Why does Allaah not call Himself al-Mutakallim (the Speaker)?
Question

                Why does Allaah not call Himself al-Mutakallim (the Speaker), as He speaks?.
Praise be to Allah.
    In order to make it clearer, we could word the question 
    differently and say: 

    Is it permissible to derive from the attributes and actions 
    of Allaah that He has confirmed for Himself names for Him by which He may be 
    called and by which His slaves may call upon Him, and which may be added to 
    the list of His names so as to attain the reward mentioned in the hadeeth of 
    the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) “Allaah has 
    ninety-nine names. Whoever memorizes them will enter Paradise” Narrated by 
    al-Bukhaari (2736) and Muslim (2677), or are there guidelines concerning the 
    derivation of His names from His attributes and actions? 

    It is essential first of all to ascribe wisdom to Allaah, may 
    He be exalted, for He is absolutely perfect, and He is to be named and 
    described in a manner that is befitting to Him. People should be guided by 
    that which He has told them in His Book of His perfection, majesty and 
    might; to Him all things return and He has great wisdom. 

    But we shall try to understand His names and attributes based 
    on what is mentioned in the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and ponder that so that we 
    might derive some guidelines for defining His most beautiful names. 

    The scholars differed concerning that which the brother asked 
    about, which let them to differ concerning the number of the beautiful names 
    of Allaah and definition of guidelines concerning them. Some of them 
    regarded it as the matter of worship only, in which there is no room for 
    ijtihaad and qiyaas (analogy), as was the view of Ibn Hazm. Some of them 
    were very lenient about this matter and allowed calling Allaah by names such 
    as al-Mutakallim (the Speaker), al-Mureed (the Willer) and every other word 
    by which Allaah is described in the Qur’aan and Sunnah. This was the view of 
    Ibn al-‘Arabi al-Maaliki and others. 

    Some scholars took a middle approach; they studied the 
    reports of the divine names and found that if an attribute implied a sense 
    of praise only and could not be taken as implying imperfection or fault in 
    any way, such as hearing and sight, then in the texts names were derived 
    from it, so Allaah called Himself al-Samee’ (the All-Hearing) and al-Baseer 
    (the All-Seeing). 

    But if an attribute could be taken as implying imperfection 
    in some way, such as speaking, for example, as speaking may include lying, 
    wrongdoing and other bad meanings, in which case it is a shortcoming and 
    silence is preferable to it, so we do not find a divine name that is derived 
    from this attribute, so we do not find that one of the names of Allaah is 
    al-Mutakallim (the Speaker). 

    This was the view of the great scholar Ibn Taymiyah and his 
    student Ibn al-Qayyim, and it is the view of most of our contemporary 
    scholars. 

    Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Sharh 
    al-‘Aqeedah al-Isfahaaniyyah (1/19-20): 

    As for calling Allaah, may He be exalted, Mureed (Willer) and 
    Mutakallim (Speaker),  

    These two names are not mentioned in the Qur'aan, or among 
    the well known divine names. Their meanings are true, but the well known 
    divine names are those by which Allaah may be called upon, and are mentioned 
    in the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and which imply perfection and praise in and of 
    themselves. 

    Knowledge, power, mercy and so on are in and of themselves 
    praiseworthy attributes, and the names which point to them are praiseworthy 
    names.  

    As for speech and will, they may be divided into praiseworthy 
    types such as truthfulness and justice, and blameworthy types such as 
    wrongdoing and lying. Allaah can only be described in praiseworthy terms, 
    not blameworthy ones, hence His names do not include al-Mutakallim (the 
    Speaker) or al-Mureed (the Willer). End quote. 

    He also (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Bayaan 
    Talbees al-Jahamiyyah (2/10-11): 

    Allaah has the most beautiful names, by which He has called 
    Himself, and has revealed them in His Book and taught to whomever He willed 
    among His creation, such as al-Haqq (the Truth), al-‘Aleem (the 
    All-Knowing), al-Raheem (the Most Merciful), al-Hakeem (the Most Wise), 
    al-Awwaal (the First), al-Aakhir (the last), al-‘Aliy (the Most High), 
    al-‘Azeem (the Almighty), al-Kabeer (the Most Great) and so on. 

    All of these names are names of praise which indicate 
    praiseworthy meaning, and have no blameworthy meaning. To Allaah belong the 
    most beautiful names, and He is perfect in all ways. Names which are more 
    general in meaning and may be applied to both good and bad things are not 
    found among the beautiful names of Allaah. End quote. 

    Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in 
    Mukhtasar al-Sawaa’iq (2/34): 

    The names of Allaah does not include al-Mureed (the Willer), 
    al-Mutakallim (the speaker), al-Faa’il (the Doer) or al-Saani’ (the 
    Manufacturer), because these names may apply to both good and bad. Rather He 
    is described by praiseworthy names such as al-Haleem (the Forbearing), 
    al-Hakeem (the Most Wise), al-‘Azeez (the Almighty), the One Who does what 
    He wills. End quote. 

    He also (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Madaarij 
    al-Saalikeen (3/415-416): 

    That which may carry meanings of both perfection and 
    imperfection is not included among the divine names, such as al-shay’ 
    (thing) and ma’loom (known). Hence He is not called al-Mureed (the 
    Willer) or al-Mutakallim (the Speaker), because these names may carry good 
    and bad meanings. This is based on subtle understanding of the divine names 
    and attributes, so think about it. And Allaah is the Source of strength. End 
    quote. 

    Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
    Sharh al-Waasitiyyah (1/86): 

    Hence Allaah did not call Himself al-Mutakallim (the 
    Speaker), although He speaks, because speech may be good or bad, and it may 
    be neither good nor bad. Evil cannot be attributed to Allaah, and idle 
    speech cannot be attributed to Him either, because it is foolishness; only 
    good can be attributed to Him. Hence He did not call Himself al-Mutakallim 
    (the Speaker), because the names are as Allaah has ascribed to Himself. 
    Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And (all) the Most 
    Beautiful Names belong to Allaah” [al-‘A’raaf 7:180]. They do not 
    include anything that suggests imperfection. End quote.  

    See also the answer to question no. 
    39803 and 
    48964. 

    For more information please see the book Mu’taqad Ahl 
    al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah fi Asma’ Allaah al-Husna by Dr Muhammad ibn 
    Khaleefah al-Tameemi (50-59). 

    And Allaah knows best.