Emulating the Qualities of God

by: Dr. Sani Badron
It is taught in Islamic intellectual tradition that, the names and attributes that belong to God are unlimited in their number, far more beyond the names enumerable by man. Be that as it may, there is a tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, who says that "God has ninety-nine names...whoever memorises, utters and comprehends them will enter Paradise." This tradition is recorded by Imam Muslim; nevertheless, there is no sound tradition which specifies the whole ninety-nine names. Indeed, God describes Himself by the most beautiful names, which is called al-asma' al-husna in four verses of the Qur'an. (See further: al-A‘raf, 7:180; al-Isra', 17:110; Ta Ha, 20:8; and, al-Hashr, 59:24.) The reason why His names are "the most beautiful" is simply because they point to the all-resplendent Named (i.e. God) and, moreover, no names are applied to Him except what is beautiful according to commonly received parlance or sacred law. So much so that God commands the believers to "shun those who blaspheme His names" (7:180), referring to the use of profanity in God's names that suggests anything derogatory to His dignity or to His absolute unity. Quoting al-Razi (d. 606/1210), Muhammad Asad's The Message of the Qur'an interprets distortion of God's names refers to "applying them to other beings or objects or, alternatively, by trying to define God in anthropomorphic terms and relationship." In reality, the most beautiful names and attributes of God constitute the standard of manners and praiseworthy deeds. Hence, the Sufis' teaching, "Emulate moral characters that are the manners of God! (takhallaqu bi akhlaqillah)." As defined by ibn ‘Arabi, "Emulating the character traits of God-that is tasawwuf." Muslim philosophers have similar teaching referred to as al-tashabuh billah. All this is in accordance with a tradition of the Prophet, "The most beautiful character is the manner of God the Tremendous (husn al-khuluq khuluq Allah al-a‘zam)" (recorded by Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir). As simple illustrations of this significant principle, consider the following. Once, the Prophet said to his companions, "If anyone has even a speck of pride in him, he will not enter Paradise." One of the companions enquired, "O Messenger of God! A man likes to have good garments and good shoes. Is that pride?" The Prophet said, "Verily God is beautiful and He loves beauty and He likes that His blessings on His slave be demonstrated" (recorded by Bayhaqi, Muslim and Tirmidhi). The Prophet means that as God is comely in His acts, and being Himself an abundant Bestower of good things, God loves those who are of the like character. Indeed, there are many Qur'anic verses which emphasize Divine Love of beauty, comely deeds, or good things.For example, it is stated that God has beautified the lower sky with lights (67:5); that God has placed all that is in the earth as an ornamental thing to test men: which of them is best in conduct (18:7); that wealth and sons are adornments of the life of this world (18:46); that God has bestowed cloth upon the children of Adam to cover their shame, as well as to be to them an adornment or comforts of life (7:26); that men ought to wear their beautiful dress at every time and place of prayer; that while they need to eat and drink, they ought not to waste by excess, for God loves not the wasters (7:31). In addition, there exist other similar traditions of the Prophet, such as: "God is Beautiful, He loves beauty. He is Generous and loves generosity. He is clean and tidy, and loves cleanliness and tidiness" (recorded by ibn ‘Adi, al-Kamil). "Verily, God is pure, He loves purity. He is clean, He loves cleanliness. Hence, keep yourselves clean!" (recorded by Tirmidhi, al-Jami‘ al-Kabir). The Prophet also stated in the context of war that "God has prescribed ihsan (that which is good, comely or please) in everything; even if you kill somebody [among the military enemies], kill him in a nice manner." Hence, for instance, no mutilating or torturous manner is allowed in shari‘ah, even as a Muslim soldier is killing his military enemies. Another example is the Prophet's advice to his wife A'ishah, "O A'ishah! God is mild and He loves mildness in everything," which is in accordance with the Qur'anic verse, "and God is never cruel to the servants" (3:182). Hence, it is said in a hadith qudsi, "O My servants! I have forbidden Myself from oppressing anyone, and have made it (oppression) unlawful for you, too. Thus, you must not oppress each other" (recorded by Muslim and ibn Hanbal). In the same vein, the Prophet said that whenever a person does something, God likes that he or she does it in a perfect manner (recorded by Tabarani). On emulating the qualities of God, readers may refer further to, for example, al-Ghazzali's al-Maqsad al-asna fi sharh asma'Allah al-husna.