Review of what came before.
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The Shaykh : But.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
We have previously stated that we believe in the oneness of Allah’s lordship, the oneness of Allah’s worship, and the oneness of Allah’s names and attributes, meaning that He has the most beautiful names and the highest attributes. We explained the meaning of "most beautiful," which means those that have reached the utmost in beauty, and "highest," which likewise means those that have reached the highest degree of description. We provided evidence for this.
Now, branching from what we said, we begin the lesson from this point: since all the names that Allah has affirmed for Himself are the most beautiful, there is no name among His names that is a static name that does not indicate an attribute. There is absolutely no static name among Allah’s names that does not indicate an attribute, because a static name has no meaning, let alone a beautiful meaning. An example of a static name is "Asad" (lion). "Asad" is a static name. Similarly, we might name some people "Khalid." Is it true that this name contains an attribute? Why? Because Allah the Exalted says:[Al-Anbya 21:34] We might name a person "Abdullah," yet he is one of the most wicked of Allah’s servants, so he is not truly a servant of Allah. We might name a person "Muhammad," yet he is blameworthy and has no good trait. But Allah’s names contain meaning. That is why it is said that Allah’s names are both proper names and descriptions. Allah’s names are proper names and descriptions. Every name is a proper name in that it indicates the Essence, and it is also a description in that it indicates the meaning. Do you understand now? Yes. We say that Allah’s names are proper names and descriptions. In that this name indicates Allah, it is a proper name, and in that it indicates the meaning, it is a description. Now, does the name "Allah" fall under this?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, it falls under this, and indeed it is the most fitting and the first to fall under this, even though some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said that "Allah" is not a derived name but merely a proper name. We say: Glory be to Allah, Allah says:[Al-A'raf 7:180] What is the derived meaning that "Allah" indicates? It indicates the oneness of worship (al-Uluhiyyah). This is sufficient. As for the attributes, they are all the highest. Therefore, Allah the Exalted is not described with any attribute that contains blame, absolutely. All of Allah’s attributes are free from blame, from blame and criticism; they are all the most beautiful. Yes, they are all the highest. I explained yesterday the evidence by His saying: [An-Nahl 16:60] Now, if someone asks: Is Allah described as "the Speaker"?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Is He described as "the Speaker"? Yes, He is described as such, but He is not named "the Speaker." Why? Because speech in itself is a highest attribute, but as a name, it is not appropriate to be a name, because the one who speaks may speak good, or may speak evil, or something that is not good. The speech of Allah the Exalted is free from that. Therefore, it did not come as one of Allah’s names. Now, "the Willer" (Murid)?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Is Allah described with this? Yes, Allah is described with this, because Allah the Exalted said:[Hud 11:107] But is Allah named with this? No. Why? Because will (iradah) can be a will for good, and it can be a will for other than good, i.e., evil, or neither good nor evil. Allah, Glorified and Exalted, is free from a will that contains no good. Everything Allah wills...
The student: Better
The Shaykh : Rather, every will of Allah is good. Every will of Allah is good. As for what He wills (muraad), pay attention: the will is all good, and what is willed...
The student: contains good.
The Shaykh : It contains good and evil, correct?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : The will is good, and what is willed contains good and evil. For example, every created thing is by the will of Allah. Is every created thing good?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Answer, everyone.
The student : No
The student: No.
The Shaykh : No, among the created things there is what is evil, such as wild beasts, insects, and the like. But the will of Allah for them is undoubtedly good, for Allah did not create them except for a great wisdom. Now, "He has the most beautiful names and the complete, highest attributes". Perhaps, if Allah wills, we will come to important rules in this matter, and if Allah wills, we will discuss them.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.
We have previously stated that we believe in the oneness of Allah’s lordship, the oneness of Allah’s worship, and the oneness of Allah’s names and attributes, meaning that He has the most beautiful names and the highest attributes. We explained the meaning of "most beautiful," which means those that have reached the utmost in beauty, and "highest," which likewise means those that have reached the highest degree of description. We provided evidence for this.
Now, branching from what we said, we begin the lesson from this point: since all the names that Allah has affirmed for Himself are the most beautiful, there is no name among His names that is a static name that does not indicate an attribute. There is absolutely no static name among Allah’s names that does not indicate an attribute, because a static name has no meaning, let alone a beautiful meaning. An example of a static name is "Asad" (lion). "Asad" is a static name. Similarly, we might name some people "Khalid." Is it true that this name contains an attribute? Why? Because Allah the Exalted says:
And We did not grant to any man before you eternity
وما جعلنا لبشر من قبلك الخلدThe student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, it falls under this, and indeed it is the most fitting and the first to fall under this, even though some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said that "Allah" is not a derived name but merely a proper name. We say: Glory be to Allah, Allah says:
And to Allah belong the best names
ولله الأسماء الحسنىand for Allah is the highest attribute
ولله المثل ألاعلىThe student: No.
The Shaykh : Is He described as "the Speaker"? Yes, He is described as such, but He is not named "the Speaker." Why? Because speech in itself is a highest attribute, but as a name, it is not appropriate to be a name, because the one who speaks may speak good, or may speak evil, or something that is not good. The speech of Allah the Exalted is free from that. Therefore, it did not come as one of Allah’s names. Now, "the Willer" (Murid)?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Is Allah described with this? Yes, Allah is described with this, because Allah the Exalted said:
an effecter of what He intends.
فعال لما يريدThe student: Better
The Shaykh : Rather, every will of Allah is good. Every will of Allah is good. As for what He wills (muraad), pay attention: the will is all good, and what is willed...
The student: contains good.
The Shaykh : It contains good and evil, correct?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : The will is good, and what is willed contains good and evil. For example, every created thing is by the will of Allah. Is every created thing good?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Answer, everyone.
The student : No
The student: No.
The Shaykh : No, among the created things there is what is evil, such as wild beasts, insects, and the like. But the will of Allah for them is undoubtedly good, for Allah did not create them except for a great wisdom. Now, "He has the most beautiful names and the complete, highest attributes". Perhaps, if Allah wills, we will come to important rules in this matter, and if Allah wills, we will discuss them.