The 99 names of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam)

Question

Can you please clarify the following about the 99 names of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam)

1) Does Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) have 99 names?
2) Is this not bordering on shirk because Allah gave Himself (for lack of a better word) 99 names and this is ‘elevating’ our Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) to that level?

 

Answer

The ‘Ulama have cited many names for Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam).

Ibnul ‘Arabi (rahimahullah) said there are sixty seven.

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) mentions that certain ‘Ulama cited ninety nine.

Ibn Dihyah says there are three hundred.

Some said Allah Ta’ala has a thousand names [which are known to man], and so has Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam).

(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 3533)

 

I have two books that have over 800 names; one by Shaykh Yusuf Nabhani (rahimahullah) and the other by Hazrat Moulana Musa Ruhani Bazi (rahimahullah).

 

Lastly, there is no fear of shirk, as the names of Allah Ta’ala are limitless. The 99 that are famous are only a fraction of Allah Ta’ala’s names.

There are names of Allah Ta’ala that are only known to Allah Ta’ala himself.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

 

Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar