In his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), “Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine names, whoever enumerates them will enter Paradise,” what is the meaning of “whoever enumerates them”?
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The questioner : May Allah forgive you. In the hadith regarding the names of Allah, what is the meaning of ?
The Shaykh : The hadith mentioned by our brother in his question is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3508Sahih (Darussalam) And the meaning of “enumerates them” is that he knows them by their wording, knows their meanings, and worships Allah in accordance with their implications.
For example, he knows that among the names of Allah the Exalted are al-Malik (the King), al-Quddus (the Holy), al-Salam (the Source of Peace), al-Mu’min (the Giver of Security), al-Muhaymin (the Guardian), al-‘Aziz (the Almighty), al-Jabbar (the Compeller), al-Mutakabbir (the Supreme), al-Ghafur (the All-Forgiving), al-Rahim (the Merciful), al-Sami‘ (the All-Hearing), al-Basir (the All-Seeing), and so on. He knows the name and also knows the meaning of the name, and he affirms it for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For instance, al-Sami‘ means that He is characterized by hearing; He is All-Hearing and He hears. The third condition is to worship Allah in accordance with its implication. So if he knows that al-Sami‘ is among the names of Allah, and that al-Sami‘ means the Possessor of hearing, then he worships Allah in accordance with this, meaning: he does not say anything that would incur the anger of Allah, but rather he speaks only with what pleases Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). Therefore, if he knows them by their wording but does not know their meaning, he will not benefit. And if he knows them by their wording but denies their meaning, as the Mu’tazilah say, he has not enumerated them. And if he knows them by their wording and meaning but does not worship Allah in accordance with their implications, then he has not enumerated them. These three conditions are indicated by the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3508Sahih (Darussalam) And entering Paradise is not an easy matter, so this enumeration must include these three things: first, knowing the name; second, knowing its meaning; and third, acting in accordance with its implication. Yes.
Whoever enumerates them
من أحصاهاenumerates them
أحصاهاThe Shaykh : The hadith mentioned by our brother in his question is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine Names, whoever counts them shall enter Paradise.
إن لله تسعة وتسعين اسماً من أحصاها دخل الجنةFor example, he knows that among the names of Allah the Exalted are al-Malik (the King), al-Quddus (the Holy), al-Salam (the Source of Peace), al-Mu’min (the Giver of Security), al-Muhaymin (the Guardian), al-‘Aziz (the Almighty), al-Jabbar (the Compeller), al-Mutakabbir (the Supreme), al-Ghafur (the All-Forgiving), al-Rahim (the Merciful), al-Sami‘ (the All-Hearing), al-Basir (the All-Seeing), and so on. He knows the name and also knows the meaning of the name, and he affirms it for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For instance, al-Sami‘ means that He is characterized by hearing; He is All-Hearing and He hears. The third condition is to worship Allah in accordance with its implication. So if he knows that al-Sami‘ is among the names of Allah, and that al-Sami‘ means the Possessor of hearing, then he worships Allah in accordance with this, meaning: he does not say anything that would incur the anger of Allah, but rather he speaks only with what pleases Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). Therefore, if he knows them by their wording but does not know their meaning, he will not benefit. And if he knows them by their wording but denies their meaning, as the Mu’tazilah say, he has not enumerated them. And if he knows them by their wording and meaning but does not worship Allah in accordance with their implications, then he has not enumerated them. These three conditions are indicated by the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: