Inscribed by Ibn al-Qayyim, “The key to the daʿwah of the Messengers and the essence of their Message is knowing Allah through His Names, His Attributes, and His Actions. This is the foundation on which the rest of the Message, from beginning to end, is based upon.”
Allah declared, “To Allah Alone belong the most Beautiful Names, so call on Him by them.” (7:180)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ uttered: “Indeed Allah has 99 Names; whoever preserves them will enter Paradise.” (Muslim)
Safeguarding these Names entails:
(1) Memorizing each one,
(2) Delving into their meanings,
(3) Eulogizing Allah and invoking Him through them,
(4) Embodying their implications. For example, Allah's Name 'al-Raqīb' signifies The Ever Watchful. This warrants refraining from transgressions, recognizing His constant vigilance over us.
Imām al-Nawawī (rahimahullāh) concurs that scholars agree the aforementioned hadīth doesn't confine Allah to 99 Names. Instead, the reward is for preserving 99 of His myriad Names.
Ibn al-Qayyim’s words echo, “The soul's most profound need is recognizing its Creator and Originator. Acquiring this necessitates comprehending His Attributes and Names. A slave who grasps these concepts is more inclined to seek Allah and draw closer to Him. Conversely, a lack of knowledge about His Names and Attributes distances one from Allah, stirring ignorance and disdain.
A slave's standing in Allah's view correlates with the regard the slave holds for Allah in their heart. Thus, embarking on a journey to Allah through His Names and Attributes is a profound undertaking, revealing astonishing avenues.”
"Whoever attains the recognition of Allah through His Names, Attributes, and Actions, will undoubtedly love Him." (Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh))
