Can the word sympathetic be used for Allah?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The issue “Can names and attributes that are not mentioned in the texts, i.e. verses of the Quran and hadiths, be given to Allah?” has been discussed in the science of Kalam. In these discussions, Asharis argue that names and attributes that are not included in the texts cannot be given while Mutazila argue that names and attributes that “suit the glory of Allah” can be given even if they are not included in the texts.

Although this is the general situation, the later Asharis and other Ahl as-Sunnah scholars regarded it as permissible and used it.

However, they state that no name can replace the word “Allah” in any language, and therefore no name or attribute can be used instead of the word Allah.

However, they allow that names and attributes in other languages such as “Huda / Hadi, Yazdan” in Persian, “Tanrı and Çalab” in Turkish, and “God” in Western languages ​​that “do not harm the glory, majesty and grandeur of Allah” can be given compared to the names “Ilah, Mawla and Rab” in the Quran.

Therefore, the theologians of Ahl as-Sunnah have frequently used concepts such as “Wajib Ta’ala, Vajib al-Wujud, Wujud al-Mutlaq, Qadim Ta’ala and Qadim lidhatihi” that are used by Islamic philosophers even though they are not in the texts. (1)

Badiuzzaman Said Nursi occasionally used the above-mentioned expressions of the theologians and philosophers, and in addition to them, he also used concepts such as “Shams Ezali, Shams Sarmadi, Sultanu Azal-Abad” etc., which they did not use. In addition to them, we see that he used the expression “so to speak” before expressions such as “Lazzah al-Muqaddasah and Farah al-Munazzah” while describing Allah and used them for Him.

In the light of all these, we can state the following:

Let us prefer to use the names and attributes mentioned in the texts for Allah Almighty as much as possible. However, if we want to describe Him with names and attributes that are not included in the texts, we need act meticulously about using expressions that are appropriate to His glory and majesty and do not harm them.

In that case, we think that there is no harm in using the word “sympathetic” for Allah, as holy and pure that is worthy of His essence, by using the expression “so to speak”.

1) Saduddin b. Masud at-Taftazani, Sharhul-Aqaid- Kelam İlmi ve İslam Akaidi-, prepared by Süleyman Uludağ, pp. 148-149.

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