WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:09.089 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah. 00:00:09.089 --> 00:00:14.089 The importance of knowledge regarding the beautiful names and sublime attributes of Allah. 00:00:14.089 --> 00:00:19.370 There is no doubt that the nobility of a branch of knowledge is derived from the nobility of its subject matter. 00:00:19.370 --> 00:00:25.370 Since the subject matter studied in the names and attributes is Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, 00:00:25.370 --> 00:00:28.370 this knowledge is the most noble of all sciences. 00:00:28.370 --> 00:00:34.399 And if the preceding concepts have clarified the foundations of the oneness of the names and attributes, 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:41.399 as well as those who oppose these foundations, their schools of thought, their misconceptions, and the refutations against them, 00:00:41.399 --> 00:00:47.399 then all of this serves as necessary introductions to understanding this noble science. 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:53.399 It clears the rust and the dust of the skeptics' misconceptions from the heart of the believing servant, 00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:57.399 thereby preparing him to believe in these sublime attributes, 00:00:57.399 --> 00:01:00.399 with a sound and complete faith, 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:03.399 and to realize the effects of that faith. 00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:09.400 This is the primary and fundamental purpose of knowing the names and attributes: 00:01:09.400 --> 00:01:12.400 to worship Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, through them, 00:01:12.400 --> 00:01:14.400 and to act in accordance with their implications. 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:16.400 As the Almighty said: 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:21.400 “Allah's are the fairest names. Invoke Him by them. And leave the company of those who blaspheme His names. They will be requited what they do.” (7:180) 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:24.400 "And leave those who deviate concerning His names." 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:27.400 “Allah's are the fairest names. Invoke Him by them. And leave the company of those who blaspheme His names. They will be requited what they do.” (7:180) 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:33.500 Reflect on how the verse explicitly commands calling upon Allah by His beautiful names, 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:35.500 for that is the essence of worship. 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:40.500 And note how it commands, at its end, to abandon those who deviate in this matter, 00:01:40.500 --> 00:01:46.500 and to distance oneself from their misguided methodologies for which they will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection. 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:50.750 In what follows are matters, in addition to what has preceded, 00:01:50.750 --> 00:01:54.750 that clarify the importance and nobility of this science. 00:01:54.750 --> 00:02:00.040 First: Knowledge of the names and attributes of Allah is the foundation of all knowledge, 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:04.040 the basis of faith, and the first of all obligations. 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:06.040 As the Almighty said: 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:10.039 "So know that there is no god but Allah." 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:12.199 When people truly know their Lord, 00:02:12.199 --> 00:02:16.199 they fulfill His worship in the correct manner, 00:02:16.199 --> 00:02:20.199 and they realize the reality of this world and what is required of them within it. 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:23.199 Allah, the Glorified, has described Himself 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:26.199 as possessing both creation and command. 00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:28.199 Every known thing other than Allah 00:02:28.199 --> 00:02:32.199 is either a creation or a command. 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:36.199 The verse clarifies that the source of creation and command 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:40.199 is Allah, the possessor of the beautiful names and sublime attributes. 00:02:40.199 --> 00:02:43.199 Therefore, enumerating the attributes 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:46.199 is the foundation for enumerating all known things, 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:51.199 because all information is linked to the attributes and follows from them. 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:53.580 Second: 00:02:53.580 --> 00:02:56.580 One infers from what is known of the attributes of Allah, the Almighty, 00:02:56.580 --> 00:03:01.580 the nature of what He decrees and the laws He legislates. 00:03:01.580 --> 00:03:06.580 For the decrees and laws of Allah revolve between justice and grace, 00:03:06.580 --> 00:03:08.580 wisdom and mercy. 00:03:08.580 --> 00:03:11.580 Whoever knows this about his Lord 00:03:11.580 --> 00:03:13.580 will not harbor evil thoughts about Him, the Glorified, 00:03:13.580 --> 00:03:17.580 nor will he object to His decrees or His laws. 00:03:17.580 --> 00:03:19.900 Third: 00:03:19.900 --> 00:03:22.900 The close connection between the attributes of Allah, the Almighty, 00:03:22.900 --> 00:03:27.900 and the outward and inward acts of worship they necessitate. 00:03:27.900 --> 00:03:30.900 For every attribute, there is a specific form of servitude 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:34.900 that is among the requirements of knowing it and realizing that knowledge. 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:39.900 As will become clear in the fruits of knowing the names and attributes. 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:42.099 Fourth: 00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:47.099 Contemplating the meanings of the names of Allah and realizing His attributes, the Almighty and Majestic, 00:03:47.099 --> 00:03:50.099 assists in contemplating the Book of Allah, the Almighty, 00:03:50.099 --> 00:03:55.099 which we are commanded to do in more than one of His verses. 00:03:55.099 --> 00:03:57.099 As the Almighty said: 00:03:57.099 --> 00:04:03.099 "A blessed Book which We have revealed to you, that they might reflect upon its verses," 00:04:03.099 --> 00:04:06.099 "and that those of understanding would be reminded." 00:04:06.099 --> 00:04:08.379 Fifth: 00:04:08.379 --> 00:04:12.379 A servant's lack of knowledge regarding the names and attributes of Allah 00:04:12.379 --> 00:04:17.379 results in evil effects and dire consequences in his life. 00:04:17.379 --> 00:04:19.639 Sixth: 00:04:19.639 --> 00:04:23.639 True knowledge of the names and attributes of Allah 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:27.639 is the fundamental building block of Islamic upbringing, 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:32.639 as the young Muslim is raised upon the belief that Allah is the Creator, the Originator, 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:35.639 the Provider, the Giver of benefit, the Bringer of harm, 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:41.639 the Giver of life, the Bringer of death, the Master of the Day of Judgment and Recompense, and so on. 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:48.639 This has immense fruits in the heart of the believer, his worship, his conduct, and his character.