What is Tawheed Asmaa wa Sifaat?

This form of Tawheed involves the Names and Attributes of Allah. This knowledge comes from the Quran and authentic reports. Allah often describes Himself in the Quran. In this way we learn who Allah is and how we can worship Him.

His Names and Attributes are not not to be shared with anyone. For He is the Unique One that has no partners. It is therefore important to know the Names and Attributes of Allah.

Allah has 99 Names like the narration of the Prophet confirms. His Beautiful Names are Unique and belong solely to Him. A Muslim will rewarded for memorising all His Names and acting upon them.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: "There are ninety-nine names of Allah; he who commits them to memory would get into Paradise. Verily, Allah is Odd (He is one, and it is an odd number) and He loves odd number." And in the narration of Ibn 'Umar (the words are): "He who (also) acts upon them." Sahih Muslim 2677a

Allah—there is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. He has the Most Beautiful Names.
(Surah Ta Ha, 8)

Contents
  1. Asmaa wa Sifaat in Quran
  2. Asmaa wa Sifaat in Ahadith
  3. Affirming Allah's Asmaa wa Sifaat
  4. Correct understanding of His Attributes

Tawheed Asmaa wa Sifaat in the Quran

Allah, there is no god except He, The Ever-Living, The Superb Upright Sustainer.
(Soera Al-Imran, 2)

Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who could possibly intercede with Him without His permission? He ˹fully˺ knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, but no one can grasp any of His knowledge—except what He wills ˹to reveal˺. His Seat1 encompasses the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of both does not tire Him. For He is the Most High, the Greatest.
(Surah Al-Baqara, 255)

And in no way did they estimate Allah His true estimate; and the earth all together will be His grasp on the Day of the Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His Right Hand. All Extolment be to Him, and Supremely Exalted be He above whatever they associate (with Him)!
(Surah Zumar, 67)

[ Allah ] said, "O Iblees, what prevented you from prostrating to that which I created with My hands? Were you arrogant [then], or were you [already] among the haughty?"
(Surah Saad, 75)

Everyone upon it [i.e., the earth] will perish,
(Surah Rahman, 26)

And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
(Surah Rahman, 27)

Nor is there to Him any equivalent.
(112:4 Quran)

Tawheed Asmaa wa Sifaat in the Ahadith

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Verily, there are ninety-nine names for Allah, i.e. hundred excepting one. He who enumerates them would get into Paradise."
(Sahih Muslim Book 35, Hadith 6476)

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“The keys of the Unseen are five and no one knows them but Allah: no one knows what is in the womb but Allah, no one knows what will happen tomorrow but Allah, no one knows when it will rain but Allah, no one knows where he will die but Allah, and no one knows when the Hour will be established but Allah.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6944)

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"Allah's Hand is full, and (its fullness) is not affected by the continuous spending, day and night." He also said, "Do you see what He has spent since He created the Heavens and the Earth? Yet all that has not decreased what is in His Hand." He also said, "His Throne is over the water and in His other Hand is the balance (of Justice) and He raises and lowers (whomever He will)."
(Sahih al-Bukhari 7411)

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"The people will be thrown into the (Hell) Fire and it will say: "Are there any more (to come)?' (50.30) till Allah puts His Foot in it and it will say, 'Qati! Qati! (Enough Enough!)'"
(Sahih al-Bukhari 4848)

Affirming Allah's Asmaa wa Sifaat

Every Muslim must believe in His Names and Attributes. All of them, without negating any. Anyone who negates an Attribute or Name of Allah is considered a disbeliever in Islam.

  1. Without Tah-wil (interpreting them)
  2. Without Tashbih (likening them to creation)
  3. Without Ta'teel (denying any of them)
  4. Without Tahkif (ascribing details of how His Attributes are)
  5. Without Tamtheel (offering examples how they are)

Affirmation is done by having the correct understanding of His Names and Attributes. They are mentioned in the Quran and Ahadith.

Correct understanding of Allah's Attributes

There are groups like the Asha'irah who believe Allah's Attributes are to be taken figurively. That understanding is incorrect as we can confirm from the Salaf Saliheen.

The correct understanding of His Attributes is that of the pious predecessors (Salaf Saliheen). That understanding is based on taking the narrations about Allah's Attributes as it is, without asking how or why. So one should take the Attributes literally (as it is narrated).

Sufyan Ibn 'Uyaynah said: “Everything that Allah described Himself with in the Qur'an, its interpretation is its recitation, without (asking) how, and without comparing Him (with creation).” (Kitab As-Sifat” by Ad-Daraqutni (p.70))

Wakee' ibn Al-Jarrah (197 H.) said: "With regard to the Attributes of Allah: We subjugate this Ahadith as they have come, and we do not say, 'How is this?' nor 'Why were these sent down?'" (Narrated by Abdullah, the son of Imam Ahmad in his book "As-Sunnah")

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