بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِNew book. Mūsā: The Interlocutor of God, by Shaykh Azhar Nasser.Learn more
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ElectiveTheology & beliefBest after Level 3

Demystifying the Names of Allah

Demystifying the Names of Allah is a course that studies the traditions of Ahlul Bayt as transmitted in Al-Kafi that explain the reality of Allah's names and how they facilitate our understanding of the transcendent nature of Allah.

With Shaykh Azhar Nasser

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About this course

Study the divine names through traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt transmitted in al-Kāfī. Beginning with why the names of God matter and what a name means, the course examines the relationship between God and His names, questions of word derivation and the danger of misconstruing the names.

The discussion turns to Bismillah, the name al-Nūr, the First and the Last, and the meaning of Allāhu akbar. Later lessons consider Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ and explanations of al-Ṣamad attributed to Imam al-Jawad and Imam Husayn, before closing with a reflection on a line from Duʿāʾ Kumayl.

What you’ll explore

  • The purpose and meaning of divine names
  • The distinction between God and His names
  • Word derivation and meanings of Bismillah
  • Al-Nūr, the First and the Last, and Allāhu akbar
  • Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ and explanations of al-Ṣamad
  • A reflection on Duʿāʾ Kumayl

Curriculum

  1. 01
    Print-Ready Course Notes

    Course Notes: Print Edition (PDF)

  2. 02
    Why Should I Learn the Names of God

    Notes (PDF)

  3. 03
    God's Manifest Names

    Notes (PDF)

  4. 04
    Why did God Create Names for Himself?

    Notes (PDF)

  5. 05
    What is a Name?

    Notes (PDF)

  6. 06
    The Names of Allah and Falling into Shirk

    Notes (PDF)

  7. 07
    Types of Word Derivation

    Notes (PDF)

  8. 08
    Esoteric Meanings of Bismillah

    Notes (PDF)Reading (lessons 1–7)Quiz (lessons 1–7)

Show the full curriculum (18)
  1. 09
    Imam Al-Sadiq on the Difference Between God and His Names

    Notes (PDF)

  2. 10
    The Meaning of God's Name "The Light"

    Notes (PDF)

  3. 11
    The First and the Last

    Notes (PDF)

  4. 12
    Misconstruing the Meaning of Divine Names

    Notes (PDF)

  5. 13
    The Meaning of Allahu Akbar

    Notes (PDF)

  6. 14
    The Revelation of Surat Al-Ikhlas

    Notes (PDF)

  7. 15
    Imam Al-Jawad's Explanation of the Divine Name "Al-Samad"

    Notes (PDF)

  8. 16
    Addressing Misconceptions About the Meaning of Al-Samad

    Notes (PDF)

  9. 17
    Imam Husayn's Letter to the People of Basra Explaining the Meaning of Al-Samad

    Notes (PDF)

  10. 18
    A Reflection on a Line from Dua Kumayl

    Notes (PDF)Reading (lessons 8–17)Quiz (lessons 8–17)

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