ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the first knowable characteristics of the Essence, the divine names and attributes. The divine names are the foundations of existence and the underlying thread of the Qur’an. The Qur’an distinguishes between real names and figurative names. The divine names are the first order of multiplicity that emanates directly from the degree of Singularity. The principal division of the divine names is that of Beauty and Majesty. The names of Beauty represent God’s mercy, kindness, intimacy, proximity and immanence. Every name seeks to manifest the properties, governance and period of efficacy that is intrinsic to its reality. Since the Essence is undifferentiated, multiplicity arises in the degree of the names. The names are divided by another classification: the names of the Essence, Attributes and Acts, even if they are ultimately all names of the Essence. The names of the Acts are subdivided in accordance with their properties as everything in existence is governed by the divine names.
