لَکَ الْحَمْدُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ الْمَنَّانُ بَدِيعُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِکْرَامِ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ ‘‘
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith no. 1495)

A blessed Hadith states:

عن أبي أمامة رضي الله عنه، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ” إن لله ملكا موكلا بمن يقول: يا أرحم الراحمين، فمن قالها ثلاثا قال الملك: إن أرحم الراحمين قد أقبل عليك فاسأل “

Translation: “Whoever calls upon Allah عزوجل saying ‘Ya Arham ar-Rahimin,’ Allah عزوجل appoints an angel over him. So when he says it three times, the angel announces: ‘Indeed, Arham ar-Rahimin has turned His special attention towards you, so ask from Him.’”

(Al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn, Hadith no. 2019)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 18th May 2026.