If we are called by titles such as engineer, doctor, or teacher, does that necessarily make us an engineer, a doctor, or a teacher? Definitely not! In order to gain every one of these names, we need to pursue a specific path so these names can change from potentiality into actuality in us. We, the best of creations, have the same situation with the names of Allah. Although all the divine names and attributes exist within us potentially, but to manifest those names and attributes, we first need to attain the names of Allah.
In fact, until we do not attain anything, its effects will not be manifest in us. For example, we first have to drink water in order to quench our thirst; or we have to use medicine in order for its effects to appear in our body. We have to first acquire the names of Allah so that their effects can be manifest in us in the form of different attributes. We cannot act kindly in the way Allah does unless we obtain the name “Rahman,” (merciful and gracious); or we cannot acquire the name “Javad,” (generous and open-handed), unless we can give generously.