The All-Powerful means that He possesses power and is able to do all things.

Allah has affirmed for Himself the most beautiful names, the loftiest attributes, and the implications of those attributes. Whoever affirms some of these but denies others is inconsistent and in error, besides contradicting transmitted revelation and action1.

The names indicate Allah’s essence and attributes through full correspondence, inclusion, and necessary implication. Indication is of two kinds: verbal indication and rational indication arising from meaning. If an expression is understood to signify all the meanings it encompasses, this is indication by full correspondence, because the expression corresponds to the meaning without addition or omission. If it is understood to signify only part of its meaning, this is called indication by inclusion, because the meaning in question is part of what the expression signifies and is included within it.

As for rational indication arising from meaning, this depends specifically on sound reasoning and reflection, since the expression alone does not convey it. Rather, a person considers and reflects on the meanings necessarily entailed by that expression, without which its meaning would be incomplete, and on the conditions it requires. This applies to all the most beautiful names. Each indicates Allah’s essence together with the corresponding attribute by full correspondence, and His essence alone or the attribute alone by inclusion. It also indicates, by necessary implication, other attributes necessarily entailed by those meanings.

For example, “the Most Merciful” indicates His essence alone and mercy alone by inclusion, and both together by full correspondence. By necessary implication, it indicates perfect life, all-encompassing knowledge, complete power, and similar attributes. For mercy cannot exist unless the one showing mercy is alive, possesses the power to bring his mercy to its recipient, and knows that recipient and his needs2.

Whoever reflects on His name “the Most Merciful,” and on the fact that He, Most High, is vast in mercy, possesses perfect mercy, and that His mercy has