الدُّعَاءُ بِالْأَسْمَاءِ الْحُسْنَى

"Call on Him by them" Allah says: "To Allah belong the most beautiful names, so call on Him by them, and leave those who deviate regarding His names; they will be repaid for what they used to do" (meaning of 7:180, text below). The verse gives a command (to call on Allah by His names) and a warning (not to deviate).

Deviating regarding the names (al-ilḥaad) The commentators mention several forms of this deviation [À VÉRIFIER : présentation]: • denying the names of Allah or their meaning; • giving Him names He has not given Himself, or names that imply a flaw; • giving His names to others than Him, or deriving names of idols from them: several commentators report that the polytheists derived "al-Laat" from "Allah" and "al-'Uzzaa" from "Al-'Aziiz" [À VÉRIFIER : source]; • comparing His attributes to those of creatures (lesson 2).

Choosing the name that fits the request The Qur'an and the Sunna show that one calls on Allah by the name that corresponds to what one is asking for: • For forgiveness: Al-Ghafuur, Ar-Raḥiim, At-Tawwaab, Al-'Afuww. • For provision: Ar-Razzaaq, Al-Kariim, Al-Wahhaab. • For healing: Ash-Shaafi. When visiting a sick person, the Prophet ﷺ would say: "Allaahumma rabba n-naas, adhhibi l-ba's, ishfi anta sh-shaafi, laa shifaa'a illaa shifaa'uk, shifaa'an laa yughaadiru saqamaa" ("O Allah, Lord of people, remove the harm, heal, You are the Healer, there is no healing but Yours, a healing that leaves no illness") (Bukhari 5743, Muslim 2191) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. • Against injustice: Al-Ḥakam, Al-'Aziiz, Al-Qawiyy. • For a choice: Al-'Aliim, Al-Ḥakiim (istikhaara, lesson 6).

The supplications of the prophets in the Qur'an • Ibraahiim and Ismaa'iil, while raising the Ka'ba: "Our Lord, accept this from us, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing… and accept our repentance, You are the One who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful" (meaning of 2:127-128). • Ayyuub, when ill: "Harm has touched me, and You are the most merciful of the merciful" (meaning of 21:83). • Zakariyyaa, childless: "My Lord, do not leave me alone, and You are the best of inheritors" (meaning of 21:89). • Sulaymaan: "… You are Al-Wahhaab" (meaning of 38:35, lesson 7). Scholars note that each one chose the name that answered his situation.

The supplications taught by the Prophet ﷺ • To Abu Bakr, who asked him for a supplication for his prayer: "Allaahumma innii ẓalamtu nafsii ẓulman kathiiran, wa laa yaghfiru dh-dhunuuba illaa ant, faghfir lii maghfiratan min 'indik, warḥamnii, innaka anta l-Ghafuuru r-Raḥiim" ("O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly, and none forgives sins but You; so forgive me with a forgiveness from You, and have mercy on me, You are the Forgiving, the Most Merciful") (Bukhari 834, Muslim 2705). • For the Night of Decree: "Allaahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuḥibbu l-'afwa fa'fu 'annii" (At-Tirmidhi 3513, lesson 4). • Against sadness and worry: the supplication in which one asks "by every name that is Yours…" (Aḥmad 3712) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro et degré].

The greatest name (al-ism al-a'ẓam) Some hadiths speak of a "greatest name": when Allah is called upon by it, He answers. Thus the Prophet ﷺ heard a man supplicate, saying that Allah is the One, aṣ-Ṣamad, who has not begotten and has not been begotten, and to whom none is equal; he said that the man had asked Allah by His greatest name (Abu Daawuud 1493). Other reports mention "Al-Ḥayy Al-Qayyuum" or "Al-Mannaan, Badii' as-samaawaati wa l-arḍ, Dhu l-jalaali wa l-ikraam" (Abu Daawuud 1495, and others) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros et degrés]. Scholars hold several views: it is the name "Allah"; it is "Al-Ḥayy Al-Qayyuum"; it is hidden among the names so that all of them are invoked; or it is any name by which one calls with a sincere and attentive heart [À VÉRIFIER : présentation des avis]. The course does not decide.

The etiquette of supplication • Begin by praising Allah, then send prayers on the Prophet ﷺ, then ask (At-Tirmidhi 3477, Abu Daawuud 1481) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]. • Be certain of the answer and do not lose heart: "One of you is answered as long as he is not impatient, saying: I called and I was not answered" (Bukhari 6340, Muslim 2735). • The answer may come in three forms: the request granted, an evil averted, or a reward kept for the hereafter (Aḥmad, from Abu Sa'iid) [À VÉRIFIER : référence]. • Seek what is lawful in one's food and money, and choose the favourable times (the last part of the night, between the call to prayer and the iqaama, in prostration).

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Learning the names of Allah without calling on Him by them would be like knowing the key to a door without ever opening it. Verse 7:180 links the two directly: "the most beautiful names… call on Him by them". The prophets show the art of supplication: Ayyuub, ill, does not even make an explicit request; he describes his situation and reminds Allah that He is "the most merciful of the merciful". The chosen name already carries the request. The supplication taught to Abu Bakr follows the same path: acknowledging one's fault, acknowledging that only Allah forgives, asking, then ending with two names that ground one's hope. The question of the greatest name must not turn into a search for a "magic formula". Whatever view is adopted, what opens the doors is a heart that is present, sincere and confident.

Lessons to draw from it • Before each request, ask yourself: which name of Allah corresponds to my need? • Learn Abu Bakr's supplication (Bukhari 834, Muslim 2705) and say it before the salaam. • Imitate Ayyuub: describe your situation to Allah and call on Him by His mercy. • Do not abandon supplication because the answer is delayed. • Never give a creature a name reserved to Allah, nor invent a name for Him.

Key points to remember • 7:180: calling on Allah by His names, and not deviating regarding His names (ilḥaad). • Choosing the name according to the request: forgiveness, provision, healing, justice, choice. • Ayyuub (21:83), Zakariyyaa (21:89), Ibraahiim and Ismaa'iil (2:127-128). • Abu Bakr's supplication: "… innaka anta l-Ghafuuru r-Raḥiim" (Bukhari 834, Muslim 2705). • The greatest name: several views; sincerity of heart is common to all.

The main message Allah has made His most beautiful names known to you so that you may call on Him by them: choose the name that answers your need, and call on Him with a sincere and confident heart.

The text: Surah Al-A'raaf (7), verse 180 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 7:180]

The text: Surah Al-Baqara (2), verse 186 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 2:186]

Meaning: 7:180: "To Allah belong the most beautiful names, so call on Him by them, and leave those who deviate regarding His names; they will be repaid for what they used to do." 2:186: "When My servants ask you about Me, I am near: I answer the call of the caller when he calls on Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me, so that they may be rightly guided."

Arabic text: deliberately not typed, to avoid any error; it is to be copied from the centre's mushaf (or a verified source) at the place indicated.