Knowing Allāh’s Beautiful Names that are mentioned in the Book and Sunnah. To have a burning desire to understand their meanings and to worship Allāh through them. The Prophet (SAW) said, “Allāh has ninety-nine Names, one hundred less one, whoever memorises and understands them will enter Paradise.” (Bukhārī, Muslim)
Meaning that whoever memorises them, understands them, believes in them and worships Allāh through them will enter Paradise. It is only the believers who will enter Paradise, and so we learn that this principle is the greatest well-spring leading a person to attain faith, strengthen it and have it endure.
Knowledge of the Beautiful Names is the foundation of faith and faith in turn depends upon it. Through knowing them, the believer also actualises the three categories of Tawḥīd,
1. Tawḥīd al-Rubūbiyyah
2. Tawḥīd al-Ilāhiyyah
3. Tawḥīd al-Asmāʾ wa’l-Ṣifāt
These categories form the essence of faith, its foundations and goal. As the servants’ knowledge of Allāh’s Names and Attributes increases, so too does his faith and certainty. Hence, a person should strive to learn these Names and Attributes.
But this knowledge must be free from the sickness of taʿtīl (divesting Allāh of His Names and Attributes) and tamthīl (Likening Allāh to creation) which has afflicted many of the People of Innovation, those whose path opposes the way of the Messenger (SAW). Instead this knowledge should be taken from the Book and Sunnah and what has been reported from the Companions and all those who followed them in good. If a person does this, he has acquired beneficial knowledge which will always cause him to increase in faith, to strengthen his certainty and attain peace and tranquillity in all his affairs.