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 الرَّحْمَنُ AR-RAHMAAN The Beneficent
2 الرَّحِيمُ AR-RAHEEM The Merciful
3 الْمَلِكُ AL-MALIK The Eternal Lord
4 الْقُدُّوسُ AL-QUDDUS The Most Sacred
5 السَّلاَمُ AS-SALAM The embodiment of Peace
6 الْمُؤْمِنُ AL-MU’MIN The Infuser of Faith
7 الْمُهَيْمِنُ AL-MUHAYMIN The Preserver of Safety
8 الْعَزِيزُ AL-AZIZ All Mighty
9 الْجَبَّارُ AL-JABBAR The Copeller, The Restorer
10 الْمُتَكَبِّر AL-MUTAKABBIR The Supreme, The Majestic
11 الْخَالِقُ AL-KHAALIQ The Creator, The Maker
12 الْبَارِئُ AL-BAARI The Evolver
13 الْمُصَوِّرُ AL-MUSAWWIR The Fashioner
14 الْغَفَّارُ AL-GHAFFAR The Great Forgiver
15 الْقَهَّارُ AL-QAHHAR The All-Prevailing One
16 الْوَهَّابُ AL-WAHHAAB The Supreme Bestower
17 الرَّزَّاقُ AR-RAZZAQ The Provider
18 الْفَتَّاحُ AL-FATTAAH The Supreme Solver
19 اَلْعَلِيْمُ AL-‘ALEEM The All-Knowing
20 الْقَابِضُ AL-QAABID The Withholder
21 الْبَاسِطُ AL-BAASIT The Extender
22 الْخَافِضُ AL-KHAAFIDH The Reducer
23 الرَّافِعُ AR-RAAFI’ The Exalter, The Elevator
24 الْمُعِزُّ AL-MU’IZZ The Honourer, The Bestower
25 ٱلْمُذِلُّ AL-MUZIL The Dishonourer, The Humiliator
26 السَّمِيعُ AS-SAMEE’ The All-Hearing
27 الْبَصِيرُ AL-BASEER The All-Seeing
28 الْحَكَمُ AL-HAKAM The Impartial Judge
29 الْعَدْلُ AL-‘ADL The Utterly Just
30 اللَّطِيفُ AL-LATEEF The Subtle One, The Most Gentle
31 الْخَبِيرُ AL-KHABEER The All-Aware
32 الْحَلِيمُ AL-HALEEM The Most Forbearing
33 الْعَظِيمُ AL-‘AZEEM The Magnificent, The Supreme
34 الْغَفُور AL-GHAFOOR The Great Forgiver
35 الشَّكُورُ ASH-SHAKOOR The Most Appreciative
36 الْعَلِيُّ AL-‘ALEE The Most High, The Exalted
37 الْكَبِيرُ AL-KABEER The Preserver, The All-Heedful and All-Protecting
38 الْحَفِيظُ AL-HAFEEDH The Preserver
39 المُقيِت AL-MUQEET The Sustainer
40 الْحسِيبُ AL-HASEEB The Reckoner
41 الْجَلِيلُ AL-JALEEL The Majestic
42 الْكَرِيمُ AL-KAREEM The Most Generous, The Most Esteemed
43 الرَّقِيبُ AR-RAQEEB The Watchful
44 ٱلْمُجِيبُ AL-MUJEEB The Responsive One
45 الْوَاسِعُ AL-WAASI’ The All-Encompassing, the Boundless
46 الْحَكِيمُ AL-HAKEEM The All-Wise
47 الْوَدُودُ AL-WADUD The Most Loving
48 الْمَجِيدُ AL-MAJEED The Glorious, The Most Honorable
49 الْبَاعِثُ AL-BA’ITH The Infuser of New Life
50 الشَّهِيدُ ASH-SHAHEED The All Observing Witnessing
51 الْحَقُ AL-HAQQ The Absolute Truth
52 الْوَكِيلُ AL-WAKEEL The Trustee, The Disposer of Affairs
53 الْقَوِيُ AL-QAWIYY The All-Strong
54 الْمَتِينُ AL-MATEEN The Firm, The Steadfast
55 الْوَلِيُّ AL-WALIYY The Protecting Associatey
56 الْحَمِيدُ AL-HAMEED The Praiseworthy
57 الْمُحْصِي AL-MUHSEE The All-Enumerating, The Counter
58 الْمُبْدِئُ AL-MUBDI The Originator, The Initiator
59 ٱلْمُعِيدُ AL-MUEED The Restorer, The Reinstater
60 الْمُحْيِي AL-MUHYI The Giver of Life
61 اَلْمُمِيتُ AL-MUMEET The Inflicter of Death
62 الْحَيُّ AL-HAYY The Ever-Living
63 الْقَيُّومُ AL-QAYYOOM The Sustainer, The Self-Subsisting
64 الْوَاجِدُ AL-WAAJID The Perceiver
65 الْمَاجِدُ AL-MAAJID The Illustrious, the Magnificent
66 الْواحِدُ AL-WAAHID The One
67 اَلاَحَدُ AL-AHAD The Unique, The Only One
68 الصَّمَدُ AS-SAMAD The Eternal, Satisfier of Needs
69 الْقَادِرُ AL-QADEER The Omnipotent One
70 الْمُقْتَدِرُ AL-MUQTADIR The Powerful
71 الْمُقَدِّمُ AL-MUQADDIM The Expediter, The Promoter
72 الْمُؤَخِّرُ AL-MU’AKHKHIR The Delayer
73 الأوَّلُ AL-AWWAL The First
74 الآخِرُ AL-AAKHIR The Last
75 الظَّاهِرُ AZ-ZAAHIR The Manifest
76 الْبَاطِنُ AL-BAATIN The Hidden One, Knower of the Hidden
77 الْوَالِي AL-WAALI The Governor, The Patron
78 الْمُتَعَالِي AL-MUTA’ALI The Self Exalted
79 الْبَرُّ AL-BARR The Source of All Goodness
80 التَّوَابُ AT-TAWWAB The Ever-Pardoning, The Relenting
81 الْمُنْتَقِمُ AL-MUNTAQIM The Avenger
82 العَفُوُ AL-‘AFUWW The Pardoner
83 الرَّؤُوفُ AR-RA’OOF The Most Kind
84 َمَالِكُ ٱلْمُلْكُMAALIK-UL-MULK Master of the Kingdom, Owner of the Dominion
85 ذُوالْجَلاَلِ وَالإكْرَامِ DHUL-JALAALI WAL-IKRAAM Possessor of Glory and Honour, Lord of Majesty and Generosity
86 الْمُقْسِطُ AL-MUQSIT The Just One
87 الْجَامِعُ AL-JAAMI’ The Gatherer, the Uniter
88 ٱلْغَنيُّ AL-GHANIYY The Self-Sufficient, The Wealthy
89 ٱلْمُغْنِيُّ AL-MUGHNI The Enricher
90 اَلْمَانِعُ AL-MANI’ The Withholder
91 الضَّارَ AD-DHARR The Distresser
92 النَّافِعُ AN-NAFI’ The Propitious, the Benefactor
93 النُّورُ AN-NUR The Light, The Illuminator
94 الْهَادِي AL-HAADI The Guide
95 الْبَدِيعُ AL-BADEE’ The Incomparable Originator
96 اَلْبَاقِي AL-BAAQI The Everlasting
97 الْوَارِثُ AL-WAARITH The Inheritor, The Heir
98 الرَّشِيدُ AR-RASHEED The Guide, Infallible Teacher
99 الصَّبُورُ 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 (ﷺ) 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 Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) 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.
