The Ninety nine beautiful names of Allah (Mighty and Majestic)

Part one December 2009

By Arfan Shah (Sheikhy Notes)

From the all-Merciful to the Subtle

اللطيف - الرحمن

Sheikh Faisal Abdurrazak

We are commanded with nothing but the love his family

A father treats his sons with love

How would a grandfather treat his grandson? The grandfather would love him and what about the

Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) for his grandsons? Hadith,

“Whoever loves him; loves me; whoever hates him; hates me.”

He would prolong his prostrations to not disturb Hassan and Hussain when they used to climbing on

his when he was praying this was out of respect for them

The love for the martyrs of Karbala is a Sunni not a Shia thing

Imam As-Shaf’i (may Allah show him mercy) said, “Love of the family of the prophet is obligatory

according to us.”

Sa’ad once asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) about

the time of the hour. He replied what have you prepared for it? He prepared nothing but love

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi

First lesson: day one

"Say: 'Call on Allah or call on the All-Merciful, whichever you call upon, the Most Beautiful Names

are His.''" (17:110)

“Allah! There is no deity except Him! To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names.” Qur'an 20:8

He possesses the most beautiful names so call on by them

This what we will be doing – to know him by his names

This is something that has been given to us

Studying his names is important

The least of which is to respond to the divine command in the Quran

We need to know their meanings

Knowing Allah (the Exalted) is the best type of knowledge – this is the highest knowledge

The study of theology – it means the knowledge of knowing God but it went astray

This is the knowledge of Tahweed

To know what is necessary for the divine being

Allah (the Exalted) is better than everything and you cannot compare him

He is creator we are creation

You cannot compare anything to him

In terms of the order of books Quran, Tafsir, tahweed, hadith, fiqh, usul al-fiqh, philosophy, novels

Knowing Allah (the Exalted) is the noblest thing

We learn the proofs to his omniscience, unmatchless and the incomparable

When we know something in the Dunya we mean something different

We know people in a different way but to know Allah (the Exalted) then it is not similar

Allah (the Exalted) is unlike created beings

Allah (the Exalted) is beyond directions and beyond places

Allah (the Exalted) cannot be contained by a place

The more proofs you know the firmer your faith will be until you derive from everything that he is

one

Reflect on everything on an hourly basis this should bring your attention that there is one creator

That way you’ll see more proofs to the existence of Allah (the Exalted)

Looking in the books of theology you’ll find more proofs

Fakhruddeen Al-Razi knew over 1000 proofs to the existence of Allah (the Exalted)

The church claims that they have 25 proofs to Jesus being god but these are rejected which lead to a

spread atheism in the west

Islam laid down these proofs down, one after another

Thomas Aquinas uses the proofs of the Muslims

Allah (the Exalted) praised the intellect in the Quran

Everyone of us has unlimited proofs all it takes is reflection

If you want to know Allah (the Exalted) then find proofs from your surroundings

Looking at different fruits like the varying names of Allah (the Exalted)

It’s the flowers are arranged together and indicate to a name; the white and black flower the bringer

of live and the bringer of death – there is a contrast between the flowers

Opposite names is the one who takes the lives of oppressors Al-Mumit

If you contrast names from death to live

If you look at Al-Mumit alone and it needs to be looked Al-Muhyi

There is a bright side to every name

These names Allah (the Exalted) revealed for us so that we know him and he wanted us to call upon

him

It is impossible to know the essence (Dhat) of Allah (the Exalted)

We know the way to him – metaphorically - as you cannot reach him by traversing a path.

None of your worship benefits Allah (the Exalted) but it makes a difference to us

The person is affected by the meaning of the name used

Whatever name you call upon him makes no difference to but it makes a difference to you

I allow me proceed by welcoming you and we are warming you up now

We have many freshmen who are here for the first time

We have people who have come from far away USA and china

This is great honour for me to put your trust in me

All my knowledge is from Him (Allah (the Exalted))

The one who trained and taught me is my father read fatiha for him

Unless you are grateful then you won’t get an increase

We ask Allah (the Exalted) to grant us success to complete this course in this cold weather

Learning something is the key to acting upon it

We learn so we can practice more

This is a course on akhira not Dunya

We are not here to boast of what we learnt

Calling on his names increases your faith

Every name presents an example

Someone know Allah (the Exalted) through a particular name

Some people see Allah (the Exalted) as the all knowledge and worship through this

Some know him as the giving and when they have not then do not know

You should know Ar-Razzaq/the provider then you should know Al-Qahir/the compeller

Know Al-Wahab/the giver and know the Al-Manni’/the withholder

This increases your faith and protects you from falling into disbelief or the least stopping from

objecting

Many of you are going through tough times and are those who are not it is strange

When the salaf saw someone who was fit and healthy they would flee from him – as they think that

is something wrong but now we think the opposite

We run from those in tribulations – giving is depriving him from reward

You need to know these names so you can enjoy worship

You know him as the provider and when does not then it is the same

This is a manifestation of divine name

His names are Him not ours

You are not the one who gave him these names he gave names

Allah (the Exalted) gives names

You cannot address with any name you like or attribute a name to him

God is not his name, khuda is not his name, deau is not his name

Is there anyone called Khalid here does it work if I call you immortal?

Sheikh Faisal what does your name mean? Criterion does it mean the same?

When we call Allah (the Exalted) with a translated name then does it work?

There is a way to address Allah (the Exalted) with perfect adab/manners

The word Allah (the Exalted) is his name and He revealed it no one decided to call him this

Allah (the Exalted) taught Adam the names of everything including the big and large pot according to

Ibn Abbas

The Arabic language was revealed – according to the linguistics – other languages were

developments

Kitab means book and taught Adam (upon him peace) the name. Adam then showed them to the

angels.

Allah (the Exalted) commanded the angels to tell him the names but they did not know showing

them the virtue of Adam

Human beings are better than angels. Common believers are better than common angels. The

Prophets and Messenger are better than the angels

If Allah (the Exalted) taught Adam (upon him peace) the names of everything then why do we object

about the knowledge of the Prophet?

How were the names of abstract things like honesty, generosity then showed Adam or generosity

was shown in a certain form

In one hadith your prayer comes as being on the day of judgement as does your charity

Death is shown as a sheep on the day of judgement

Death is something abstract as it is the end of life

Showing those in their respective that they will remain there eternally

Allah (the Exalted) is the name of essence and every other name is an attribute

When you saw Allah (the Exalted) you include every attribute

So when someone knows Allah (the Exalted) is different to knowing his names

When you know Allah (the Exalted) then you are stable and you do not change

Only those on disbelief should be unhappy

I do not want to see anyone unhappy of you because have Allah (the Exalted)

You need to be happy

Don’t be upset when you don’t have a job be happy with Allah (the Exalted)

When you have found Allah (the Exalted) then you have the most important thing

You need to surrender your will to his

There is no way to translate the word Allah – it is matchless

When Pharaoh claimed divinity he did not change his name

Other names might be shared with some conditions.

You can describe someone as being a giver/wahab

Merciful/rahim

Rabb/ Lord belongs to Allah but this can be used as compound noun as Rabb Al-Usra/ Lord of the

family

Al-Rahman is not used for human beings

Musaylamiah the lair called Ar-Rahman Al-Yamama and his lies were revealed and no one else

shares this with him

The first thing that any child utters is Allah, Allah

In Syria they train children to say Ugha which is assyriaic for Allah.

In Morrocco they train children to say Qul Allah

The word Allah is so easy to say

You can breathe the name of Allah

Even your breath should be dhikr

The Awliya breathe worship

Even invest your breath with dhikr

Every part indicates to Allah هللا, Alif means the one – delete the first alif then you getهلل Illah –

removing the first alif means to him له then deleting the second alif then it mean ه huw meaning he.

The circle in the ha symbolises His power – the scholars emphasis writing Allah in this way

You always pause with sukoon when you recite Arabic

Autography is the rules of writing and calligraphy is the way of writing

There are weak narrations that the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him)

ordered Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) to make a long ba

This tradition is practiced even though it was weak

The word dhat meaning essence but it also means the feminine of dhu ‘ilmin which means possessor

of knowledge

This is different is a feminine but dhat is not feminine when it refers to Allah – we do not mean a

gender – they even make the ta long to indicate this

The name of Allah has no dots similar to the name Muhammad as dots distinguish one letter from

another

As you do not have veil between you and Allah (the Exalted)

Ayn and ghayn only have a dot as a difference – ayn is the truth and ghayn is the veil

The Sufis say if you want to know Allah remove the dot of the ghayn and the ayn the truth will be

revealed to you

The dotting system was added during the time of hallaj

Half of the letters are dotted and the others are not

Dots were the first things to be added to the Quran

Some scholars used to write without dots until the fourth century

Look at the letters sent to the kings by the prophet

People would know because their vast knowledge of Arabic

Allah and the name of the Messenger has no dots

Allah (the Exalted) loves praise – he loves you to do it but Allah does not benefit

If you praise Allah (the Exalted) after sinning then the punishment is postponed

Shyness is a praiseworthy quality

Would you slander someone who is supporting you? Allah (the Exalted) is giving you – don’t you feel

ashamed when you transgress against him or you have bad thoughts about

He has been giving you even before you learn to ask!

Ibn Abbas did not owe anyone any money but a man claimed that he owed him. The man rushed

then Ibn Abbas told him to say wallah and not wallah Al-Azeem. Then he said wallah al-Azeem then

left the masjid after making the oath then died. They asked him what did he do but he wanted to

praise Allah to delay the punishment. See the impact of praising Allah. The person was a lair

Second lesson

We were talking about the name Allah

We cannot translate the names

The translation of the names of Allah (the Exalted) so we cannot translate the names

It is less obvious with Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem – when we go through the names we shall see that it is

impossible to translate them

The history of the Arabic word is lost

So we cannot give the same meaning or the nuances

Use them as they are in Arabic

It is not about more or less merciful

Translating them literally can give the opposite the meanings which is not recommended as in Bahr

Al-Kalam especially to mutashbiah/verses of ambiguous meaning - this is wrong to state as there is

nothing like Allah - 42:11. We instead go for the interpretation like in the verse which means the

hand of Allah is over their hand we instead say the power of Allah is above their power

When Allah said ‘asa/ عصى Adam it does not mean disobey, as we understand, we say Allah knows

best its meaning as we know that prophets are perfect people

I encourage translators and writers to explain not translate

The names of Allah (the exalted) are revealed

The sources of the names of Allah are the Quran and Sunnah

We have attributes of completion that are impossible for Allah – like getting married is completion

for us not this is impossible for Allah (the Exalted)

We cannot use synonyms like ‘alim for ‘Alieem

We cannot affirm the names of Allah (the Exalted) in other traditions

What may be perfect for us is not perfect for Allah (the Exalted)

Allah (the Exalted) gave these names to himself in a hadith there is a dua about asking Allah (the

Exalted) with all the names he has given himself

Christology has many disagreements about the pronouncements of the name of Allah (the Exalted).

We are blessed that Allah (the Exalted) has allowed us to pronounce his name

Jewish scholars cannot pronounce the name of Allah (the Exalted)

Imagine if we were unable to pronounce his name in the Quran – this is great honour to be able to

say his name

This is a proof of Islam – the word Allah is a treasure

Idoni or asdau are names known in Aramaic

The Quran is a scared language

All Muslims recite the Quran in Arabic – tell me how many Christians can recite their prayers in

Aramaic?

They distorted the name of Allah (the Exalted) with the misunderstands of the letters

The best Jewish works are in Arabic not in Hebrew as it was abandoned then it was developed later

Letters are divided into various natures – some are hot and some are cold. Some are wet and others

are cold

Letters have natures

Sometimes we do not appreciate things until we see the opposite

When Jews recite the name Allah (the Exalted) they cannot pronounce it – they say idoni – imagine if

were forbidden to say Allah (the Exalted)

One important features of Al-Fatiha, I like to ponder why there is this word and not another, some

letters of the Arabic are not in it

There are two verses which contain the twenty eight letters of the Arabic in Sura Al-Anfal, “Thum

anzal ‘alikum gham....” and the second Sura Al-fath, “Muhammad rasulullah waldhina ‘makum...”

We are asking for things with the name Rabb as this means the one who provides

Using the word Allahumma includes all the names as well

There is only one example of the Quran using Allah Rabanna

The Quran says call on Allah or call on Ar-Rahman which means we can make dhikr of him

Six times say ya Allah

When we call someone we say ya

When we say ya Allah it does not mean distance

This is not because he is far from us but we are far from him

As much as you veil yourself from him are you far from him

Ibn Taymiyyah said you cannot say Allah on its own as it is not a sentence – the refutation of this is

by the Prophet Yusuf (upon him peace) who said Ya Allah.

Yusuf originally was Ya Yusuf then the particle was deleted

Imam As-Shadhali said saying Allah is more effective than saying ya Allah alone

Everything perishing but Him (the Exalted)

In court people say wallahi this is an oath

So be careful if you say I swear then it is an oath

When you make dhikr/remembrance of the name Allah then you are giving a different meaning

every time – you are affirming the creator

Each one affirms a different attribute

We are not just repeating

So this the beautiful proofs of reciting the beautiful names

If you recite the name Al-Tawab then you’ll repent even if you do not like it – so if you keep it up

then people will repent at your hand

This is an example of one the names of Allah (the Exalted)

Abu Hurayrah narrates that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon

him), “Allah has ninety names anyone who innumerate’s them enters Paradise.” Al-Bukhari

We praise Allah (the Exalted) for making us Muslims and knowing him

It is a great honour to say Allah (the Exalted)

This is enough of a blessing

We need to embrace their meanings – instead of the word innumerate as there are other definitions

to this word

Al-Qahar/ the oppressor – so how do we benefit from this name. Al-Qahar means the will of him

which is executed above all other wills

It is haram/unlawful to oppress

Some things were are not aware of like the night of power in Ramadan

Umar ibn Al-Khattab did not deviate after he was promised paradise. He continued doing good

actions

Five names of Allah are mentioned in Al-Fatiha: Malik, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, Allah, Rabb

Some words are one word others are two or compound nouns

Next time you read the Quran and reach a name then pause and reflect

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi

Day two

Lesson three

We talked about names now we are going to talk about how much we need to call Allah (the

Exalted)

Allah informed us of his names, say Allah is one (112), Allah (the Exalted) is the creator of all things

When you say Allah what do you think of? An apple? A book? You should not envision anything (it is

prohibited)

There is no way that the human mind can visualise anything – you can visualise the divine name

Distractions can be something as small as a fly

If you call upon Allah (the Exalted) for some of his bounties and it does not work because only those

with nothing are given. You claim knowledge then how could you ask for more? You have to leave all

your claims and then ask for more

An increase needs a feeling that you need more

Great Arifeen do five minutes of dhikr which is better than your 10 hours because of their sincerity,

intention, presence of heart etc. You should not be concerned about time but concerned about your

concentration

Do not count the time that you are doing dhikr

One of the Awliya asked are you counting for Allah? He was seen with a tasbih in his hand. No I am

not counting Allah I am counting for myself – I am counting what I present to him

The benefit of the dhikr comes back to you

All secrets are attained through the name Allah

Seekers who make dhikr with the name Allah will be kings of the seekers

Ibn Arabi said Allah is the king of all names أسواء هالك

When you make dhikr you drown in an ocean of what is accessible and what is not accessible

The barzargh is the transition period between death and life – this is unseen to us (the grave)

When you forget about Allah then it might be taken from you

This name burns all lust – maintain dhikr of Allah (the Exalted) to burn it away – do it seven times

every prayer for those who are not in tariqah and see the impact of it on your lusts

The disciples of Imam Abu l’Hassan As-Shadhali (may Allah be pleased with him) would say Allah

from morning to evening, they prayer, they work but they do not speak any unnecessary words.

They say Allah, Allah, Allah

When you can gesture then you do not need to speak

Maintaining the dhikr of Allah replaces and effaces your passions

If there is a disease in your heart then to say Allah (the Exalted) removes it

Make your breaths dhikr Allah – none stop dhikr

In the Guinness book of records someone sang for 18 hours

I should not have any complaints against their partner

One man complained about his wife praying when he came home – her obligation her is to her

husband

Doing the obligation of the time that you are in

Sidi Ahmed Zarruq said that numbers defined in the sacred law have secrets like 33 time subhanullah

and you do not apply the sunnah when do 34.

According to an hadith the Prophet stood at the minbar and told about the events to the end of time

The number seven has a significance seven layers of heaven; seven times we go around the Ka’aba

The Arabic letters contain a secret

The words abjad hawaz not alif, ba , ta

In a weak narration they state that they are names of angels

ابجد هوز حطى كلمن سعفص قرشت ثخذ ضظغ1,2,3,4 -5,6,7 – 8, 9, 10 – 20, 30, 40, 50 – 60, 70, 80, 90 – 100, 200, 300, 400 – 500, 600, 700 – 800,

900, 1000 (its in reverse order)

The numbers allow you to reach a goal

The chess board of the Gnostics is different written by Ibn Arabi – space of nifaq/hypocrisy,

yaqeen/certainty etc

The least of chess is that it is controversial with some conditions

People get promoted and can move faster

After promotion you get struggle

If you do not struggle then there are no words

We reach him when we please him with our servitude towards him

Some scholar played sixty boards without looking

There are names referring to the essence

Allah (the Exalted) is with us always and sometimes different names are manifest but not physically

As there are different attributes at different times

When you ask for something you do not deserve then you are not that is not written for you – just

ask for Allah (the Exalted)

When you want Allah (the Exalted) then he will give you everything

Business people have everything so don’t you think the Awliya have everything – the difference that

business people are scared of losing things

Whatever occurs to you mind you occupy space in the mind of the Wali so he answers

When you opt for Allah (the Exalted) then you get it but you opt for anything else then you will never

be happy with it

Happiness stems from your love of Allah - be a true servant

To be a true servant be in need of Allah

There are people who work for 20 years and get more debt and they accept it

Not all people have this

We shall move on to the rest of the names

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi

Day two: second session

الرحمن الرحيمThe most merciful, the most compassionate

These are two names derived from rahima رحن it means mercy and compassion but these are

dissimilar to human traits. In the forms فعيل فعالى

Allah (the Exalted) is beyond perfection

Mercy is an inclination of the heart

Mercy for us is tenderness or softness – in the needs of others who need assistance

We cannot bring our understandings and compare it to his attributes

This is an action of the heart (mercy)

This is not the same for Allah

Ya Arham Ar-Rahmeen الرحويي ارحن يا this is not a name

Ar-Rahman is not shared with anyone – this is attribute of the essence of Allah

Some opinions are Ar-Rahman is for great things and Ar-Raheem is for minor things

Sidi Ahmed Zarruq (may Allah show him mercy) said describes his essence and it shows the need of

all things to him

A fatha on the mem followed by and alif alludes to the vastness of the mercy because the mouth has

be opened

He was the all-merciful before time was created

The throne is absorbed, as well as creation, in his mercy

Ar-Rahman contains secrets to other names

He has prescribed mercy for himself meaning that his mercy it not recorded for him not prescribed –

but nothing can be wajib/necessary for Allah (the Exalted)

The numerical value for Ar-Rahman is 299 – additional letters mean additional meanings

There is transitive and intransitive mercy

A generous is generous even if there is no need for it

Whole works have been written about Bismillah

Ar-Rahman is that he created the world and Ar-Rahim is that he sustains the world

Every name of Allah has impact on you

Part of this mercy is postponement of the punishment to the disbelievers is a sign of the mercy to

them

Belittle the sin is not the same because sinners can repent

You cannot address any non Muslim with Islam by hatred

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings be upon him) used to feel grief

because they did not accept Islam

Cry at home because people have not accepted Islam

Islam has been distorted by Muslims before non Muslim - the distortion of Islam started during the

colonial period

This is why we have not seen mass conversions to Islam

We have changed our understanding of the mercy of Islam

Allah (the Exalted) describes the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) as

merciful and compassionate to the believers

Allah’s mercy is leading you to worship

There is no mercy for unbelievers

We receive mercy in whatever state we are in

We need to show people merciful

Do not look down on the sinner as he may become great men of Allah

We show unbelievers kindness so they become Muslims

You cannot address any non Muslim with hatred

Islam has been promoted wrongly in the west funded by oil money

Even four hundred years ago there were mass conversions because we have changed the core of the

Islam which is mercy

There one part of mercy is present and the rest are with Allah (the Exalted)

O Allah show us this mercy afterlife, to forgive us, leading us to you

الوالكThe King

The absolute ruler or king

They describe part of it but it does not give the full meaning

Malik is the one who owns everything without being in need of everything

Political protocol, emperor, king and president

A king cannot be called a king without kingdom – this does not apply with Allah (the Exalted)

Allah (the Exalted) owns us

Some of the impact and the secrets of this name, if you say ya Malik ninety times then you are given

control over your lusts

You cannot say ya Malik to become a king because they will kick you out of this country

Allah (the Exalted) is not asked what he does but they will be asked

A sale of something you do not own is invalid

We are owned by Allah (the Exalted)

He is the owner of the day of reckoning so should he not be an owner of you in this life?

There will no one who claims anything on the day of judgement

القدوس

The sanctified

It means being beyond similarity and change. He cannot be addressed with any deficient

descriptions

Allah (the Exalted) is no need of anything nor does he change

Sura Al-Ikhlass tells us about him

Change is a sign of contingent beings/hawdith (I.e. Humans)

Each one of his attributes are unchangeable

Kings change in malyaisa every five years they mean sultan

If you do this dhikr you will be purified from darkness

these two are perfect praise of Allah (the Exalted) as they negate imperfection قدوس سبوح

People who do this will purify their hearts

These dhikr prefects any negation on your reputation, people will praise you

السالم

The source of all peace

We do not change Islam according to political times

Islam is a religion of peace

The greeting Salam alikum is not something new

Peace does not mean we surrender our lands, or surrender our resources

Modernists tell a different story as they focus on this but Islam is more than one thing

These people are speechless when someone quotes the Quran about killing disbelievers

You are not allowed to kill anyone in this country

When there is a war between countries when you fight in war under the ruler of a country

Jihad is not untaken by individuals

We do not make ourselves nice for them

They have been killing us but we have nice to them for centuries

Islam is peace, we gave the flowers and they sent flowers

In a poem I wrote

Every religion is a source of peace but they have been distorted

Christianity does not allow fighting

Salam protects between two ends

Enemies who meet in the street and exchange greetings

Salam means peace and safety

There are red lines that people do not cross – saying salam is for Allah (the Exalted) and you do not

turn away. Visit him if he is sick

You people argue in the houses of parliament they look like they are going to kill each other but

tomorrow you’ll see them having dinner

This is balance between other qualities

The name protects against the opposite like anger

This is the middle course of two ends

There are people who do greet each other so when the lesson finishes greet each other for the sake

of Allah (the Exalted)

You cannot tell your wife that she is stupid or insult her or when you disagree with her father. What

has it to do with her?

Salam is safety the best type is safety from sins

This destroys their lust with this

There are actions of Allah (the Exalted) and attributes cannot be derived from them

Salam and Islam are similar but one has no alif at the beginning

Our ancestors had red lines that they never crossed

When you disagree on one thing then that does not mean war between two parties

When you say ya salam then you are accepting the decree of Allah (the Exalted)

We need to make worship natural in our bodies and this should be like breathing

Allah (the Exalted) controls our hearts and this is not done according to our will but to his

So your worship should move against your will

Islam means to submit and surrender to the divine

Hadith, “A Muslim is he who does not harm anyone by his tongue or his hand.” Bukhari and Muslim

We are not tired to eat but we are tired to pray

We struggle to worship Allah (the Exalted)

Your last breath is taken against your will

We pray that Allah (the Exalted) takes us in the best form with the best ending

The slavery system in the west is something totally alien to Islam

You see people who worked as porters cannot rid themselves of the same behaviour because they

are accustomed to it

الوؤهيصدق –آمن

The granter of security

Is the one who gives security and not threat or the source of security

He confirms our true statement of him

The best humans are the Prophets (upon them peace)

Allah (the Exalted) did not task with tomorrows prayers but guaranteed you tomorrow’s provision

There is no suffering without wisdom

Allah (the Exalted) does not breach his promise

You should not be shaken the victory is close

This is statement of the followers not the prophets (When is the victory of Allah?)

No one should doubt the promise of Allah (the Exalted)

Allah (the Exalted) loves us and our relationship with his is not that of an oppressor and the

oppressed

When anything does wrong it due to our behaviour

When they ask why Allah (the Exalted) is allowing suffering

There is mercy in everything done to you

The father gives the child the injection although the father is seeing the child suffering – the mother

flees out of mercy but the father gives the injection

This pain is to prevent a greater pain

In the child unsafe with their parents? Normally parents take care of their children but we are in safe

hands with Allah (the Exalted)

Allah (the Exalted) loves you before you loved him and you did not repent but that he had already

accepted it

Do you think your dua was the cause? Allah (the Exalted) has already decided (to forgive you) before

the worlds were created

May people get happy when they get dua answered but this was decreed before the heavens were

created that he was going to give you what you asked. It is a great blessing to open your hands

This strengths your faith

It grants you safety and the people will believe you if you spoke the truth; as long as it is truth or the

punishment is severe if you are not telling the truth

المهيمن شاهد

The guardian

Allah (the Exalted) is witnessing everything as he is with us by his authority and superiority

It is not like a person who is passing by and witnesses something

This refers to speech and knowledge

Wherever you go you aware that you are being watched

Ibrahim ibn Adam (may Allah be pleased with him) asked for advice to commit a sin somewhere he

told him to go somewhere were someone won’t see him, or eat from other than his provision

Should we not feel embarrassed or ashamed? When he witnesses us

How can you disobey Allah (the Exalted) when he sees you?

You might see something but your eyes might deceive you

One of the ways that our eyes deceive us is when we put a stick into water and it looks as if it bends

Like the stars look so close and so small

Your nafs comes under your control and awareness of Allah (the Exalted)

العزيزThe almighty

Meaning the unreachable and the untouchable

No one can overcome him or overcome his authority

Part of the meaning is power

Everything is under his authority

‘Iz means overcomer and rare

Mighty belongs to Allah (the Exalted) who grants it to his Messenger and the believers

Something that is rare is ‘aziz and ‘aziz can be mighty

A servant of Allah (the Exalted) chooses Dhikr

Someone who recites this won’t be defeated

Every servant take honour from the one they serve so what about the one who are servants to Allah

Allah (the Exalted) called us our servants ‘ibadhi

It is wrong for a Muslim to display arrogance over others

You’ll chose worship over the Dunya

One of the greatest books is by Hakim at-Tirmidhi called Al-farooq – a book of several qualities

One of the companions was showing his power before battle. The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace

and blessings upon him) said this is a walk that Allah dislikes except here. In battle. This is why the

Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) commanded to show their strength when

performing tawaf to show the disbelievers their might

When I landed I told them that I would give each name five minutes then I thought that I would give

ten minutes and now I think that we won’t finish the course!

Someone accepted Islam after this lecture

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi

Day three: lesson one

الجبار

The compeller

The one who amends all affairs when they are about to go wrong

Al-Jabbar is the one who comes to broken hearts to mend them

No one can go against him

He amends the broken and forces someone to do something against their will

Filling the hearts of the broken with joy it does not take money

Cheering up a person who has lost a loved one or someone who has a loss of wealth

Hadith, “A good word is charity.”

When you do dhikr of the name you’ll be protected from oppressors

Allah will support you and you benefit from them

You can recite ya jabbar 206 times on the broken bone and it will heal quickly

Imam Ghazali (may Allah show him mercy) said Jabbar is the one who is followed and does not

follow

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) took the guidance of earlier

Messengers but not themselves it was from Allah (the Exalted)

He said, “If Musa was alive he would follow me.”

They followed his guidance

He said, “I am the master of the children of Adam without boast.” At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah

المتكبرThe Majestic

This is the one whose authority is untouchable and the one who surrender their command to

It is praiseworthy quality for Allah (the Exalted)

It is an attribute of his essence

It is dissimilar to human pride

This is an attribute of perfection

A person of noble lineage, knowledge and wisdom even if he works in a low job – he will be

honoured

Allah (the Exalted) is beyond all examples

We begin our prayer with the word Allah akbar/ Allah is the greatest

When you raise your hands you are showing that nothing is more important than prayer

When people know that Allah is Mutakabir then they leave this

People have to have full reliance when using this name

When someone needs to have certain conditions when they do this or ask for the quality and they

will be punished

If you are void of good works

رى المصورالق البالخا قدرة إرادة الحكمة

The creator, the Maker, the fashioner of forms

The creator al-Khaliq bring something from non-existence into existence

Allah (the Exalted) created you and your actions

Is the creator similar to creation? No, they are not the same

I recommend using the word create when you create a file on Microsoft file

Creation belongs to Allah (the Exalted)

You are changing something

Cloning does not represent any challenge to our dogma because it is development – it is not creating

something from nothing

They can clone something as we see everything is cloning things as we are accustomed to see things

If you want to challenge the scientist then bring them into an empty room and then put them in

their for a thousand years and ask them to bring a monkey

They might bring a monkey and two people or two or three monkey

Al-Bari prepares everything to take its form and Al-Musawir is the one who gives it form

Al-Bari means to originate

Al-Bari precedes Al-Khaliq

Al-Khaliq refers to decree, Al-Bari to desire and Al-Musawir to wisdom

Look at the perfection of the human form

Look at the eyes of humans, the insects that change colour

Allah (the Exalted) prepared animals in their environments

Fish to breathe in water

Why the camel does not get thirsty due to its water storage

Khalid ibn Walid was in Qadiyyasah and Abu Ubaydullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) was

in near Damascus. Umar heard that there was a great amount of enemy being prepared for the

battle of Yarmuk. Khalid picked the most courageous fighters and the best horses then made them

thirsty then gave them lots of water. Then did not allow the horses to urinate. No one crossed the

Syrian Desert, not Alexander. They would have to come either south of Syria or in Atlas mountains in

Turkey – this would take too long. They killed some of the camels and horses then they carried the

water from the camels and horses. He arrived and they took the Byzantines by surprise

Who made camels able to bear thirst?

If you have a good voice then chant for us

If you want camels to travel faster then you need to train faster with monochrome

You can recite slowly and then speed up

There was a reciter called Salama was asked to show his skills by Haroon Ar-Rashid. He told him to

bring camels and make them thirst, bring them to me and give them water. They began to drink then

he sang and they stopped to listen to him

I met people who walked to Mauritania to Damascus to go to hajj - they came walking

I met a person Sheikh Muhammad Al-Tibir he walks in Medinah barefoot because of his adab with

the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessing upon him). To show respect to the

land of Medinah. If you do it then you’ll have cuts

Allah created everything with great wisdom – look at the camel

Allah (the Exalted) did not make anything imperfect

Al-Khaliq wa Al-Khallaq is the bringer of something new

Don’t lend your ears to satan he only whispers to those who lend an ear

This gets rid of bad thoughts

Then this develops until it destroys him

Recite Al-Khallaq to remove this

Allah (the Exalted) will bring new character in you

Reciting this bring new thoughts

Al-Bari is from to heal

Recite seven thousand times for two – three years and you’ll gain the power to heal and if you want

to be a healer you have to work

One of my relative studied in Russia for seven years he asked for a dhikr

This is too long, can’t you give something that’ll take a few days

You were patient to study for seven years and you cannot be patient for a few years for Allah

You have to be ready

Some people are turned away

True murids are few and the Awliya a fewer

Some find me the world population in 600, 622, 632

140,000 or thirteen thousand companions

Many people decided not to meet him

When you practice you religion then you’ll meet with lots of opposition

Most people will go against you when you practice your deen

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) yearned to see those he called his

brothers because they found no helpers

Would you want to give everything to see him?

We are not far from him; he sees our actions and supplicates for us

Anyone who wanted to practice the religion and they would have lots of support, a hundred years

ago

People who come to a person who fell of the straight path

If you want to taste the pleasure then you have commit yourselves

You cannot pick up what you like and sometimes doing what you do not like

You need a guide and this will help

Try to leave your worries with your shoes

Leave everything behind you and learn how to pray with pleasure

Religion is doing what Allah (the Exalted) likes and not doing what you like

Al-Musawir is for those who want children – a brother was married for seventeen year and after this

dhikr he got twins, someone in California has no children in twelve years and then they had children

that year

One of the jobs of scholars is to give answers

If you do not answer then ask

They will give a prescription

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi

Day three: lesson two

First all I would like apologise

You are entitled to a full refund )it’s a free course) – I am not feeling well

الغفارThe ever forgiving

The forgiving it stems from two roots erasing and covering up

Covering is covered in the name Al-Satar

Maghrifah means that the sinner is not responsible for his sin by erasing the consequences

Covering in the world and on the day of judgement

Al-‘Afu is the one who does not punish

Al-Ghafar and Al-Ghafur mean not to open the sin and cover it

Allah (the Exalted) calls sinners my servants even those who are addicted to sins

This is glad tidings for sinners

It is Allah (the Exalted) authority to forgive

There are many verses that talk about sins

Do not think that your sins cannot be forgiven

There are many people who think they are beyond forgiveness and they think that they cannot be

forgiven

This is a trap of satan who makes you think that your sins cannot be forgiven

Allah (the Exalted) says that those who sin should not despair of the mercy of Allah; As Allah (the

Exalted) forgives all sins – for believers

And for mankind in general is that they will be forgiven if they do not commit shirk

People can be weak and they often come back

Nuh commanded his people to repent; rain, provision and male offspring will be given

The scholars say if you want offspring or male children do istighfar and they will have male children. I

have this to a man who had eight girls then he got son and anther because of repentance

When someone sins and repents they are not persisting on a sin

The people of Taqwa repent when they realise the tricks of satan – from the Quran – then they see

everything clearly

This is commentating by Ibn ‘Ataulllah from this verse in the book of illumination

This is not about sinners but people of Taqwa

Ya ‘ibada is an idadfah tashrif/ possession particle of honour

Do not lose your hope in Allah

When he repents he should believe that this is the last time that he is going to commit the sin

We can pardon people begin with family and partners

Getting upset destroys the nervous system

Don’t count each other mistakes

You see each other in the morning and the evening

Smiling takes less energy than frowning

Getting angry destroys your inner being

القهارThe subduer or the oppressor which are inadequate

This is one whose authority who is above everyone else authority

The mutabshibi does not mean that what it literally means when he said he above the throne or

above his servants – these are to show authority and it does not mean physical – this is metaphorical

and beware of anthropomorphisms as this is against the majority of the scholars of Islam

Allah (the Exalted) is unlike created beings

No one is able to rebel against him

Two directions for you

1) Direct yourself to Allah (the Exalted)

2) Taking it and reflecting it onto your nafs not your wife or children

You subdue your nafs

The dhikr of this name should remove the attachment of the Dunya

These are the latif al-Nafs directs to Dunya and Latif al-Rouh is attached to paradise/ substance of

the nafs/ego and substance of the soul

You need to control your nafs

الوهابThe bestower

The who gives without being entitled

Allah (the Exalted) does not have to give but he gives us without being worthy

It’s enough that Allah (the Exalted) created us and made us know him

We do not deserve what is given

Sometimes we see people who have money and are confused

Wealthy people who studied and are very few

When you opt for money knowledge pulls back

When you opt for knowledge then money pulls back

Our solace is that what we do not get here we get in paradise

See Sura Duha the hereafter is better than the first

He gives without reason like the ahl al-bayt

Salman Al-Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) had a secret which attaches him to Ahl Al-bayt/ the

Prophetic offspring

He travelled for many years before Islam and he was taken as a slave to Medinah

He is also at the end of some Sufi chains

Ahl Al-Bayt are not sinless which what the Shia believe

Ahl Al-Sunnah do not believe that they have to repent for sins

If we see a sinner who is Ahl Al-Bayt then we still have to love him as his sin is against Allah (the

Exalted) not against us – as he may repent and Allah may forgive him said Ibn Arabi

Ahl Al-Bayt got this honour without doing anything

These are two things that I have not struggled for (lineage and being son of his father)

I believe a stone who had my blessings would speak never mind a human being

Anyone not interested in wealth

You may go to bed in the evening and get up a Wali

Not necessarily today

But one day

You should be grateful to him and look at what you have got

This is new shukr is new bounty

You get more divine gifts and you should give out

If you recite this name it will force you to show gratitude

You are going to give people

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) gave without a reason

Muadthi sent his daughter with some dates and cucumber to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah

bestow peace and blessings upon him) gave her two hand fulls of gold

He did not fear for tomorrow – he kept giving

It is not wrong to keep some for tomorrow because you might be Wali but your wife might not be

The Awliya of the women are more than the men because some women are reviving the religion

It is difficult to teach brothers and sisters because of the liberation movements

We need to be liberated from our nafs/ego

الرزاقThe Provider

I think everyone is worried about provision

He is one who sustains, supports and provides for everything – these are simplest forms

For everything there is rizq/provision

Living things and animate things

Everything has its provision

Bird have their provision had you relied on Allah (the Exalted) truly then you leave your homes

hungry and come back full like birds

Dhul noon al-Misri (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a bird with a broken wing fall on the ground.

Allah is the Provider how is it going to reach him. Two small plates came from the soil, one of water

and one of sesame seeds. This was the beginning of his journey to Allah – he became a great Wali

Thoughts, meanings, words are provision from Allah (the Exalted)

When someone is sincere then provision will come from the Sheikh

From what Allah (the Exalted) is sending to you him

Never worry about your rizq

Some people wish to have private time I apologise because I would have to meet them and have no

time for a class

Any question you have shall be answered in the classes

Many people get their questions answered

I wonder why I speak about some things and then people come up after to say they had this

question

Someone in Damascus had prepared five questions and they were answered then he said there

might be some of you with prepared questions

If you do not get it then you lack sincerity or attention

This does not depend on private meetings

You get your guidance with classes of the sheikh

You got some clarification in the classes

In my public talks I pick up a line then speak about it for an hour

I speak about things that never occurred to me

I was wondering what I was going to speak about because I had two lines and I spoke about an hour

It because of your sincerity

Allah (the Exalted) made me the means for provision

Trust in Allah

People with tight rizq may call upon 1000 times every day for example

الفتاحThe opener I do not like it

The remover of difficulties

It is the one who opens everything without means

He widens what is narrow or open the locked

Would a part of something be an instrument? There is discussion on it

When I speak to non Muslims we do not use much Arabic as this is burden

We have to make it easy for them to speak English

As they may misunderstand it

It opens the door of meaning when it is locked

Say al-Fatha to open the mind and meaning

Al-Fatha is the treaty of huddyabiyyah

Futhat is inspirations and another is Islamic conquests

Islam went from being one phase to another

Then Muslims travelled across Arabia in safety

Not this form of word means does something often

Al-Fathuah means a little bit of money in Morrocco

This quality is under Qudrah قدرة apportioning

I talked about the virtue of silence in New York someone sent a question why are you speaking

about silence with you are speaking

I warned people to use microwaves and someone asked was how can we heat food without

microwaves

العلينThe knower of all

We do not describe ‘Alam Al-Ghuyb/knower of the unseen as a compound noun

Allah’s knowledge is not acquired

Ignorance is imperfection

This is the source of all knowledge

This is the source of all revelation

Many elements in Islamic medicine was inheritance from Islam and Greek sources – it was all from

revelation as was all knowledge

They still study the miracles of the Prophet in universities

Look at the fly that was sank into the drink because one wing had an ailment and the other wing has

a cure

How can he say that without revelation?

Khidr is a Wali not a prophet

Allah (the Exalted) gave preference to those seeking knowledge

Which better? To be rich or poor? Affluence is better because Allah has wealth. Being poor is

something that you can have but not him – taking your attribute is better than his

If you are really poor then you’ll be really rich from Ibn ‘Ataullah

Honour the people of knowledge and a seeker of knowledge for the rest of your life

I have seen people do the least effort and get the best fruits. I have seen people put all efforts in and

get no fruits

Say ya ‘aleem to cure your lack of understanding

Musa said he knew more and then commanded him to follow Khidr (See Sura Al-Kahf)

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi

Day four: lesson one

سطاالب القابض

The restrainer, the expander

Al-Basit is the one who gives expansion and the one who gives everyone their portion

Make a special fatiha Sheikh Sharif Al-Yaqoubi – he was the first of mufti of Ummayyad Masjid

Makki Al-Kittani said whoever saw Sheikh Sharif would enter Paradise

I saw a dream one of the Awliya who said if he could he could move the world with his little finger

He was one of my father’s teacher

He was Shadhali Sheikh

Al-Qabid is the one who restrains, puts things in order

Qabid is getting something in the hand in terms of trade

For Allah it is putting things together

Allah ordered Ibrahim to kill four birds and say ya Qabid then the birds came to him

The scholars say if you call a bird it will rest in your hand

Ya Basit removes melancholy

The one who putting things into their places

Makes them happy

It is also means to open

It also refers to opening and closing the fist

General permission is to do say it every now and then in the Quran

To do a specific wird then you need to see your sheikh

فعافض الراالخ The one who makes humble and the raiser

The debaser and the raiser they are together

Someone can use both as a balance

The invocation of these names mean you will not desire to speak to people

The way out is by Salat upon the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings be upon him)

Sheikh Abdussalam asked Jafar Al-Kittani to recite Allah without number and he said that he would

not be able to take because he was ill – if you want to do it in a retreat then you need a lot of

strength

There is not harm in dhikr but there is preparation for its secrets

The last class took a lot of energy because the amount of energy used as I thinking about each word

The brain consumes a quarter of the energy of your body

Al-Khafid debases someone from a high position to a lower position and Al-Rafia’ is the opposite

We only blame people when they do not give us enough

When you are with Allah (the Exalted) then you do not blame human beings

When someone does anything wrong to you and say what wrong did I do to Allah (the Exalted)

You should be happy that you got an alarm and you got it now. As delaying the punishment is worse

All of it is from Allah (the Exalted)

Al-Qabid is the taker of the souls

Why should you fear poverty when Allah (the Exalted) is raising and debasing

المعز المذلThe giver of honour, the giver of disgrace

Mudhil is the one whose authority everyone is under

They come in contrast with each other

Mu’iz the giver of honour – this is about his actions

He gives honour and it can be taken back – it is the meaning of Mudhil

It could be that a minister becomes a servant

All human beings have no rank with Allah (the Exalted)

There is no difference between people as he is their creator and master

When you work for a boss then you need to work and accept in front of your boss

There is nothing wrong with this

There is nothing wrong with this being in front of Allah (the Exalted)

When you asking for power then ask Allah (the Exalted)

We have honour being his servants

السميع البصيرThe all hearing, the all seeing

These are two attributes that come together

He is all seeing and the all hearing

He hears everything present

His vision of you in not limited to a time or place

This is should make you feel ashamed from committing sins

As he can see you in all your states

These two names give you state of realisation of observing oneself

Hearing comes before seeing

As hearing is important that seeing

Like the narration of the hadith is called sama’ – hearing is formed first then eyesight according to

embryologists

Ya Sama’ can help their hearing faculty and those who want to obey Allah more can say this

frequently

We need to improve our hearing so we can obey more

Saying ya basir helps eyesight and understanding

Saying ya sama’ helps your dua’

Done together they can protect any authority for those doing any wrong

الحكمThe judge

The human understanding or comparison is different

Allah (the Exalted) has authority to set rules for human beings

To settle conflicts between his creation

The one who everyone seeks his judgement

We were told to make the Messenger the judge between all of our affairs

A judge that Allah (the Exalted) assigned

Ahl al-dhikr are authorities for us

Knowing that Allah (the Exalted) is only judge and do not seek justice from people

We ask Allah (the Exalted) to establish justice

When the Prophet (may Allah bestow and blessings upon him) submitted his affair at the events of

Ta’if

Do not complain about the things that happen to you

Shakwa is submit your case to Allah (the Exalted)

العدل The just

Justice according to his standard not ours

Sometimes it take ages for us to understand; as in the story of Khidr and Musa rebuilding a wall so

orphans could take the treasure of the grandfather. Anyone would be happier that their reward be

given to their offspring rather than themselves

Sheikh Ibrahim (may Allah show him mercy) was offered a job in Saudi Arabia because he was

concerned about disobeying his great grandfather who went to visit Syria in a time of fitna

He was offered a job of 12,000 dinars which was a lot of money

He told he that I do not leave Syria

My father would not go against my grandfather

He never left Syria only to go to Hajj

I travel around the world giving classes and doing dawah

It is like Allah (the Exalted) is rewarding his father

How can you judge the wisdom in ten thousand years

We do not know the history of the earth

Justice is established but you should not complain

Establish justice in all your affairs to have your share

اللطيفThe gentle one is not a correct

It is kindness or subtlety

The soul is described as subtle substances

You cannot lock an angel in a room because of its subtle form

Allah (the Exalted) gives everything its subtle qualities

A calamity becomes a blessing with this name

Look at the story of Dhul noon Al-Misri

One of the subtleness is hiding things in their opposites

Do not object about what it happening; as long you are you are a believer

Allah (the Exalted) does the best for you all the time

There are many ranks that we cannot reach without calamity

Look at the story of Yusuf (upon him peace) was taken from his family, enslaved, accused, jailed then

he became the governor of Egypt. Anyone without any understanding someone asks why is this

happening

People ask why are Muslims being defeated?

Who are we to disagree?

We should surrender to his will without asking

Allah (the Exalted) does whatever he wants to his creation

We are veiled from the unseen

This is the knowledge of the unseen – we do not have access to the unseen

Imam Tahawai says knowledge is accessible of inaccessible

Yusuf said, “Inna rabbi latiffya bi ma yasha.”

If any prisoner recites this then he will be set free

Brother Muhammad Al-Hassan was in prison about a residency permit his wife came to me and told

him what happened. Can your husband make dhikr ya latif with a certain number. They came to him

and the case was re-opened then he was allowed to stay

There are other examples

End of notes for this part please see next set of notes