Is an-Noor (the Light) one of the divine names?

Praise be to Allah.

The scholars differed as to whether the name an-Noor is one of the beautiful names of Allah.

The first view

is that it is one of the divine names, because Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): {Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth} [An-Noor 24:35].

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, called Himself Noor (Light), and described His Book as light, and His Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) as light, and His Religion as light, and He has screened Himself from His creation with light, and has made the abode of His close friends glistening light." (Ijtimaa‘ al-Juyoosh al-Islamiyyah 2/44).

He also said in an-Nooniyyah:

An-Noor is also one of His names and one of His attributes, glory be to the Possessor of light.

Ibn Khuzaymah (may Allah have mercy on him) said that the name an-Noor is one of the beautiful names of Allah, as noted previously in question no. 149122.

The second view

is that it is not one of the divine names.

The scholars of the Permanent Committee for Ifta’ were asked: Is it permissible to give the name ‘Abd an-Noor to anyone?

They replied:

The names of Allah, may He be exalted, are tawqeefi [meaning that they are to be based on the religious texts of the Qur’an and saheeh Sunnah, and are not subject to ijtihad]. There is no proof that an-Noor is one of the divine names, and based on that, it is not allowed to call someone ‘Abd an-Noor. End quote.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez Aal ash-Shaykh, Shaykh ‘Abdullah al-Ghadyaan, Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd." (Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah  10/510, Vol. 2).

Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

We cannot call someone ‘Abd an-Noor, and there is no religious text that says that an-Noor is one of the divine names. End quote.

Shaykh ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan al-Barraak (may Allah preserve him) was asked: Is the name an-Noor one of the beautiful names of Allah?

He replied:

I do not remember that it was narrated in any of the saheeh hadiths that Allah is called by the name an-Noor, except in the report which was classed as da‘eef (weak) by the scholars of hadith which lists the divine names.

It seems that Ibn al-Qayyim affirmed the name an-Noor as one of the divine names, but he did not give any evidence for that. What is mentioned in the Qur’an and the Sunnah is “Light of the heavens and the earth.” So if it is said that one of the names of Allah is Noor as-samawaati wa’l-ard (Light of the heavens and the earth), then yes, but as for saying noor only – “Allah noor (Allah is light)” that is not correct.

End quote from:

http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-94852.html

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ar-Raajihi (may Allah preserve him) said:

Light is one of the attributes of Allah, in a manner befitting to the majesty and greatness of Allah, but it is mentioned by way of referring to Him: “Noor as-samawaati wa’l-ard (Light of the heavens and the earth),” and is not mentioned independently, so we cannot say that one of the names of Allah is an-Noor without any addition to it, because there is no report to that effect. End quote.

http://shrajhi.com/Books/ID/449

Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned that one of the names that it is prohibited to use is ‘Abd an-Noor, because it is indicative of servitude to something other than Allah." (Mu‘jam al-Manaahi al-Lafziyyah p. 282).

Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I do not know that an-Noor is one of the names of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, in any saheeh hadith. End quote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPlrzAU1_90&feature=youtu.be

Based on that, it is not appropriate to use the name ‘Abd an-Noor, because at the very least it is a dubious matter, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.”

But if someone was given this name previously, we do not think that it is essential to change it, because the intention was to express servitude to Allah, and there is a strong argument for regarding an-Noor as one of the names of Allah, and this is the view of many scholars.

And Allah knows best.