and in conjunction with other Names, and this is the case with most of the Names—such as al-Qadīr (the All-Powerful), al-Samīʿ (the All-Hearing), al-Baṣīr (the All-Seeing), al-ʿAzīz (the Almighty), and al-Ḥakīm (the All-Wise). Hence it is permissible to invoke Him with any of these either on its own or in combination, saying, for example, “O ʿAzīz, O Ḥalīm; O Ghafūr, O Raḥīm,” or by mentioning each Name separately. The same applies when praising Him or reporting about Him: you may,1 if you wish, use a single Name or gather several together.

Among the Names are others that are never applied to Him alone but only when coupled with their counterparts—such as al-Māniʿ (the Withholder), al-Ḍārr (the Bringer of Harm), and al-Muntaqim (the Avenger). None of these may be used apart from the Name that complements it, for each is paired with al-Muʿṭī (the Giver), al-Nāfiʿ (the Bringer of Benefit), and al-ʿAfūw (the Pardoner) respectively. Thus He is al-Muʿṭī al-Māniʿ (the Giver, the Withholder), al-Ḍārr al-Nāfiʿ (the Bringer of Harm, the Bringer of Benefit), al-Muntaqim al-ʿAfūw (the Avenger, the Pardoner), al-Muʿizz al-Mudhll (the Bestower of Honor, the Humiliator). Perfection lies in coupling each of these Names with its opposite, for the purpose is to affirm that He alone exercises Lordship, managing His creation and disposing of them through giving and withholding, benefiting and harming, pardoning and exacting retribution. Praising Him solely on the basis of withholding, vengeance, or harming is therefore impermissible.

These paired Names function like a single composite Name whose components cannot be separated; though they are two, they operate as one. For this reason they never appear in isolation and are not applied to Him except when joined—bear this well in mind. So were you to say, “O Mudhll, O Ḍārr…"