Calling upon Allaah by His Attributes or Actions

From Brother Moosa Richardson:

1. We are not required to restrict ourselves to calling upon Allaah using only His Names, rather we can call upon Allaah by His Attributes or Actions, like saying, “Yaa thal-Jalaali wal-Ikraam”. This does not mean that we must first affirm that Thul-Jalaali wal-Ikraam is one of His Names. Similarly, we can say, “Yaa Rabba kulli shay’” (O Lord of all things), without first affirming that “Rabbu kulli shay’” is one of Allaah’s Names… This is something well known and spoken of in the scholars’ books.

2. It is very virtuous to call upon Allaah using His Most Beautiful Names, due to His Statement, that means, “And to Allaah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him using them…”

3. Based on the first two points, the scholars who advise(d) against saying, “Yaa saatir”, perhaps they intended to guide people to what is better: the name “as-Sitteer”, which is established in an authentic narration, as opposed to “as-Saatir” or “As-Sattaar” which are both derived from His Action of as-Sitr, like in the hadeeth, “Whoever screens a believer in this life, “satarullaah” (Allaah screens him) in this life and the Hereafter…” Thus, to call on Allaah beginning with “Yaa Saatir…” is permissible, just as it is permissible to call upon Allaah beginning with, “Yaa Badee’as-Samaawaatil-wal-Ardh…” and the likes.

4. Building on a recent thread about saying only, “Yaa Allaah!” (properly pronounced “Yallaah!”) without asking for anything… just as it is not legislated for you to call upon Allaah saying this and then not ask for anything, similarly it is not legislated for you to call upon Allaah saying, “Yaa Saatir!” without asking for anything (as is the custom of many people). This goes for when you call upon Allaah by any of His Names, Attributes, or Actions.

5. Thus, if a person were to say, “Yaa Saatir (or Sattaar), ustur ‘awraatinaa!” (O He who screens, conceal our weaknesses!”), it would be similar to any other case of calling upon Allaah by mentioning His Actions, like “Yaa Haazim al-Ahzaab” and the likes.

6. We say that “as-Sitteer” is from Allaah’s Names, and that we do not have any proof to affirm “as-Saatir” or “as-Sattaar” as His Names. However, we have no proof to negate either of them as Names either, as Allaah has Names that He has not informed us of. This requires a delicate understanding.

7. We can refer to Allaah by any of His Names, Attributes, or Actions in our oaths as well, like saying, “I swear by the One in whose Hand is my soul…”

And Allaah knows best.
Moosaa ibn John Richardson
http://SalafiTalk.net

Related Links:

•  As-Sitteer (The Coverer) – Asma al Husna