The Second Rule: The Chapter on Attributes Is Broader Than the Chapter on Names

The Shaykh :"The Second Rule" in what? In the rules of attributes: "That the chapter on attributes is broader than the chapter on names". The reason for this, he said, is: "That every name implies an attribute, as mentioned previously in the Third Rule of the Rules of Names". This is one point. "And because some of the attributes are related to the actions of Allah the Exalted, and His actions are endless, just as His words are endless". Therefore, they are broader than the names. "Allah the Exalted said:

And if whatever trees upon the earth were pens and the sea [was ink], replenished thereafter by seven [more] seas, the words of Allah would not be exhausted. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.

وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلامٌ وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

[Luqman 31:27]

" Now, the first explanation is clear. Every name implies an attribute, so in this case, they are equivalent. However, there are attributes by which Allah is not named, so they are in addition to the attributes implied by the names. This is why they are broader than the names. Every name implies an attribute, but not every attribute is derived from a name. Do you understand this? Therefore, the attributes are broader. "One who speaks" is an attribute, but it is not a name. So it is not permissible to name Allah as "One who speaks," but it is permissible to inform about Him that He is "One who speaks."
The second explanation says: Some of the attributes are related to the actions of Allah. Actions are not like names. Names indicate generality, while the actions of Allah, each specific action, are particular to what was done. For example, the descent to the lowest heaven: do we affirm it or not? It is an attribute we affirm. Is it an attribute or not? Yes. Do we say that we name Allah as "The One who descends"? No. And with this, it becomes clear that the chapter on attributes is broader. And his saying: "His actions are endless, just as His words are endless." So the actions are endless. For every action Allah does, it is correct to derive an attribute from it, but not a name. Allah the Exalted said: . The discussion of this verse has already taken place.