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EXEMPLARY
PRINCIPLES
C O N C E R N I N G
THE BEAUTIFUL NAMES
A N D A T T R IB U T E S OF
SHAYKH MUHAMMAD 1BN SAALIH AL-'UTHAYMEEN
D. 1421 H
Translated by Moosaa Richardson
(Tita REVISED 2ND EDITION
' WITH ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY ^
© 1430 (2009) TROID Publications
0
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No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
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hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, without prior permission from the
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First Edition: Jumaadaa al-Awwal 1424 (My 2003)
Second Edition: Shawwaal 1430 (October 2009)
ISBN: 978-0-9809635-3-3 | Printed in Hong Kong
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Table of Contents
Preface to the Second Edition.............................................................................7
Translator’s Foreword...............................................................................................9
Biography of the Author..................................................................................... 11
Foreword...................................................................................................................... 13
Principles Concerning Allaah's Names......................................17
1.1 - All of Allaah’s Names are Beautiful...................................................... 19
1.2 - They are Both Titles and Descriptions.................................................25
1.3 - They May or May Not Include a Related Ruling
and Implication................................................................................................31
1.4 - Mutaabaqah, Tadam-mun and lltizaam....................................................33
1.5 - The Names of Allaah are Tawqeefiyyah -
There is No Place for Intellectual Free-Thinking..............................39
1.6 - They are not Limited to a Set Number.................................................41
1.7 - The Kinds of Deviation From the Correct Belief.............................49
Principles Concerning The Atttributes.................................53
2.1 - All of Them are Attributes of Perfection.............................................55
2.2 - Knowledge of Allaah’s Attributes is More Expansive
than Knowledge of His Names.................................................................65
2.3 - Allaah’s Attributes May be Divided Into Two Kinds:
Attributes of Affirmation and Attributes of Negation..................69
2.4 - The Wisdom Behind the Negation of Certain Attributes 73
2.5 - They Can be Divided Into Two Kinds: Permanent Attributes
and Chosen Actions......................................................................................75
2.6 - The Dangers of Tamtheel and Takyeef.....................................................77
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2.7 - The Attributes of Allaah are Tawqeefiyyah -
There is No Place for Intellectual Free-Thinking..............................83
Principles Concerning the Evidences
That Establish The Names and Attributes.............................87
3.1 - The Proofs that Establish the Names and Attributes
are Exclusively Found in the Book and the Sunnah......................89
3.2 - Keeping to the Apparent Meanings of the Texts.............................95
3.3 - The Meanings of the Attributes Are Known to Us,
While Their Specific Details are Not....................................................99
3.4 - The Apparent Meanings of the Texts Are Relative
to the Proper Context................................................................................103
Clarifying Misconceptions.............................................................121
4.1 - “The Black Stone is Allaah’s Right (Hand) on Earth.”................125
4.2 - “The Hearts of the Servants are Between
Two of ar-Rahmaan’s Fingers.”................................................................127
4.3 - “1 find the Nafas of ar-Rahmaart coming from Yemen.” 129
4-4 - “Then He (Allaah) ascended to the sky.”......................................... 131
4.5 / 4.6 - Regarding Allaah’s Ma'iy-yah......................................................1 35
4.7 / 4.8 - The Closeness of Allaah or the Angels?................................. 157
4.9/4.10 - Allaah’s Eyes................................................................................... 161
4.11 - Allaah Will he the Servants’ Feet and Hands?............................. 165
4.12 - Allaah Runs to His Servants?.............................................................. 169
4.13 - Allaah Created Cattle With His Hands?....................................... 175
4.14 - The Companions’ Pledges of Allegiance to Allaah................... 179
4.15 - “O son of Aadam, I fell ill and you did not visit Me.” 183
Refuting the Doubts of the Ash’arees.....................................187
5.1 - “They make up about 95% of the Muslim population”..............191
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5.2 - “Their Founding Role Model was Abul-Hasan al-Ash’aree”.... 193
5.3 - “So-and-So and So-and-So are Ash’aree scholars”...........................203
The Ruling on the People of Ta'weel.................................................................207
A Final Word..............................................................................................219
Appendix I: The Meaning of Allaah’s Ma’iy-yah..........................................223
Appendix II: Allaah’s Names As Found in the Qur’aan..........................241
Appendix 111: Allaah’s Names As Found in the Sunnah.........................263
Appendix IV: Glossary of Important Arabic Words and Phrases 273
Appendix V: Bibliography.....................................................................................277
o o o
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6
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Ever-Merciful...
Praise is due to Allaah who has facilitated the publication of this
second edition of our translation of the vitally important book, al-Qawaa'id
al-Muthlaa, by the great scholar, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-
'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have Mercy on him).
Since the first edition printed about six years ago was in much need
of revision, a lot of effort has been put into the preparation of this second
printing. The most important changes are outlined in the following
points:
■ The translation is now based on a later printing of the Arabic source
published by Madaar al-Watan (1427) and endorsed by the author's
Charitable Foundation. About a dozen significant changes were made
to reflect this after comparing this printing to the one used for the
first edition (Adhwaa1 as-Salaf, 1416).
■ The entire translation has been reviewed, mistakes have been
corrected, and passages have been re-translated. A very critical
approach was taken due to the great status of the Arabic source and
the need for its best possible representation in the English language.
■ The formatting has been improved. Headers have been added to
reflect the section number and topic. The number 2.6, for example,
represents the sixth principle of the second section.
■ Additional selected commentary has been added from Shaykh
Muhammad Amaan al-Jaamee (may Allaah have Mercy on him) and
Shaykh 'Ubayd al-Jaabiree (may Allaah preserve him) from their
explanations of this book.
■ Some references to hadeeth sources have been updated as well.
Special thanks are due to Haneef Faust of Jeddah, Aboo Zakee of
Canada, Aboo Faarooq of New York, Umm Zaynab, and all those who
7
Preface to the Second Edition
helped in any way. May Allaah bless them and reward them all
generously.
In anticipation of future printings (in shaa' Allaah), we hope that we
will see a similar display of support from the readers, by sending in any
suggestions or corrections that could help us. May Allaah reward them
generously.
We ask Allaah to bless this effort and make it a source of benefit for
its readers, as well as for its author, explainers, translator, editors, and
publishers. Verily, Allaah is Most Generous and All-Hearing.
Translator
1430/9/5
8
Translator's Foreword
Translator’s Foreword
All praise is due to Allaah. May He raise the rank of His final
Messenger Muhammad, and all his righteous family members,
Companions and followers until the Day of Judgement, and grant them
peace.
After studying the book, al-Qawaa’id alMuthlaa fee Sifaatillaahi
Ta'aalaa wa Asmaa'ihil-Husnaa, and then discussing its incredible benefits
with other students, we all agreed that the English speaking Muslims are
in dire need of it to be translated and placed in their hands. 1 was
delighted to then find that our brothers at TROID had plans to publish
the book. May Allaah reward them for all their efforts in calling to Allaah,
and specifically for this very important project, and for allowing me to
cooperate with them in it.
There is a need for us to mention some things with regard to the
translation and the work done on this book.
Firstly, there are a number of printings of this book available in
Arabic. The printing we used is from Adhwaa' as-Salaf Publishers in
Riyadh.1 We benefited from the footnotes of Ashraf ibn ’AbdibMaqsood
that are found in the aforementioned printing, however, the footnotes
found in this translation are all from the translator. We tried to only
place footnotes when necessary, either to mention the source of a
reference or to clarify an important point that may be misunderstood by
the English reader. All source books referred to have been mentioned in
an appendix in the back of the book.
Secondly, hoping to assist the reader as much as possible, we have
included the Arabic texts of all Qur'aanic Verses and Prophetic narrations
used by the author. Furthermore, we have included the Arabic texts of
some important quotes from the Salaf, lines of poetry, and other crucial
'Madaar al-Watan's 1427 printing was used for the second edition. Review: Preface to
the Second Edition for more details.
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