Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Please ALLAH forgive me, but i need to know.. Why ALLAH name is kept ALLAH Only? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Why Allah is named Allah

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Beloved brother in Islam, never ever hesitate or apologize for asking any questions in the deen; for the deen or ‘way of life’ called Al-Islam is based on the Perfect Wisdom and Knowledge of the All Knowing Lord, and every single command of the All Wise Lord is abundant in common-sense and logic. Asking any type of questions in Islam to gain more knowledge, or to confirm the Truth so that one’s heart is more content, or to understand and thus follow with more conviction the dictates of the deen is not only permissible, but absolutely encouraged in Islam. It is the right of the brother or sister to ask anything they wish to clarify in the deen; and it is the responsibility and duty of the good scholars to address the question asked to the best of their knowledge and ability, and in the most polite and humble manner.

What is discouraged in Islam is if one asks questions for the sake of asking, or arguing to ridicule the Truth with absolutely no intention of obeying or following when the Truth is made clear to them, etc. But if one asks questions to clarify and seek knowledge so that one may better follow the deen; such seeking of the Knowledge of Truth is absolutely encouraged in Islam

Your Question: Why ALLAH name is kept ALLAH Only? 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 180:

The Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah: so call on Him by them.

Beloved brother, it is neither true nor accurate that Allah Subhanah has only One Name, for every Best, Beautiful and the Most Superlative Name and Attribute belongs to Allah Subhanah Alone, and one may call their Lord through any of His innumerable and blessed Names.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 110:

Say: "Call upon Allah or call upon ‘Ar-Rahmaan’: by whatever name ye call upon Him (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names.”

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.489 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Allah has ninety-nine Names, one-hundred less one; and he who memorized them all by heart, will enter Paradise."

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 59 Surah Hashr verses 22-24:

22 Allah is He than whom there is no other god Who knows (all things) both secret and open; He Most Gracious (Ar-Rahmaan), Most Merciful (Ar-Raheem).

23 Allah is He than whom there is no other god; The Sovereign (Al-Maalik), The Holy One (Al-Quddoos), The Source of Peace and Perfection (As-Salaam). The Guardian of Faith (Al-Mumin), The Preserver of Safety (Al-Muhaymin), The Exalted in Might (Al-Aziz), The Irresistible (Al-Jabbar), The Supreme (Al-Mutakabbir): Glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.

24 He is Allah, The Creator (Al-Khaliq), the Evolver (Al-Baari), The Bestower of Forms (Al-Musawwir). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: Whatever is in the heavens and on earth doth declare His Praises and Glory: and He is The Exalted in Might (Al-Azeez), The Most Wise (Al-Hakeem).

Your Question: Why ALLAH name is kept ALLAH Only? 

The Arabic term ‘Ilaah’ denotes a god or deity which is worshipped; and the term Allah or ‘Al-Ilaah’ literally means ‘The-God’ or The One and Only True Lord God and Deity Who Alone deserves worship in truth.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan