Explanation of the Hadith: "Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine names, and whoever enumerates them will enter Paradise."

The Shaykh : And look at the hadith that was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in which he said: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify them so that a person would exert himself in extracting them from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The hadith that was reported specifying them, the masters of hadith preservation said, is a fabricated insertion and is not authentic from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), so that a person would take it upon himself to extract these names from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), so that it becomes clear to the one who is eager to track down these names from others. Now, he says, "Whoever enumerates them will enter Paradise." Does the meaning of enumerating them mean that you memorize them, write them on a piece of paper, and memorize them with your heart? No, enumerating them is, first, knowing them by their wording, knowing their meaning, and worshipping Allah in accordance with their implications. This last point is the important one regarding the path and conduct toward Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Knowing their wording, second, knowing their meaning, third: worshipping Allah in accordance with their implications. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said: Know with a knowledge that changes your conduct and your methodology toward Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Worshipping Allah in accordance with their implications: if you know that Allah is All-Hearing, what do you avoid? You avoid every word that angers Allah and you choose every word that pleases Allah. If you know that Allah is All-Seeing, what do you do? You avoid every action that angers Allah and you perform every action that pleases Allah (Mighty and Majestic), because you know that Allah sees you, that He is All-Hearing and All-Seeing. Now, if you know that Allah is Wise, then you believe in the divine decree and destiny of Allah, and you know that what He has decreed and ordained is for a wisdom. And you believe in His legislation as well, so you submit to it completely, because you know that what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has ordained is for a wisdom.