Al-Allaamah Ash-Shaykh Abdulazeez bn Baz - rahimahullaah - was asked:
Is “As-Sabūr” (The Most Patient) one of the Beautiful Names of Allah?
Response: I do not know of anything regarding this. I don’t remember anything about it. However, Allah is described as patient in meaning; but as for saying that As-Sabūr is one of the Beautiful Names of Allah, that requires evidence. It requires a hadith…
All of the attributes are established through textual evidence (tawqīf), not through personal opinion. Nothing is affirmed for Allah except on the basis of textual evidence, and likewise with the Beautiful Names of Allah…
Questioner: Al-Qāḍī said: “As-Sabūr is one of the Names of Allah, the Exalted, and He is the One who does not hasten to punish the disobedient with vengeance.”
Shaykh bn Baz: It requires evidence. It requires an authentic hadith.
Editor's Note: al-Imām an-Nawawī — raḥimahullāh — in Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (17/141), quoting al-Qāḍī, also mentioned “aṣ-Ṣabūr” among the Names of Allah.
He cited the ḥadīth of Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī رضي الله عنه, in which the Prophet ﷺ said:
“No one is more patient in bearing something hurtful that he hears than Allah. They attribute a son to Him, yet He still grants them well-being and provides for them.”
The ḥadīth is Ṣaḥīḥ and is narrated by al-Bukhārī (6099; also 7378) and Muslim (2804).
However, the ḥadīth does not establish “aṣ-Ṣabūr” as a specific Name of Allah. Rather, it establishes the attribute of ṣabr (patience) for Allah, since the Prophet ﷺ explicitly described Allah as “more patient” (أَصْبَر) than anyone in bearing what He hears of evil.
Thus, there is a distinction between affirming ṣabr as an attribute of Allah, which is established by this authentic ḥadīth, and affirming aṣ-Ṣabūr as one of Allah’s Beautiful Names, which requires specific evidence that this particular expression is a Name.
And Allah knows best.
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