25 / Warning against Deviation Concerning Allah’s Names

Our previous discussion concerned the words of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: “To Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them, and leave those who deviate concerning His Names. They will be recompensed for what they used to do.” 1 One aspect of the verse’s meaning remains to be discussed: Allah’s warning against deviation concerning His Names and His threat that those who deviate concerning them will be recompensed for their deeds and called to the severest account. He—Glorified is He—grants respite but does not neglect.

In this verse, Allah threatens those who deviate concerning His Names in two ways:

The first is the imperative form in His words, “and leave those,” for it conveys a threat.

The second is in His words, “They will be recompensed for what they used to do.” 2

Linguistically, deviation means inclining and turning aside. From the same root comes the term for the side niche in a grave, so called because it inclines away from the center. It also gives rise to the term for one who deviates in religion—that is, one who turns away from truth toward falsehood. Ibn al-Sikkīt said: “One who deviates is one who turns away from the truth and introduces into it what does not belong to it.” 3

Deviation concerning the Names of Allah—Glorified is He—is to turn the Names themselves, their realities, and their meanings away from the truth established for them. It takes many forms, all united by this description. Since Allah issued such a warning in this verse against deviation concerning His Names, it is all the more incumbent upon every Muslim to understand this deviation and its various forms, lest he fall into it, as Allah