So worship Me alone.” [al-‘Ankabut: 56]

And He, Most High, says:

“Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him.” [al-Nisa’: 36]

Among the gravest forms of associating partners with Allah is to say: Worship is directed to His name, while His name is created; thus, He has commanded worship of a created thing. This is the doctrine of the Mu‘tazilah, the Najjariyyah, and other adherents of innovation, unbelief, and misguidance.

And He says:

“Say, ‘He is Allah, the One.’” [al-Ikhlas: 1]

The Muslims are unanimously agreed that “He” is a reference to Him, and that “He” is His name. [al-Baqarah: 29]

And He says:

“Then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they stand in rows.” [al-Hajj: 36]

Thus, Allah commanded that His name be pronounced over the sacrificial camels when they are slaughtered, as a means of drawing near to Him. According to the doctrine of the innovators, however, it would suffice to mention the name of Zayd, ‘Amr, al-Lat, or al-‘Uzza, since these names are created, and—in their view—the names of Allah are also created.

And in another verse, He says:

“So eat of that over which the name of Allah has been pronounced.” [al-An‘am: 118]

And elsewhere:

“Do not eat of that over which the name of Allah has not been pronounced.” [al-An‘am: 121]

And He says:

“Blessed is the name of your Lord.” [al-Rahman: 78]

And in another verse,