The Fourth Topic: The Name among the Names of Allah that indicates the Essence and the Names, and the Fifth Topic.
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The Shaykh : Also: The Name. This is the fourth topic: The Name among the Names of Allah indicates the Essence and the meaning, as previously mentioned. Therefore, we must believe in it as one of the Names of Allah, and we must believe in the attribute it contains, and we must also believe in the ruling and effect that this attribute indicates. So if we say, among the Names of Allah is al-Asma' (The All-Hearing)? Do we believe that He is? Hmm?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : No, ... Yes.
The student: We say that His Name is al-Asma' (The All-Hearing) and His attribute is hearing.
The Shaykh : Yes, we believe that al-Asma' (The All-Hearing) is among His Names, and that al-Asma' (The All-Hearing) indicates hearing, which is this attribute, and that this hearing has a ruling, which is that He hears by it, as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Mujadila 58:1] So He said, "He heard and He hears." Do you understand? But if the Name does not take an object, like al-Hayy (The Ever-Living) and al-'Azim (The Magnificent), then we affirm the Name, and what else? And the attribute only, because it has no ruling that takes an object. So we affirm for Him the Name and the attribute. And at that point, we say that faith in the Name is not complete unless you believe that it is one of the Names of Allah, and you believe in the attribute it contains, and you believe in the effect or ruling that follows from that attribute. And this last part is when the Name takes an object. But if it does not take an object, like al-Hayy (The Ever-Living), al-'Azim (The Magnificent), al-Jalil (The Majestic), and the like, then it has no ruling that takes an object.
The student: What does "taking an object" mean?
The Shaykh : "Taking an object" means that it extends to an object, it extends to other than itself. For example, al-Asma' (The All-Hearing) hears other than Himself, but al-Hayy (The Ever-Living), His life is...
The student: He gives life.
The Shaykh : No, that is al-Muhyi (The Giver of Life). Al-Hayy (The Ever-Living) is by His essence, so He is not al-Muhyi (The Giver of Life). Al-Muhyi (The Giver of Life) is one of His actions. Al-Hayy (The Ever-Living) is Himself. Al-'Azim (The Magnificent) is Himself Magnificent; it does not extend to other than Him. So at that point, if the Name does not take an object, they say that the Name and its attribute are affirmed. Why? Because it does not extend, it does not extend to other than the one described. Hmm?
The student: Al-Qayyum (The Self-Sustaining)?
The Shaykh : Al-Qayyum (The Self-Sustaining) is the One who stands by Himself and over others. It has a ruling that takes an object.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : No, ... Yes.
The student: We say that His Name is al-Asma' (The All-Hearing) and His attribute is hearing.
The Shaykh : Yes, we believe that al-Asma' (The All-Hearing) is among His Names, and that al-Asma' (The All-Hearing) indicates hearing, which is this attribute, and that this hearing has a ruling, which is that He hears by it, as Allah the Exalted said:
Certainly has Allah heard the speech of the one who argues with you, [O Muhammad], concerning her husband and directs her complaint to Allah. And Allah hears
قد سمع الله قول التي تجادلك في زوجها وتشتكي إلى الله والله يسمعThe student: What does "taking an object" mean?
The Shaykh : "Taking an object" means that it extends to an object, it extends to other than itself. For example, al-Asma' (The All-Hearing) hears other than Himself, but al-Hayy (The Ever-Living), His life is...
The student: He gives life.
The Shaykh : No, that is al-Muhyi (The Giver of Life). Al-Hayy (The Ever-Living) is by His essence, so He is not al-Muhyi (The Giver of Life). Al-Muhyi (The Giver of Life) is one of His actions. Al-Hayy (The Ever-Living) is Himself. Al-'Azim (The Magnificent) is Himself Magnificent; it does not extend to other than Him. So at that point, if the Name does not take an object, they say that the Name and its attribute are affirmed. Why? Because it does not extend, it does not extend to other than the one described. Hmm?
The student: Al-Qayyum (The Self-Sustaining)?
The Shaykh : Al-Qayyum (The Self-Sustaining) is the One who stands by Himself and over others. It has a ruling that takes an object.