WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:08.990 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah. 00:00:08.990 --> 00:00:10.990 The Greatest Name of Allah. 00:00:10.990 --> 00:00:14.080 It is mentioned in the hadith. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:18.079 That the Greatest Name of Allah, if He is called upon by it, He answers. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:20.079 And if He is asked by it, He gives. 00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:23.140 Narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:26.140 There are several opinions regarding its identification. 00:00:26.140 --> 00:00:29.210 Perhaps the most likely of these are two opinions. 00:00:29.210 --> 00:00:33.210 First, that this Greatest Name is "Allah". 00:00:33.210 --> 00:00:36.210 For it is the greatest of names and the most comprehensive. 00:00:36.210 --> 00:00:39.210 No one other than Him, the Almighty and Majestic, has ever been named by it. 00:00:39.210 --> 00:00:42.210 That is why it is neither dualized nor pluralized. 00:00:42.210 --> 00:00:46.210 This is one of the interpretations of His saying: 00:00:46.210 --> 00:00:49.210 “Lord of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them! Therefor, worship thou Him and be thou steadfast in His service. Knowest thou one that can be named along with Him?” (19:65) 00:00:49.210 --> 00:00:52.210 Meaning: Do you know of anyone who shares the name "Allah"? 00:00:52.210 --> 00:00:54.270 It is the name of the True Allah. 00:00:54.270 --> 00:00:57.270 The one who encompasses the attributes of divinity. 00:00:57.270 --> 00:01:00.270 The one described with the attributes of Lordship. 00:01:00.270 --> 00:01:02.270 The truly Unique. 00:01:02.270 --> 00:01:05.340 There is no god but He. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:08.340 Several points support this opinion. 00:01:08.340 --> 00:01:11.340 Among them is that it appears in the hadith. 00:01:11.340 --> 00:01:14.340 Which points to the Greatest Name. 00:01:14.340 --> 00:01:17.370 Which, if one calls upon Allah by it, is answered. 00:01:17.370 --> 00:01:20.370 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, heard. 00:01:20.370 --> 00:01:23.459 One of the Companions saying: 00:01:23.459 --> 00:01:26.459 "O Allah, I ask You by the fact that I bear witness." 00:01:26.459 --> 00:01:30.459 "That You are Allah, there is no god but You." 00:01:30.459 --> 00:01:32.459 "The One, the Eternal Refuge." 00:01:32.459 --> 00:01:35.459 "Who neither begets nor is born." 00:01:35.459 --> 00:01:38.530 “And there is none comparable unto Him.” (112:4) 00:01:38.530 --> 00:01:41.530 So he, peace be upon him, said: 00:01:41.530 --> 00:01:44.530 "You have asked Allah by His Greatest Name." 00:01:44.530 --> 00:01:47.530 "Which, if He is asked by it, He gives." 00:01:47.530 --> 00:01:50.659 "And if He is called upon by it, He answers." 00:01:50.659 --> 00:01:53.849 Narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi. 00:01:53.849 --> 00:01:57.849 Another point is its frequent occurrence in the Holy Qur'an. 00:01:57.849 --> 00:02:01.849 It has appeared 2,724 times. 00:02:01.849 --> 00:02:05.040 Another point is the relationship of all other names. 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:08.039 The Most Beautiful Names to it, and not the reverse. 00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:11.039 For they follow the name "Allah" as attributes. 00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:14.039 We say, for example, among the attributes of Allah is the All-Knowing. 00:02:14.039 --> 00:02:17.039 The Wise, the Almighty. 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:19.039 And so on. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:21.039 We do not say, among the attributes of the All-Knowing is: 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:23.460 Allah. 00:02:23.460 --> 00:02:25.460 Another point is that Allah, the Exalted, 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:27.460 Revealed Himself to Musa, peace be upon him, 00:02:27.460 --> 00:02:29.460 By this name. 00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:31.460 Allah, the Exalted, said: 00:02:31.460 --> 00:02:34.460 “And I have chosen thee, so hearken unto that which is inspired.” (20:13) 00:02:34.460 --> 00:02:38.460 “Lo! I, even I, am Allah, There is no Allah save Me. So serve Me and establish worship for My remembrance.” (20:14) 00:02:38.460 --> 00:02:42.460 "So worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance." 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:44.460 Likewise, He, glory be to Him, introduced Himself. 00:02:44.460 --> 00:02:47.460 To His servants in the greatest verse. 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:50.460 In His Book, which is the Verse of the Throne (Ayat al-Kursi). 00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:52.460 Beginning with this name. 00:02:52.460 --> 00:02:54.460 For He, the Exalted, said: 00:02:54.460 --> 00:02:57.460 "Allah—there is no god but He." 00:02:57.460 --> 00:03:01.810 Another point is that Allah is frequently called upon using the term: 00:03:01.810 --> 00:03:03.810 "Allahumma" (O Allah). 00:03:03.810 --> 00:03:06.810 Which means "O Allah." 00:03:06.810 --> 00:03:09.810 This is why the word "Allahumma" is not used. 00:03:09.810 --> 00:03:11.810 Except in supplication. 00:03:11.810 --> 00:03:13.810 One does not say: 00:03:13.810 --> 00:03:15.810 "O Allah, Forgiving, Merciful." 00:03:15.810 --> 00:03:17.810 Rather, one says: 00:03:17.810 --> 00:03:20.810 "O Allah, forgive me and have mercy on me." 00:03:20.810 --> 00:03:23.810 It is the name by which He is called upon most often. 00:03:23.810 --> 00:03:26.810 And by which He is asked most often. 00:03:26.810 --> 00:03:28.810 Thus, it is fitting that it should apply to it. 00:03:28.810 --> 00:03:31.810 The statement of the Messenger, peace be upon him: 00:03:31.810 --> 00:03:34.810 "If He is asked by it, He gives." 00:03:34.810 --> 00:03:37.810 "And if He is called upon by it, He answers." 00:03:37.810 --> 00:03:40.219 The second opinion: 00:03:40.219 --> 00:03:43.219 That all of Allah's names are beautiful. 00:03:43.219 --> 00:03:46.219 And each one of them is great. 00:03:46.219 --> 00:03:48.219 But the Greatest Name among them is: 00:03:48.219 --> 00:03:50.219 Every name, whether singular. 00:03:50.219 --> 00:03:52.219 Or coupled with another. 00:03:52.219 --> 00:03:57.219 If it indicates all of Allah's essential and active attributes. 00:03:57.219 --> 00:04:01.219 Or indicates the meanings of all divine attributes. 00:04:01.219 --> 00:04:02.219 Such as: 00:04:02.219 --> 00:04:03.219 "Allah." 00:04:03.219 --> 00:04:07.219 Because it is comprehensive of all the meanings of divinity. 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:09.219 And "al-Hamid" (the Praiseworthy) and "al-Majid" (the Glorious). 00:04:09.219 --> 00:04:15.219 For "al-Hamid" indicates all praises and perfections for Allah, the Exalted. 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:16.220 And "al-Majid." 00:04:16.220 --> 00:04:20.220 Indicates the descriptions of greatness and majesty. 00:04:20.220 --> 00:04:22.220 Close to that also are: 00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:23.220 The names. 00:04:23.220 --> 00:04:25.220 "Al-Jalil" (the Majestic). 00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:26.220 "Al-Jamil" (the Beautiful). 00:04:26.220 --> 00:04:27.220 "Al-Ghani" (the Self-Sufficient). 00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:28.220 "Al-Karim" (the Generous). 00:04:28.220 --> 00:04:31.290 And "al-Ghani al-Hamid" (the Self-Sufficient, the Praiseworthy). 00:04:31.290 --> 00:04:33.290 And "al-Hayy al-Qayyum" (the Ever-Living, the Sustainer). 00:04:33.290 --> 00:04:38.290 For "al-Hayy" indicates the One who possesses perfect, great life. 00:04:38.290 --> 00:04:41.290 Which encompasses all essential attributes. 00:04:41.290 --> 00:04:42.290 And "al-Qayyum." 00:04:42.290 --> 00:04:44.290 Indicates His self-subsistence. 00:04:44.290 --> 00:04:47.290 And His independence from all His creation. 00:04:47.290 --> 00:04:51.290 And the dependence of all existing things upon Him, glory be to Him. 00:04:51.290 --> 00:04:55.420 Thus, all active attributes are included within it. 00:04:55.420 --> 00:04:56.420 And like the saying: 00:04:56.420 --> 00:04:59.420 "Ya Dha al-Jalali wa al-Ikram" (O Possessor of Majesty and Honor). 00:04:59.420 --> 00:05:04.420 For "al-Jalal" indicates the attributes of greatness and pride. 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:06.420 And various perfections. 00:05:06.420 --> 00:05:08.420 And "al-Ikram." 00:05:08.420 --> 00:05:10.420 Indicates His entitlement, glory be to Him. 00:05:10.420 --> 00:05:12.420 To the utmost love from His servants. 00:05:12.420 --> 00:05:14.420 And the utmost of their humility before Him. 00:05:14.420 --> 00:05:16.610 The summary of this opinion is: 00:05:16.610 --> 00:05:18.610 That the Greatest Name. 00:05:18.610 --> 00:05:25.610 Is every generic name that indicates all of Allah's essential and active attributes. 00:05:25.610 --> 00:05:30.279 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.