Calling upon God
with His Greatest Name

Regarding asma-e-husna a question asked by people is: “Has God one proper name (ism-e-aazam) or has God one main or great name? If that is so, what it is?” Different traditions have been recorded in the Hadith about ism-e-aazam. We give below two traditions by Imam Ahmad:

1. Anas ibn Malik narrated that, once the Prophet of Islam heard someone saying: “O God, I beseech You. All praise is for You. You are the object of worship, You have no partner. You have done great favours to man. You have created the earth and the heavens without any model. Greatness and Honour are Yours.” On hearing this, the Prophet of Islam said: “You have called God with ism-e-aazam, when He is called in this way He will certainly answer your call, and when He is asked for anything in this way He grants it.” (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 12205).
2. Abdullah ibn Buraida narrates that, the Prophet Muhammad heard someone say: “O God, I beseech You. I bear witness that You are God, there is no other person worthy of worship. You stand alone, You are self-sufficient. You have not given birth to anyone nor have You been born to someone. You have no equal.” On hearing this, the Prophet observed: “He has made a request to God with ism-e-aazam, if something is asked for with ism-e-aazam, He certainly grants it. And when the prayer is prefixed by it, He certainly accepts it.” (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 22965)

In both the traditions along with the name of Allah there are other names with divine attributes. This shows that ism-e-aazam cannot be just one name. Had it been one name, the prayer of the Prophet’s Companion would also have mentioned only one name. But there are several names of God in this prayer (dua). In spite of this clear indication, regarding ism-e-aazam to be only one main name of God, and making every effort to find that name, is without doubt a mistake.

The truth is that ism-e-aazam is not just one great name, but is rather a great state or feeling. In the above prayer the Companion did not repeat some words by rote, but rather in a great state of emotion, some particular words fell from his lips, and this is what is meant by calling upon God with ism-e-aazam. Ism-e-aazam relates in actual fact to spiritual or divine feelings. Calling upon God with such words as are full of feelings is calling upon God with ism-e-aazam.