al-Rifā'ī,” or “the servant of al-Harīrī,” and similar expressions that involve a kind of worshipful devotion to human beings, like that which Christians may feel toward Christ and polytheists toward their gods, with hope and fear. They may also turn to them in repentance, just as the polytheists used to repent to some of their gods, and Christians to Christ or certain saints.

The law of Islam—which is the religion devoted sincerely to Allah alone—establishes people's servitude to their Lord, as prescribed by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. It replaces polytheistic names with Islamic names, and names expressing disbelief with names expressing faith. The names the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, most commonly gave were 'Abd Allāh and 'Abd al-Rahmān.

As Allah Most High says:

“Say, ‘Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever name you call upon—to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names.’”

These two names are the foundation of all the other names of Allah Most High.

Shaykh al-Islām al-Harawī gave the people of his town names based on most of Allah's Most Beautiful Names. Likewise, names expressing servitude to Allah predominate in our family, such as 'Abd Allāh, 'Abd al-Rahmān, 'Abd al-Ghanī, 'Abd al-Salām, 'Abd al-Qāhir, 'Abd al-Latīf, 'Abd al-Hakīm, 'Abd al-'Azīz, 'Abd al-Rahīm, 'Abd al-Muhsin, 'Abd al-Ahad, 'Abd al-Wāhid, 'Abd al-Qādir, 'Abd al-Karīm, 'Abd al-Malik, and 'Abd al-Haqq.

It is authentically reported in Sahīh Muslim, through Nāfi', from 'Abd Allāh ibn 'Umar, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“The names most beloved to Allah are 'Abd Allāh and 'Abd al-Rahmān; those most true to their meanings are Hārith and Hammām; and the ugliest are Harb and Murrah.”

Among the battle cries used by the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when fighting alongside him were: “O sons of 'Abd al-Rahmān! O sons of 'Abd Allāh! O sons of