The Difference Between a Name and an Attribute
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The fourth question of Fatwa No. ( 8942 ):
Q4 What is the difference between the names of Allah and His attributes?
A4 The names of Allah are everything that indicates the essence of Allah along with the attributes of perfection that subsist in Him, such as: the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. These names indicate the essence of Allah and what subsists in Him of knowledge, wisdom, hearing, and sight. As for the attributes, they are the descriptions of perfection that subsist in the essence, such as knowledge, wisdom, hearing, and sight. Thus, the name indicates two things, while the attribute indicates one thing. It is said that the name includes the attribute, and the attribute necessitates the name. It is obligatory to believe in everything established regarding Allah the Exalted or the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from both, in the manner befitting Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), along with the belief that He (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not resemble His creation in any of His attributes, just as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not resemble them in His essence. This is based on His saying, the Exalted:[Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4], and His saying, the Exalted: [Ash-Shuraa 42:11]. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q4 What is the difference between the names of Allah and His attributes?
A4 The names of Allah are everything that indicates the essence of Allah along with the attributes of perfection that subsist in Him, such as: the All-Powerful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. These names indicate the essence of Allah and what subsists in Him of knowledge, wisdom, hearing, and sight. As for the attributes, they are the descriptions of perfection that subsist in the essence, such as knowledge, wisdom, hearing, and sight. Thus, the name indicates two things, while the attribute indicates one thing. It is said that the name includes the attribute, and the attribute necessitates the name. It is obligatory to believe in everything established regarding Allah the Exalted or the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from both, in the manner befitting Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), along with the belief that He (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not resemble His creation in any of His attributes, just as He (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not resemble them in His essence. This is based on His saying, the Exalted:
(1) Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, (2) Allah, the Eternal Refuge. (3) He neither begets nor is born, (4) Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (1) اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ (2) لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ (3) وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌThere is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.