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Fatwa CenterSaying ‘Yaa Naafi', ‘Yaa Maani', ‘Yaa Noor’ in supplication
Question
Assalaamu alaykum, can I recite "Yaa Naafi'u " "Yaa Maani'u" "Yaa Noor" as 'wazeefah'?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
The Names An-Naafi’ (The Bringer of Benefit) and Al-Maani’ (The Withholder) are among the names of Allaah that should not be used by themselves; they must be used in conjunction with the two other names with the opposite indication, namely Adh-Dhaar (The Distresser) and Al-Muʻti (The Giver) respectively, i.e. praising Allaah with these names must be done by mentioning the two opposite names together: Adh-Dhaarr An-Naafi' and Al-Muʻti Al-Maani’.
Ibn Al-Qayyim 
wrote:
“Some of His names may be used alone or in conjunction with others. This applies to most of His names, such as Al-Qadeer (The All-Powerful), As-Samee’ (The All-Hearing), Al-Baseer (The All-Seeing), Al-ʻAzeez (The Almighty), and Al-Hakeem (The Most Wise). One may call upon him with these Names alone or in conjunction with others. So you may say: Yaa ʻAzeez, Yaa Haleem (Most Forbearing), Yaa Ghafoor (Forgiving), Yaa Raheem (Merciful). Each Name may also be used on its own. Similarly, when praising Allaah and speaking of Him, they may be used alone or together.
There are, on the other hand, some names that may not be used alone; rather they must be used with other names that carry an opposite meaning, such as Al-Maaniʻ, Adh-Dhaarr, and Al-Muntaqim. It is not permissible to use these alone without their opposite meanings. They should be used in conjunction with the names Al-Muʻti, An-Naafiʻ and Al-ʻAfuww (The Pardoner). So He is Al-Muʻti Al-Maaniʻ (The Giver, The Withholder), Adh-Dhaarr An-Naafiʻ (The Distresser, The Bringer of Benefit), Al-Muntaqim Al-ʻAfuww (The Avenger, The Pardoner), Al-Muʻizz Al-Muthill (The Honorer, The Abaser) because perfection lies in each of these names joined with its opposite: giving and withholding, benefiting and distressing, pardoning and executing vengeance. What is meant here is that Allaah alone is the Lord and He alone has control over His creation in these respects. As for praising Him by mentioning withholding, vengeance and distress on their own, then this is not right. Each of these 'twin' names is to be regarded as one name that cannot be separated. Hence, each name is not used on its own and cannot be mentioned except in conjunction with its opposite. If you say, 'Yaa Muthill', 'Yaa Dhaarr', 'Yaa Maaniʻ' and you speak about that, then you are not praising Him unless you also mention the opposite name.” [Badaa'I’ Al-Fawaa'id]
As for calling upon Allaah with "Yaa Noor," it is permissible because the name An-Noor (The Light) is one of the divine names according to Ibn Al-Qayyim and others. He said, "Since An-Noor is one the divine Names and Attributes of Allaah, then His religion is light, His Messenger is light, His House is glowing light, and light illuminates the hearts of His truthful believing slaves, flows over their tongues, and is manifest on their faces." [Shifaa' Al-ʻAleel]
Allaah knows best.
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