Al-Majeed [The Glorious], Al-Kabeer [The Great], Al-‘Adheem [The Exalted] & Al-Jaleel [The Noble]

By Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’dee [d.1376H]

He is described with the Attributes of glory, grandeur, greatness and magnificence. He is the One Who is greater, more exalted and magnificent than anything, He is glorified and magnified in the hearts of His friends and close ones, their hearts overflow with His greatness and magnificence, submission to Him and humility before His grandeur.

“Owner of the Throne, Al-Majeed.” [Al-Buruj 85:15]

“All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, Al-Kabeer, the Most High.” [Ar-Ra’d 13:9]

“Then glorify with praises the Names of your Lord, Al-Adheem.” [Al-Waqi’ah 56:74]

The Etiquette & Behaviour [of a Muslim] Towards Allaah

By Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Jaza’iry

A Muslim thinks about the countless blessings that Allaah has bestowed upon him. He considers the numerous bounties that Allaah has given him from the time that he was a “drop of fluid” in his mother’s womb. The bounties continue until he meets his Lord. Therefore, a Muslim must thank Allaah for these bounties with his tongue, by praising Him and Extolling Him in a proper manner. He must also thank Him with his limbs by using them in obedience to Him. This is how he should behave towards Allaah. Obviously, it is never considered proper etiquette to be ungrateful for bounties one has received, or to reject the favour of the One Who gives, nor to deny His beneficence and kindness. Allaah has said:

“And whatever blessings or good thing you have, it is from Allaah.” [An-Nahl 16:53]

Al-Hameed [The One Who is Praised]

By Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’dee [d.1376H]

In His Person, Names, Attributes and Actions. He possesses the best of Names and the most perfect of Attributes coupled with the best and most complete actions, for indeed the Actions of Allaah are based upon grace and justice.

“Alif Laam, Raa. A Book which we have revealed to you that you might lead mankind out of darkness into the light by the leave of their Lord, the Almighty, Al-Hameed.” [Ibrahim 14:1]

“And indeed We bestowed upon Luqman wisdom saying, ‘Give thanks to Allaah,’ and whosoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for [the benefit] of his own self. And whoever is ungrateful then verily Allaah is All-Rich, Hameed.” [Luqman 31:12]

Al-Baseer [The All-Seeing]

By Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’dee [d.1376H]

The one who sees all things even if they be insignificant and minute. He sees the black ant on a black stone in a black night. He sees what is below the seventh earth and what is above the seventh heaven. He is also Hearing and Seeing of those who deserve recompense, in accordance of the dictates of His wisdom.

“Say: Shall I inform you of the things far better than that. For the pious and God-fearing are Gardens with their Lord underneath which rivers flow. Remaining in them eternally, and pure wives, and the pleasure of Allaah. Allaah is the Baseer of His slaves.” [Aali Imran 3:15]

“Neither your relatives nor your children will benefit you on the Day of Resurrection. He will judge between you and Allaah is Baseer of what you do.” [Al-Mumtahinah 60:3]

The Fruits from Belief in the Pillars of Eemaan

By Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen [d.1421H]

P. 150:

Eemaan in Allaah, the Most High, as we have described it, will produce great fruits for the believers, from them:

That he implements and realises the tawheed of Allaah, the Most High, such that he is not attached and devoted to other than Him. So he does not place hope in others, fear others, and does not worship any besides Him.

Completion of one’s love for Allaah, the Most High, and to revere Him as is demanded by His Perfect Names and Exalted Attributes.

To accomplish worship of Him by doing whatever He has commanded, and avoiding whatever He has forbidden.

P. 152:

As-Samee’ [The All-Hearing]

By Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’dee [d.1376H]

The one who hears all sounds and voices, in all of their different languages and all of their many and various needs.

“Say: If they believe as you [O Prophet and Companions] believe then say they are rightly guided, but if they turn away then they are only entrenched in hostility. Allaah will suffice you against them and He is As-Samee’, the All-Knowing.” [Al-Baqarah 2:137]

“Allaah judges with truth while those whom they invoke besides Him cannot judge anything. Indeed Allaah is As-Samee’, the All-Seeing.” [Ghafir 40:20]

Ar-Rahmaan [The All-Merciful], Ar-Raheem [The Most Merciful], Al-Barr [The Generous], Al-Kareem [The Kind], Al-Jawwaad [The Bestower of Good], Al-Ra’oof [The Kind] & Al-Wahhaab [The Bestower]

By Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’dee [d.1376H]

All of these Names are close in meaning and all of then point to describing the Lord with mercy, generosity and kindness. They point to the great expanse of His mercy and gifts that encompass all that is existence, being granted in accordance to the dictates of His wisdom. The believers have been specifically singled out for this and are granted a goodly and the best portion of thus as Allaah said,

“My mercy encompasses all things and I shall decree it for those who have taqwa.” [Al-A’raf 7:156]

All blessings and the various aspects of beneficence are from the effects of His mercy, generosity and kindness just as all beneficence in this world and in the Hereafter is from the effects of His mercy.

How Many Characteristics of a Believer do You Have?

By Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’dee [d.1376H]

Allaah, the Exalted says:

“Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salaat [prayers] with all solemnity and full submissiveness. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw [dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allaah has forbidden]. And those who pay the Zakaat. And those who guard their chastity [i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts] except from their wives or [the captives and slaves] that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame; But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors; Those who are faithfully true to their Amanaat [all the duties which Allaah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts etc.] and to their covenants; And those who strictly guard their [five compulsory congregational] Salawaat [prayers] [at their fixed stated hours]. These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the Firdaus [Paradise]. They shall dwell therein forever.” [Al-Mu’minun 23:1-11]

Important Principles Concerning Allaah’s Names & Attributes

By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen [d.1421H]

Before entering into the core of this book I would like to introduce some important principles related to Allaah’s Names and Attributes. [20]

The First Principle: What is obligatory from the texts of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah regarding Allaah’s Names and Attributes

With regard to the texts of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, it is obligatory [concerning Allaah’s Names and Attributes] to leave their proofs and implications upon their literal meanings without changing them. This is because Allaah revealed the Qur’aan in a plain Arabic language and the Prophet [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] used to speak with the Arabic language.

Therefore, it is obligatory to leave the implications of the words of Allaah and the words if the Messenger of Allaah [sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] as they are, in that language. Also, changing it from its literal meaning is speaking about Allaah without knowledge and this is forbidden, due to the statement of Allaah:

Al-Hakeem [The All-Wise]

By Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sa’dee [d.1376H]

He is the one to whom belongs the highest wisdom, the one who is All-Wise in His creating and ordering, the one who made well everything that He created.

“And who is better than Allaah in judgement for a people who have firm faith?” [Al-Ma’idah 5:50]

Therefore He has created nothing out of mere frivolity and He has legislated nothing that is vain and of no use.

He is the one to whom belongs judgement in the beginning and the end. He has three areas of ruling that nothing else has a share in: He rules over His servants with respect to His Law, His decree and His recompense.

Wisdom is to put something in its correct place.