Al-'Ismul 'A'zam is very paramount in the consideration of  many Muslims, especially while discussing acceptance of Du'ā' by Allah.  Muslim clerics, right from the time they were in Arabic school till date have been searching for the Greatest Name of Allah. Valuable time, energy and money have been spent by them to no avail, while many are still searching for it. 

What appears to be responsible for the fervent search for the Name is their zeal to acquire the magic wand with which they will be able to perform miracles and solve all spiritual problems and prayer requests that might be brought to them. We must not forget that majority of the full time pupils of Arabic school end up being Alfas or Mallams not really disseminating knowledge, but doing spiritual consultancy. They acquire Asrār ( Spiritual Secrets) from various older Alfas /Mallams in preparation for their profession. They want to supplicate Allah and obtain immediate acceptance of their Du'ā ' without any delay. They want to replicate what one of the servants of Sulayman AS did. The servant's name was said to be Asif, according to Ibn Abbās, or Asif b. Barkhiyah, according to Muhammad b.Ishaq who said that Asif knew the Greatest Name of Allah. Asif brought the Throne of Bilqīs, the Queen of Sheba, from a far distance and placed it before his master within the twinkling of an eye. That was really a miracle. 

It should however be noted that the Qur'an (Q27:40) does not say that "Asif" used the Greatest Name of Allah to achieve the feat. It says :" The one who had knowledge of the Scripture said, 'I can bring it to you in the blink of an eye' ".  The Qur'an does not refer to any of Allah's Names as the Greatest Name probably because ALL THE NAMES are the same in His estimation. They are all Powerful, Efficacious, Excellent and Impactful. 

In a number of ahādith, Rasūlullāh, (SAAWS),  was said to have called attention to the existence of al-Ismul 'A'zam. For example, Abūl-Umāmah reported that Rasūlullāh (SAAWS), said : "The Greatest Name of Allah is found in three chapters of the Qur'an, namely: Al-Baqarah, Āli 'Imrān and Tā hā". (Ibn Mājah) 

The report of Anas b. Mālik attempts to reveal the Name, when he said that he was sitting with the Prophet, (SAAWS), and a man was performing Salāt and then supplicated Allah saying:

" O Allah, indeed I ask You, for all praise is due to You, there is none worthy of worship but You, the Bestower, the Creator of the heavens and earth, O Possessor of Majesty,  Honour, O Ever-Living, O Eternal, I ask of You ...' The Prophet, (SAAWS) , then said :' He has called on Allah by His Greatest Name, which if He is supplicated by it, He answers,  and if He is asked by it, He gives' ". (At-Tirmīdhī, Abū Dāwūd, An-Nasā'ī, & Ibn Mājah). 

Buraydah b. Al-Husayb reported that Rasūlullāh, (SAAWS), heard a man saying:

" Oh Allah, surely, I ask You by my testifying that You are Allah, there is none worthy of worship except You, the One, on Whom all depend, the One Who does not beget nor is He begotten, and there is none who is like Him."Rasūlullāh, (SAAWS), said:

" By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, he has asked Allah by His Greatest Name, the one, which if He is called upon by it, He responds, and when He is asked by it, He gives." (At-Tirmidhī', Abū Dāwūd & Ibn Mājah). 

Asmā' bnt Yazīd reported Rasūlullāh, (SAAWS), saying that the Greatest Name of Allah is contained in the following two verses: 

"And your God is One God, there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful " (Q2:163).

 "Allah! There is no god but Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence". (Q 3:1-2) At-Tirmidhī', Abū Dāwūd & Ibn Mājah.

 This hadith is graded Weak (Da'īf) on the basis that its chain of transmission (Isnād) includes weak transmitters of Hadith such as 'Ubaydullāh Ibn Abī Ziyād and Shahr Ibn Hawshah.

 

To be Concluded 'In shā'a Allah