Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
It is not permissible to describe Allah تعالى as “professional,” even if the intention is to praise the perfection of His creation. This word carries meanings associated with a trade or acquired skill, as well as expertise gained through training and practice—meanings that are not appropriate when speaking about Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
Instead, His magnificent creation should be described using expressions that befit Him, such as:
“He is the Creator, the Originator, the Fashioner, the wondrous Originator of the heavens and the earth.”
The names and attributes of Allah are tawqifiyyah; that is, we may only name or describe Him with what is established in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
As for informing about Allah using descriptive expressions, this matter is broader. It is permissible to use a word that has not been specifically mentioned in the Qur’an or Sunnah if its meaning is correct and does not imply any deficiency.
Ibn al-Qayyim explained this distinction, saying:
“What falls under informing about Him, Exalted is He, is broader than what falls under His names and attributes.”
He mentioned examples such as “the Existing” and “the Self-Sustaining.”
See: Bada’i‘ al-Fawa’id (1/170).
Therefore, not every correct expression used to speak about Allah becomes one of His Beautiful Names.
At the same time, the broader scope of informing about Allah does not mean that every word intended as praise is permissible. Its meaning must be considered, including whether it may contain any implication of deficiency or anything inappropriate for Allah.
In its original linguistic sense, “professional” refers to earning a living through a trade or craft.
In Taj al-‘Arus (23/137), it states:
“Wa-ihtarafa: he earned for his family from here and there; and al-muhtarif is the craftsman.”
This usage is connected to human circumstances and the occupations and trades through which people earn their livelihood. It is not appropriate to transfer this meaning to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He.
In common modern usage, “professional” may refer to a person who performs a task with great skill. However, the term is also associated with acquiring skills through training, practice, and effort until a person reaches a high level of proficiency.
For this reason, the fatwa considers describing Allah with this word inappropriate because it carries meanings that do not befit His perfection, whether understood according to its original linguistic meaning or according to its common usage in praising human skill.
The speaker may intend only to express admiration for the greatness and perfection of creation. However, the correctness of the intended meaning does not make every expression used to convey it appropriate.
The expression in question uses a term suitable for describing the skill of a created being and then applies it to Allah, “There is nothing like unto Him.”
The fatwa therefore regards this as improper etiquette toward Allah, because the word carries connotations of craftsmanship, processing, acquired expertise, and learned skill.
The principle here is that both the meaning and the expression used to convey it must be sound.
Whoever wishes to speak about the greatness and perfection of creation should choose expressions that befit the Creator and do not suggest that He requires training, experience, or effort.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى is the Creator, the Originator, and the Fashioner. He creates without fatigue, hardship, or exertion.
His perfection does not result from experience that He acquired or a skill that He practiced. Rather, when He decrees a matter, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is.
Allah تعالى says:
“Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”
[Al-Baqarah: 117]
And He سبحانه says:
“Our command to a thing when We intend it is only that We say to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”
[An-Nahl: 40]
These texts clarify the meaning that befits Allah’s power and creation, making it unnecessary to use expressions associated with human crafts and skills.
The intended meaning can be expressed by saying:
“Allah is the Creator, the Originator, and the Fashioner.”
Or:
“Glory be to the wondrous Originator of the heavens and the earth.”
These expressions convey meanings of perfection and fulfill the purpose of glorifying Allah without the inappropriate connotations contained in describing Him as “professional.”
Allah تعالى says:
“So do not assert likenesses for Allah. Indeed, Allah knows and you do not know.”
[An-Nahl: 74]
It is not permissible to say, “Allah is a professional,” even when the intention is to describe the perfection of His creation, because the expression carries meanings that do not befit Allah.
Although the category of informing about Allah is broader than that of His names and attributes, the expression used must have a sound meaning and be free from implications of deficiency.
And Allah knows best.