Is it true to use the name “Muqim” in order to express one of Allah’s attributes as we cannot find this name among the 99 names of Allah. Could you please explain the meaning of this name?

Is it true to use the name “Muqim” in order to express one of Allah’s attributes as we cannot find this name among the 99 names of Allah. Could you please explain the meaning of this name? The name "muqimu's-sunnah is also used for our Prophet so how can this name be used for Allah? How can you clarify this issue?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The word Muqim stems from the verb “aqama”. It means “the one who maintains whatever he created in the most appropriate position”. It stems from the same root letters (qama) as the name Qayyum. Qaim is also one of Allah’s names, which is derived from the verb “qama”, just like the name Hay, which stems from the root “hayah” indicates that Allah is alive, the name Muhyi, which also stems from the same root means the one who vitalizes, who brings to life.

The name Muqim also means “eternal” which is impossible to end and vanish. The words “Adhabun muqim” (al-Maidah, 5/37) and “Naimun muqim” (at-Tawba, 9/21) are used in this sense.

It is completely unobjectionable to use the name “Muqim” in order to express one of Allah’s attributes.

According to what the scholars of Ahl Sunnah informs us, Allah’s most beautiful names do not only consist of 99 names. Names for Allah can also be derived from verbal adjectives which are used in the Quran. From this point of view, the word, which is interpreted as “nor shall we establish” in the verse the interpretation of which is “They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter): vain will be their works, nor shall We, on the Day of Judgment, establish for them any weight” (al-Kahf, 18/105), is used as a modal form of the verb “aqama” which adds plurality to the meaning. The noun form of this verb which means to establish, to maintain is “Muqim”. It is scientifically impossible to say that the noun form of a word, which is used in the verbal adjective form by Allah to describe Himself cannot be used to express Him.

“One who establishes (aqama) prayers” means one who performs prayers properly. When this adjective is used for Allah, it means that Allah created all beings wisely and properly.

Under the light of those explanations, it can be said that “the fact that Sheikh al-Harari stated it was not appropriate to say Allah was al-Muqim as it is an attribution of the creatures, not of the Creator” does not reflect the reality. In fact, the majority of Allah’s names is also used for human beings who are creatures.

According to the creed of Ahl Sunnah, except for the names which are exclusive to Allah such as Allah and Rahman, other appropriate attributions and names can be used both for Allah and human beings. As a matter of fact, the names Rauf and Rahim which are Allah’s names are also used for the Prophet (pbuh) in the Quran.

The fact that the name “muqimu’s-sunnah” is used for our Prophet or someone else does not mean that it cannot be used for Allah. As a matter of fact, the word “Muhyi’s-sunnah” has been used for some scholars and it does not prevent this name from being used for Allah.

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