Allah has 99 names described in the Quran and Sunnah. They reflect His divine attributes and perfection. Believing in these beautiful names strengthens one’s faith in God. Reciting or remembering the 99 names of Allah brings us closer to Him.
Buried within Islam’s holy texts lies a collection so profound. It comprises the very essence of the Divine. Ninety-nine names encapsulate all that God is each one holding deeper meaning than mankind can comprehend. Reciting these perfect attributes connects one straight to the Creator in ways words alone fail to achieve. Come uncover the wisdom and mercy of Allah’s most beautiful names.
Allah has 99 names mentioned in the Quran. Some of these names include Al-Rahman and Al-Raheem. These two names mean The Most Merciful and The Most Compassionate. Other names show Allah’s qualities like Al-Aziz and Al-Quddus. Reciting and reflecting on Allah’s beautiful names helps us understand His infinite attributes.
Al Asma ul-Husna
Al Asma ul-Husna refers to the 99 attributes of Allah that are mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah (sayings and acts of the Prophet Muhammad). These divine names come from verses of the Quran and hadith sources. They are meant to remind Muslims of the infinite nature of God and to appreciate his divine qualities.
Some of the most commonly known names include Allah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem, Al-Malik, Al-Quuddus, As-Salam, Al-Mu’min, Al-Muhaimin, Al-Aziz, Al-Jabbar, Al-Mutakabbir. The names reflect God’s perfection, mercy, sovereignty, holiness, and other supreme qualities. Reciting or reflecting upon these names is considered an act of remembrance of God that allows Muslims to strengthen their faith and connection with the divine.
The names are not meant to limit God or fully describe his essence, as he is beyond human comprehension. However, pondering over his beautiful names helps Muslims understand some aspects of who God is and how they should worship him. Memorizing and learning the meaning of these 99 names is regarded as an important part of Islamic spiritual practices and theology by both scholars and ordinary devotees.
Names Transliteration and Meaning
1 Ų§ŁŲ±ŁŁŲŁŁ ŁŁŁ AR-RAHMAAN The Beneficent
2 Ų§ŁŲ±ŁŁŲŁŁŁ Ł AR-RAHEEM The Merciful
3 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŁŁŁŁ AL-MALIK The Eternal Lord
4 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲÆŁŁŁŲ³Ł AL-QUDDUS The Most Sacred
5 Ų§ŁŲ³ŁŁŁŲ§ŁŁ Ł AS-SALAM The embodiment of Peace
6 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲ¤ŁŁ ŁŁŁ AL-MUāMIN The Infuser of Faith
7 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŁŁŁŁŁ ŁŁŁ AL-MUHAYMIN The Preserver of Safety
8 Ų§ŁŁŲ¹ŁŲ²ŁŁŲ²Ł AL-AZIZ All Mighty
9 Ų§ŁŁŲ¬ŁŲØŁŁŲ§Ų±Ł AL-JABBAR The Copeller, The Restorer
10 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲŖŁŁŁŲØŁŁŲ± AL-MUTAKABBIR The Supreme, The Majestic
11 Ų§ŁŁŲ®ŁŲ§ŁŁŁŁ AL-KHAALIQ The Creator, The Maker
12 Ų§ŁŁŲØŁŲ§Ų±ŁŲ¦Ł AL-BAARI The Evolver
13 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲµŁŁŁŁŲ±Ł AL-MUSAWWIR The Fashioner
14 Ų§ŁŁŲŗŁŁŁŁŲ§Ų±Ł AL-GHAFFAR The Great Forgiver
15 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŲ§Ų±Ł AL-QAHHAR The All-Prevailing One
16 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŲ§ŲØŁ AL-WAHHAAB The Supreme Bestower
17 Ų§ŁŲ±ŁŁŲ²ŁŁŲ§ŁŁ AR-RAZZAQ The Provider
18 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲŖŁŁŲ§ŲŁ AL-FATTAAH The Supreme Solver
19 Ų§ŁŁŁŲ¹ŁŁŁŁŁŁ Ł AL-āALEEM The All-Knowing
20 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲ§ŲØŁŲ¶Ł AL-QAABID The Withholder
21 Ų§ŁŁŲØŁŲ§Ų³ŁŲ·Ł AL-BAASIT The Extender
22 Ų§ŁŁŲ®ŁŲ§ŁŁŲ¶Ł AL-KHAAFIDH The Reducer
23 Ų§ŁŲ±ŁŁŲ§ŁŁŲ¹Ł AR-RAAFIā The Exalter, The Elevator
24 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲ¹ŁŲ²ŁŁ AL-MUāIZZ The Honourer, The Bestower
25 Ł±ŁŁŁ ŁŲ°ŁŁŁŁ AL-MUZIL The Dishonourer, The Humiliator
26 Ų§ŁŲ³ŁŁŁ ŁŁŲ¹Ł AS-SAMEEā The All-Hearing
27 Ų§ŁŁŲØŁŲµŁŁŲ±Ł AL-BASEER The All-Seeing
28 Ų§ŁŁŲŁŁŁŁ Ł AL-HAKAM The Impartial Judge
29 Ų§ŁŁŲ¹ŁŲÆŁŁŁ AL-āADL The Utterly Just
30 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲ·ŁŁŁŁ AL-LATEEF The Subtle One, The Most Gentle
31 Ų§ŁŁŲ®ŁŲØŁŁŲ±Ł AL-KHABEER The All-Aware
32 Ų§ŁŁŲŁŁŁŁŁ Ł AL-HALEEM The Most Forbearing
33 Ų§ŁŁŲ¹ŁŲøŁŁŁ Ł AL-āAZEEM The Magnificent, The Supreme
34 Ų§ŁŁŲŗŁŁŁŁŲ± AL-GHAFOOR The Great Forgiver
35 Ų§ŁŲ“ŁŁŁŁŁŲ±Ł ASH-SHAKOOR The Most Appreciative
36 Ų§ŁŁŲ¹ŁŁŁŁŁŁ AL-āALEE The Most High, The Exalted
37 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲØŁŁŲ±Ł AL-KABEER The Preserver, The All-Heedful and All-Protecting
38 Ų§ŁŁŲŁŁŁŁŲøŁ AL-HAFEEDH The Preserver
39 Ų§ŁŁ ŁŁŁŁŲŖ AL-MUQEET The Sustainer
40 Ų§ŁŁŲŲ³ŁŁŲØŁ AL-HASEEB The Reckoner
41 Ų§ŁŁŲ¬ŁŁŁŁŁŁ AL-JALEEL The Majestic
42 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲ±ŁŁŁ Ł AL-KAREEM The Most Generous, The Most Esteemed
43 Ų§ŁŲ±ŁŁŁŁŁŲØŁ AR-RAQEEB The Watchful
44 Ł±ŁŁŁ ŁŲ¬ŁŁŲØŁ AL-MUJEEB The Responsive One
45 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲ§Ų³ŁŲ¹Ł AL-WAASIā The All-Encompassing, the Boundless
46 Ų§ŁŁŲŁŁŁŁŁ Ł AL-HAKEEM The All-Wise
47 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲÆŁŁŲÆŁ AL-WADUD The Most Loving
48 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲ¬ŁŁŲÆŁ AL-MAJEED The Glorious, The Most Honorable
49 Ų§ŁŁŲØŁŲ§Ų¹ŁŲ«Ł AL-BAāITH The Infuser of New Life
50 Ų§ŁŲ“ŁŁŁŁŁŲÆŁ ASH-SHAHEED The All Observing Witnessing
51 Ų§ŁŁŲŁŁŁ AL-HAQQ The Absolute Truth
52 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ AL-WAKEEL The Trustee, The Disposer of Affairs
53 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ AL-QAWIYY The All-Strong
54 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲŖŁŁŁŁ AL-MATEEN The Firm, The Steadfast
55 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ AL-WALIYY The Protecting Associatey
56 Ų§ŁŁŲŁŁ ŁŁŲÆŁ AL-HAMEED The Praiseworthy
57 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲŁŲµŁŁ AL-MUHSEE The All-Enumerating, The Counter
58 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲØŁŲÆŁŲ¦Ł AL-MUBDI The Originator, The Initiator
59 Ł±ŁŁŁ ŁŲ¹ŁŁŲÆŁ AL-MUEED The Restorer, The Reinstater
60 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲŁŁŁŁ AL-MUHYI The Giver of Life
61 Ų§ŁŁŁŁ ŁŁ ŁŁŲŖŁ AL-MUMEET The Inflicter of Death
62 Ų§ŁŁŲŁŁŁŁ AL-HAYY The Ever-Living
63 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁŁ Ł AL-QAYYOOM The Sustainer, The Self-Subsisting
64 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲ§Ų¬ŁŲÆŁ AL-WAAJID The Perceiver
65 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲ§Ų¬ŁŲÆŁ AL-MAAJID The Illustrious, the Magnificent
66 Ų§ŁŁŁŲ§ŲŁŲÆŁ AL-WAAHID The One
67 Ų§ŁŁŲ§ŁŲŁŲÆŁ AL-AHAD The Unique, The Only One
68 Ų§ŁŲµŁŁŁ ŁŲÆŁ AS-SAMAD The Eternal, Satisfier of Needs
69 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲ§ŲÆŁŲ±Ł AL-QADEER The Omnipotent One
70 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŁŁŲŖŁŲÆŁŲ±Ł AL-MUQTADIR The Powerful
71 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŁŁŲÆŁŁŁ Ł AL-MUQADDIM The Expediter, The Promoter
72 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲ¤ŁŲ®ŁŁŲ±Ł AL-MUāAKHKHIR The Delayer
73 Ų§ŁŲ£ŁŁŁŁŁ AL-AWWAL The First
74 Ų§ŁŲ¢Ų®ŁŲ±Ł AL-AAKHIR The Last
75 Ų§ŁŲøŁŁŲ§ŁŁŲ±Ł AZ-ZAAHIR The Manifest
76 Ų§ŁŁŲØŁŲ§Ų·ŁŁŁ AL-BAATIN The Hidden One, Knower of the Hidden
77 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲ§ŁŁŁ AL-WAALI The Governor, The Patron
78 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŲŖŁŲ¹ŁŲ§ŁŁŁ AL-MUTAāALI The Self Exalted
79 Ų§ŁŁŲØŁŲ±ŁŁ AL-BARR The Source of All Goodness
80 Ų§ŁŲŖŁŁŁŁŲ§ŲØŁ AT-TAWWAB The Ever-Pardoning, The Relenting
81 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŁŁŲŖŁŁŁŁ Ł AL-MUNTAQIM The Avenger
82 Ų§ŁŲ¹ŁŁŁŁŁ AL-āAFUWW The Pardoner
83 Ų§ŁŲ±ŁŁŲ¤ŁŁŁŁ AR-RAāOOF The Most Kind
84 ŁŁ ŁŲ§ŁŁŁŁ Ł±ŁŁŁ ŁŁŁŁŁMAALIK-UL-MULK Master of the Kingdom, Owner of the Dominion
85 Ų°ŁŁŲ§ŁŁŲ¬ŁŁŲ§ŁŁŁ ŁŁŲ§ŁŲ„ŁŁŲ±ŁŲ§Ł Ł DHUL-JALAALI WAL-IKRAAM Possessor of Glory and Honour, Lord of Majesty and Generosity
86 Ų§ŁŁŁ ŁŁŁŲ³ŁŲ·Ł AL-MUQSIT The Just One
87 Ų§ŁŁŲ¬ŁŲ§Ł ŁŲ¹Ł AL-JAAMIā The Gatherer, the Uniter
88 Ł±ŁŁŲŗŁŁŁŁŁ AL-GHANIYY The Self-Sufficient, The Wealthy
89 Ł±ŁŁŁ ŁŲŗŁŁŁŁŁŁ AL-MUGHNI The Enricher
90 Ų§ŁŁŁŁ ŁŲ§ŁŁŲ¹Ł AL-MANIā The Withholder
91 Ų§ŁŲ¶ŁŁŲ§Ų±Ł AD-DHARR The Distresser
92 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲ§ŁŁŲ¹Ł AN-NAFIā The Propitious, the Benefactor
93 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŁŲ±Ł AN-NUR The Light, The Illuminator
94 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲ§ŲÆŁŁ AL-HAADI The Guide
95 Ų§ŁŁŲØŁŲÆŁŁŲ¹Ł AL-BADEEā The Incomparable Originator
96 Ų§ŁŁŁŲØŁŲ§ŁŁŁ AL-BAAQI The Everlasting
97 Ų§ŁŁŁŁŲ§Ų±ŁŲ«Ł AL-WAARITH The Inheritor, The Heir
98 Ų§ŁŲ±ŁŁŲ“ŁŁŲÆŁ AR-RASHEED The Guide, Infallible Teacher
99 Ų§ŁŲµŁŁŲØŁŁŲ±Ł AS-SABOOR The Forbearing, The Patient
Allah says in the Quran
And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them.. (Quran 7:180)
Allah there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names. (Quran 20:8)
He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. (Quran 59:24)
Prophet Muhammad (ļ·ŗ) said
Allah has ninety-nine names, i.e. one-hundred minus one, and whoever knows them will go to Paradise. (Sahih Bukhari 50:894)
Abu Huraira reported Allahās Messenger (ļ·ŗ) as saying
There are ninety nine names of Allah; he who commits them to memory would get into Paradise. Verily, Allah is Odd (He is one, and it is an odd number) and He loves odd number.(Sahih Muslim Book-48 Hadith-5)
Islamic mysticism
Islamic mysticism, known as tasawuf or Sufism, is the mystical branch within Islam that aims to find direct personal experience of Allah through divine love and spiritual intimacy.
Sufis believe that by constantly remembering Allah’s names through dhikr (remembrance) and invoking those names with intention, one can attain deeper spiritual knowledge and connection with the Divine.
This remembrance of Allah’s names plays an important role in the Sufi path and method of achieving mystical experience of God. Reciting his beautiful names like Ar-Rahman, Al-Malik, Al-Ghaffar etc is a form of worship for Sufis.
Constant zikr (mentioning) of Allah’s names trains the heart to focus on him alone and curb worldly distractions. It helps develop and strengthen a Sufi’s direct experience and awareness of Allah.
Sufis teach that in the states of spiritual ecstasy achieved through dhikr, one can feel and witness manifestations of the divine attributes corresponding to Allah’s names like mercy, majesty, forgiveness etc.
Contemplating on the deeper meanings and implications of the 99 names aids Sufis in purifying the self, cultivating divine attributes, and coming closer to grasping Allah’s essence.
Memorizing and frequent meditation/reflection upon the beautiful names opens mystical insights in a gradual, transformative way according to Sufi philosophy.
So in summary, remembrance of Allah’s names lies at the heart of the Islamic mystical experience according to Sufi traditions and practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Allah’s 99 names?
The 99 names of Allah are the beautiful names of God mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah.
Why are they important in Islam?
Belief in Allah’s beautiful names is an important aspect of Islamic faith and helps Muslims remember Allah’s infinite attributes.
Which is the greatest name?
All of Allah’s names are equally great but Al-Rahman (The Most Compassionate) and Al-Rahim (The Most Merciful) are particularly emphasized.
How can Muslims benefit from them?
Reciting or reflecting on Allah’s names daily increases love and faith in Him, helps avoid sins and focus on worship.
Final Thoughts
Allah has chosen to reveal to mankind his most beautiful names to showcase his perfect attributes. The 99 names of Allah display his limitless power, knowledge and mercy. From Al-Rahman, the Most Compassionate, to Al-Qahhar, the Subduer, each name reminds us of Allah’s dominion over all things.
The names also provide guidance for believers on how to conduct themselves. Al-Salam, the Source of Peace, tells us to pursue peace with others. Al-Muqsit, the Just, encourages fairness and balance in all of our actions. No matter our situation, we can find comfort in Allah’s names. Al-Hafiz, the Preserver, reassures us that he watches over and protects those who obey him.
The 99 names inspire awe and love for Allah. Al-Aleem, the All-Knowing, displays his perfect wisdom. Al-Aziz, the Almighty, shows his supreme strength which nothing can overcome. Contemplating Allah’s awe-inspiring attributes lifts our hearts and minds to better know and worship our Creator. The 99 names will continue to guide and teach Muslims as long as the world stands.
The 99 names of God each impart sacred virtue, Guiding believers to lives of truth, justice, piety.
