It is obligatory for a believer to believe in the names and attributes of Allah. These names are called Asmaul Husna , meaning the most beautiful and perfect names. How many Asmaul Husna are there ? Read the following discussion.
[lwptoc]
Scholars’ Differences Regarding the Number of Names of Allah
There is a dispute among scholars regarding the number of names of Allah into two:
First Opinion . Allah’s names are unlimited in number. The names and attributes of Allah are stored in the unseen knowledge with Allah, no one knows them except Allah. This is the opinion of a number of scholars such as Al Khatabi, Al Qurtubi, Al Qadhi Abi Bakr bin Thayyib, Ibnul Arabi, Ar Raazi, and also Ibn Hajar Rahimahullah . Even Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said that there is agreement that the names of Allah are unlimited in number as stated in his book Syarh Sahih Muslim. Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimullah) said, “The Salaf scholars and their imams hold this opinion.”
Second Opinion: The names of Allah are limited to a certain number. However, there is disagreement regarding their number:
- Some say there are 100 names.
- Some say there are 1,000 names.
- Some say there are 4,000 names. One thousand names are known only to Allah, one thousand names are known only to Allah and His angels, and one thousand names are known only to Allah, the angels, and the prophets. As for the remaining one thousand names, believers know them. Three hundred are in the Torah, three hundred are in the Gospel, three hundred are in the Zabur, and the remaining one hundred are in the Qur’an. Ninety-nine of these are clearly known, and one is hidden.
- There are 99 names of Allah. It is not permissible for anyone to add to it. This is Ibn Hazm’s opinion in the book Al Muhalla. He argued with the hadith:
God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing وَاحِدًا
“ Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred minus one. ” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
The True Names of Allah Are Unlimited in Number
The names of Allah, which are included in Asmaaul Husana , are not limited to 99. The true number is not limited to 99. Only Allah knows the exact number. The evidence and reasons supporting this are as follows:
First . The words of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam :
God willing God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing خَلْقِكَ God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing
” I ask You with all the names that are Yours, that You named Yourself with, or that You revealed in Your Book, or that You taught to one of Your creatures, or that You kept secret in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You ” (HR. Ahmad, authentic)
The evidence for the above hadith is found in the words of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam :
God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing
” or what You have kept secret in the unseen knowledge that is with You”
This indicates that the names of Allah are more than ninety-nine. There are some names of Allah that Allah has hidden in the knowledge of Allah Ta’ala , which no one knows except Him.
Likewise, the words of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam read:
God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing وَاحِدًا مَنْ أَحْصَاهَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
“ Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred minus one. Whoever memorizes them will enter Paradise. ” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
The above hadith does not indicate a limitation of Allah’s names to only ninety-nine. If the meaning is to limit the number, the expression is as follows, “Indeed there are only ninety-nine names of Allah, whoever counts them will enter paradise”, or a similar expression.
The mention of the number in the hadith above explains that those who memorize ninety-nine names will enter Paradise. The phrase “whoever memorizes , understands, and practices them well will enter Paradise” is a complementary sentence that completes the previous sentence, not a separate sentence.
This can be clarified with the following example. For example, someone might say, “I have one hundred dirhams that I will give away.” This doesn’t preclude the person from having other money that they won’t give away. Therefore, the amount of money they have isn’t limited to just one hundred dirhams.
Second . An authentic hadith from the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam is that he prayed when prostrating by saying:
God willing, God willing, God willing, God willing وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوْبَتِكَ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ، لاَ أُحْصِيْ ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ.
” O Allah, indeed I seek refuge with Your blessing from Your wrath, and I seek refuge with Your salvation from Your torment, and I seek refuge with You from You. I am unable to limit the amount of praise to You . You are as You praise Yourself ” (HR Muslim).
Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam reported that he was unable to count all the praises for Allah. If he were able to count the names of Allah, he would surely be able to count all of Allah’s attributes, so that he could count all the praises for Allah. Because all of Allah’s attributes are revealed from His names.”
Third , the names of Allah in the Qur’an and Sunnah, if collected together, total more than 99. Scholars who attempted to compile the 99 names of Allah did not all mention the same names of Allah. This indicates that if all the names of Allah were collected from all the scholars who attempted to compile them, the total would certainly be more than 99.
Fourth . Limiting the number of Allah’s names to only ninety-nine with mafhuum ‘adad (linking legal postulates with certain number restrictions) is a weak way of postulating.
Fifth , there is no hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that explains which names are included in the ninety-nine names. The hadith that mentions this are weak , so scholars differ in their opinions regarding the ninety-nine names of Allah.
This is the more accurate opinion based on the evidence above. Therefore, we must believe that Allah Ta’ala possesses an infinite number of beautiful names .