Warning about a rule in the chapter of the Names and Attributes.
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The Shaykh : No, no? Look, may Allah reward you. The scholars say that the Names of Allah are *taqifiyyah* (based on revelation). The Names of Allah are *taqifiyyah*. What does *taqifiyyah* mean? It means that we do not know the Names of Allah except through the revelation of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that guided us to them. Do you understand this? Good.
It is not permissible for us to name Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with what He has not named Himself with, or what His Prophet has not named Him with. It is not permissible for us to name our Lord except with what He named Himself with, or what His Prophet named Him with. Do you
So now, we do not find among the Names of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) anything other than *al-Sattir* (The Concealer). As for *al-Satir* or *al-Sitar*, they have not been reported among His Names (Glorified and Exalted is He). Even if the meaning is correct. I mean, if someone said to you: "Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is generous, not stingy," is this meaning correct or not?
The questioner : Yes, that is correct.
The Shaykh : It is correct, but it is not permissible for us to name Him *Sakhi* (Generous). However, we name Him with the synonymous name, because Allah named Himself with it on the tongue of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which is *al-Karim* (The Most Generous). *Al-Karim* and *Sakhi* are two synonymous terms in the Arabic language that convey the same meaning. So, the fact that *Sakhi* means *Karim* does not justify us saying, "O Sakhi, grant me favor, bestow upon me." Rather, we say, "O Karim," because the Names of Allah are *taqifiyyah*. Is the speech clear? Good.
The questioner : Good. It is said that a servant makes a mistake during the day and conceals it. Is *al-Sitr* (concealment) one of the Names of Allah or not?
The Shaykh : We are talking about what pertains to Allah, not what pertains to the servants of Allah. If I see a person making a mistake and I conceal it for him, there is no harm. And if I say that Allah conceals it for him, there is no harm. But do we derive from this name a name to attribute to Allah, saying that He is *Satir* or *Sitar*? No. Rather, what came in the hadith is what he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He is *Hayy* (The Living) and *Sattir* (The Concealer)." This is what came. We have the words *Sitar* and *Satir*, which are very well known. So the point is that the Names of Allah are *taqifiyyah*.
Our Lord says in the Noble Qur'an:[Ali 'Imran 3:54], so it is not permissible for us to name Allah *al-Makir* (The Plotter), nor is it permissible to name Him *al-Makkir* (The Great Plotter), because He has not named Himself with that. We do not derive from this compound name [Ali 'Imran 3:54] an active participle: *Makir*, nor do we derive from it an active participle of exaggeration: *Makkir*! No, because the Names of Allah are *taqifiyyah*.
It is not permissible for us to say, for example, "Allah is *Aqil* (Intelligent)," even though we believe that He is, of course, not insane, and the intelligent one is the opposite of the insane. But we have a word in the Qur'an and the Sunnah that suffices us for this name, which is *al-Hakim* (The Wise) and *al-'Alim* (The All-Knowing). Do you see? This is the meaning of our saying that the Names of Allah are *taqifiyyah*.
It is not permissible for us to name Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with what He has not named Himself with, or what His Prophet has not named Him with. It is not permissible for us to name our Lord except with what He named Himself with, or what His Prophet named Him with. Do you
So now, we do not find among the Names of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) anything other than *al-Sattir* (The Concealer). As for *al-Satir* or *al-Sitar*, they have not been reported among His Names (Glorified and Exalted is He). Even if the meaning is correct. I mean, if someone said to you: "Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is generous, not stingy," is this meaning correct or not?
The questioner : Yes, that is correct.
The Shaykh : It is correct, but it is not permissible for us to name Him *Sakhi* (Generous). However, we name Him with the synonymous name, because Allah named Himself with it on the tongue of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which is *al-Karim* (The Most Generous). *Al-Karim* and *Sakhi* are two synonymous terms in the Arabic language that convey the same meaning. So, the fact that *Sakhi* means *Karim* does not justify us saying, "O Sakhi, grant me favor, bestow upon me." Rather, we say, "O Karim," because the Names of Allah are *taqifiyyah*. Is the speech clear? Good.
The questioner : Good. It is said that a servant makes a mistake during the day and conceals it. Is *al-Sitr* (concealment) one of the Names of Allah or not?
The Shaykh : We are talking about what pertains to Allah, not what pertains to the servants of Allah. If I see a person making a mistake and I conceal it for him, there is no harm. And if I say that Allah conceals it for him, there is no harm.
No Muslim conceals his Muslim brother except that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will conceal him.
ما ستر عبد مسلماً أخاه المسلم إلا ستره الله عز وجلWhen any one of you goes to the place of relief, let him conceal himself, for Allah is *Hayy* (The Living) and *Sattir* (The Concealer), and He loves that His servant should conceal himself.
إذا اتى أحدكم الخلاء فليستتر فإن الله حييّ ستّير يحب من عبده أن يستترOur Lord says in the Noble Qur'an:
And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners.
ومكروا ومكر الله والله خير الماكرينAnd Allah is the best of planners.
والله خير الماكرينIt is not permissible for us to say, for example, "Allah is *Aqil* (Intelligent)," even though we believe that He is, of course, not insane, and the intelligent one is the opposite of the insane. But we have a word in the Qur'an and the Sunnah that suffices us for this name, which is *al-Hakim* (The Wise) and *al-'Alim* (The All-Knowing). Do you see? This is the meaning of our saying that the Names of Allah are *taqifiyyah*.