Salafi Objection to Repeating a Name of Allah on Its Own

Salafis argue that repeating a Name of Allah on its own such as saying “Allah, Allah…” repeatedly is an innovation that is contrary to the Sunnah. Shaikh Ibn Taymiyya (R.A) argued that repeating the Name of Allah or a pronoun such as “Huwa” (He) is a wrongful innovation for two reasons: 1. It has no basis in the Sunnah or practice of the Salaf, and 2. It is meaningless and void of any benefit to repeat a Name or pronoun

https://islamqa.info/en/9389

Firstly, in answer to this objection, the Holy Qur’an makes explicit the enjoining of Dhikr of the Name of Allah

And who is more unjust than one who prevents the Name of Allah being mentioned in the mosques, and strives for their ruin? (Sura 2:114)

وَمَسَاجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّـهِ كَثِيرًا

And mosques – in which the Name of Allah is profusely mentioned (Sura 22:40)

See also Sura 17:110; 24:36

For further clarification I bring the blessed Hadith of the beloved Prophet ﷺ who said:

عَنْ أَنَسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى لاَ يُقَالَ فِي الأَرْضِ اللَّهُ اللَّهُ ‏

It is narrated on the authority of Anas that verily the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The Hour (Resurrection) will not occur until ‘Allah, Allah’ is not said on earth.” (Sahih Muslim)

This is an explicit proof for repeating the Name “Allah, Allah”.

Another is the example of the illustrious Sahabi, Sayyidina Bilal b. Rabah (Allah be pleased with him): It is well known that when Bilal was still a slave and had embraced Islam, his pagan master tortured him severely, yet all the while Bilal refused to recant, instead repeating the phrase Ahad, Ahad “One, One”:

إلا بِلالٌ فَإِنَّهُ هَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ نَفْسُهُ فِي اللَّهِ ، وَهَانَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ فَأَعْطَوْهُ الْوِلْدَانَ فَجَعَلُوا يَطُوفُونَ بِهِ شِعَابَ مَكَّةَ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ : " أَحَدٌ أَحَدٌ "

“Except Bilal, for he did not care what was done to him for the sake of Allah and his people did not care what happened to him. They handed him over to the children who paraded him around the streets of Mecca as he was saying: One, One” (Musnad Ahmad: Isnaduhu Hasan)

This is a proof for the Salafis who claim to follow the way of the Salaf, the likes of Bilal b. Rabah (Allah be pleased with him)

In answer to the second objection; that repeating a Name of Allah on its own as a form of Dhikr is meaningless; the answer to this baseless argument is that it is known by Allah that repeating His Name is a form of glorification and worship of Him. The intention is to praise and glorify Him by saying His Name.