Allah’s names (Asma’ Allah) refer to the divine names employed to call upon His perfection and greatness, whereas His attributes (Sifat Allah) refer to the characteristics and attributes that establish His nature and deeds.
Although all these concepts are close to each other, yet they differ from one another, and it is a difference that allows one to know Islamic monotheism in general.
This article outlines the distinction between Allah’s names and attributes, their function in Islamic religion, and how they characterize Muslims’ religion and worship.
The Difference Between the Names and Attributes of Allah
The names and qualities of Allah in Islamic theology constitute the essence of establishing His divine nature.
The two names, although closely related, have been individually explained and used in Islamic theology.
A large majority of Aqeedah scholars have elaborated on the difference between the two at vast lengths because comprehension of Allah’s Oneness (Tawheed) depends on it.
This essay will explore the distinction between the names and attributes of Allah through their definition, classification, and meaning in Islamic theology.
1. Definition of Allah’s Names and Attributes
A. The Names of Allah (Asma’ Allah أسماء الله الحسنى)
Names of Allah are the sacred names Allah has used to refer to Himself in the Qur’an and Sunnah. They highlight His perfection and greatness and His divinity.
All the names of Allah are very profound, and they belong only to Him. The complete and perfect source of names is in the Qur’an and the true hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
B. The Attributes of Allah (Sifat Allah صفات الله)
The attributes of Allah are the qualities and characteristics Allah has. Attributes are how Allah exists, behaves, and deals with His creation.
Attributes help us get used to Allah’s abundance and perfection of nature without comparing Him with His creation.
Unlike human attributes, Allah’s attributes are perfect, absolute, and eternal and not weak or lacking. They are mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah in a way that is befitting His Majesty, in a way that is independent of creation.
2. Basic Differences Between Allah’s Names and Attributes
A. Names are Proper Nouns, While Attributes are Descriptions
Allah’s names are proper nouns that belong to Him alone. For example, “Ar-Rahman” (The Most Merciful) and “AlHakeem” (The AllWise) are proper names of His divine character. His attributes, however, refer to His actions and nature.
For example, the attribute of mercy (Rahmah) is an indirect reference from His name Ar-Rahman, but “mercy” itself is not Allah’s name.
B. Every Name of Allah Involves an Attribute, But Not Every Attribute Involves a Name
All of Allah’s names are ascribed. For example, “AlBaseer” (The AllSeeing) signifies that Allah has the attribute of “sight” (Basar).
However, not all attributes have corresponding names. For example, Allah speaks (Kalam), but “The Speaker” (AlMutakallim) is not among the 99 well-known names of Allah.
That is to say, that attributes say something about Allah but are not necessarily His names.
C. Names are More Complete than Attributes
Allah’s names are more complete because they have attributes included in them. For example, “AlKareem” (The Generous) includes the qualities of generosity and largesse.
Attributes are more particular and convey a certain quality without necessarily implying a divine name.
D. The Names of Allah Are Determinate and Finite, whereas His Attributes Are Unlimited
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated that Allah has 99 known and distinct names. Allah’s attributes, however, are not numeric in quantity.
The majority of scholars believe that while Allah possesses infinite attributes, His names are the ones that Allah made known to humans in a clear-cut manner.
E. Names Are Used in Worship, While Attributes Are Descriptive
Muslims are exhorted to address Allah by His name in supplication, as indicated in the Qur’an:
“And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them.” (Surah AlA’ seventh 7:180)
However, the attributes are utilized differently. For example, we don’t utter, “O, Eternal Life (AlHayat), give me life!” We utter, “O, The EverLiving (AlHayy), give me life!” because AlHayy is a proper noun, whereas AlHayat (life) is an attribute.
3. Examples of Allah’s Names and Attributes
One of the most obvious instances of the inconsistency between the names and the attributes of Allah is the name “ArRahman” (The Most Merciful).
The name indicates that Allah has the attribute of “mercy” (Rahmah), i.e., His sympathy and kindness to His creation.
Similarly, the name “Al’Aleem” (The AllKnowing) indicates that Allah has the attribute of “knowledge” (‘Ilm), i.e., He knows all things, the past, the present, and the future.
A similar analogy to this is the name “AsSame'” (The AllHearing), i.e., Allah has the attribute of “hearing” (Sam’).
That is, Allah hears everything, whether loud or quiet. But the attribute of hearing as such is not Allah’s independent name.
The same principle governs all other names, e.g., “AlQadeer” (The AllPowerful), i.e., Allah has the attribute of “power” (Qudrah), i.e., His power over everything.
These examples demonstrate that all of Allah’s names do have an attribute, but not all attributes are independent names.
4. Misconceptions Concerning Allah’s Names and Attributes
A. Anthropomorphism (Tashbih) and Similarity to Creation
One of the biggest mistakes that human beings make when describing Allah’s attributes is to attribute them to human attributes.
For example, Allah in the Qur’an claims that He has a “hand” (Yad), but His hand is not like that of His creation. The correct belief is to believe what Allah believed about Himself and not equate Him with creation.
B. Denial or Distortion of Allah’s Attributes (Ta’teel and Ta’weel)
Certain groups within Islamic history attempted to reject or redefine Allah’s attributes to avoid comparison with creation.
However, the mainstream Islamic tradition of AhlusSunnah walJama’ah holds the belief that we must cling to what Allah has said about Himself without inquiring “how” (Bila Kayf).
C. Limiting Allah’s Names to Only 99
Although 99 names of Allah are commonly known and referred to in Hadith, scholars have a consensus that Allah has even more names which He did not reveal to human beings. For instance, in one of the supplications of the Prophet, he recited:
“Oh Allah, I beseech You by all of the names which are Your property which You named Yourself with, as You explained in Your Book published, commanded to any of Your creatures, or concealed with Yourself from knowledge of the concealed.”
(Ahmad, 3712)
This is to ensure that Allah’s names are beyond our understanding and that Allah Himself alone knows them all.
5. The Importance of Studying Allah’s Names and Attributes
- Promise of Faith (Iman): Familiarity with Allah’s names and attributes introduces people to Him and makes them willing to believe in His discriminatory judgment.
- Giving Vitality to Prayer: Invocation of Allah through His beautiful names provides religious enthusiasm and sincerity to prayers.
- Prevention from Misconceptions: Awareness of the difference between attributes and names prevents misconceptions and misinterpretations of Islamic theology.
- Encouragement of Love for Allah: Meditation on the names and qualities of Allah deepens the love, hope, and fear of Allah, thereby nourishing spiritual life.
Names and characteristics of Allah are integral pillars of the Islamic faith. The names of Allah are universal titles employed to describe His perfections and His perfection, whereas Allah’s characteristics express His characteristics and His actions. The name of Allah is succeeded by an attribute but not an attribute a name.
Through reading and reflection on the qualities and names of Allah, Muslims can strengthen their faith, pray more truly, and discover a closer heart to His Creator.
The topic has to be handled in humility, and what Allah Himself described regarding Himself was borrowed unadulterated, and unaltered.
Conclusion
It is important to grasp the difference between the names and attributes of Allah to gain an adequate and complete idea of Islamic theology.
The names of Allah are divine names that signify His perfection, while His attributes are descriptions of His qualities and actions. All the names of Allah imply an attribute, but not all of the attributes are single names.
Knowing this difference makes Muslims more steadfast in belief, worship Allah genuinely, and are free from misinterpretation of His divine attributes.
It also enhances love and respect for Allah, for pondering about His names and attributes enhances our knowledge of His grand magnificence, mercy, and wisdom.
We Muslims should learn Allah’s name and His attributes in humility, affirming what He has mentioned of Himself without adding, taking away, or likening to creation.
We therefore get closer to Allah, gain an even higher sense of worship, and achieve what is our calling of worshiping Him upon real knowledge and wisdom.
May Allah provide us with the strength to understand His beautiful names and attributes and call upon Him in the best way possible. Ameen.
