This
article briefly discusses the importance of knowing Allah’s names,
calling upon Allah by those names, and includes the discussion of the
number of Allah’s names.
Knowledge of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah
Every
Muslim who seeks knowledge about Allah and to increase his love about
Allah can do so by learning more about His names and attributes. By
learning more about Allah and about His essence, one can appreciate His
power over all things, and can make one sincere toward Him and increase
in taqwa (piety). Knowing more about Allah will also not only make us
more sincere toward Him but will make us fear Him more and as a result
drive us to follow His commands.
Shaykh Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Saadi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Believing in and knowing the Most Beautiful Names of Allah includes the three types of Tawheed:
- Tawheed al-Ruboobiyyah (Unity of Divine Lordship),
- Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah (Unity of the Divine Nature) and
- Tawheed al-Asma’ wa’l-Sifaat (Unity of the Divine Names and Attributes).
These
three types of Tawheed form the essence and joy of faith (the word
translated here as “joy” implies peace and relief from stress), and this
knowledge is the basis and purpose of faith. The more a person learns
about the Names and Attributes of Allah, the more his faith increases
and the stronger his conviction becomes.” (Al-Tawdeeh wa’l-Bayaan li
Shajarat al-Eemaan by al-Sa’di, p. 41).
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“Knowledge
of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah is the basis of all other kinds of
knowledge, for the objects of all these other branches of knowledge
were either created or commanded by Him (the various branches of
knowledge either deal with objects created by Him or with the laws and
guidance revealed by Him). The reason for creation and guidance is found
in His Most Beautiful Names (because He is the Creator, He creates
things; because He is the Guide to the Straight Path, He reveals
guidance, and so on)… Knowing the Most Beautiful Names is the basis of
all objects of knowledge, because all knowledge stems from these Names…”
(Bada’i’ al-Fawaa’id by Ibn al-Qayyim, 1/163).
About the Number of Allah’s Names
All
the number of Allah’s names are not known. This is evidenced
by simply pondering over the translation of one of the dua’s that is
often recited. The dua is mentioned in a sahih hadith reported by Imaam
Ahmad (3582), which says that the prophet said that “there
is no one among you who, when he is stricken with distress and grief,
says [the dua is mentioned below] but Allah will remove his distress and
his grief, and will give him joy instead…”
Here is that dua:
“O
Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave and son of Your maid servant,
my forelock is in Your hand. Your command over me is forever executed
and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to
You which You named Yourself with, or You taught to any of Your
creation, or revealed in Your Book, or You have preserved in the
knowledge of the Unseen with You, that You make the Quran the life of my
heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a
release for my anxiety]” (Dua reported by Imaam Ahmad, 3582; it is a
saheeh hadeeth).
The
number ninety nine is based on the hadith that says, “Allah has
ninety-nine names, one hundred less one. Whoever learns them will enter
Paradise.” (Reported by Al-Bukhaari (2736) and Muslim (2677)). However,
many scholars agree that this hadith simply means that learning the 99
names doesn’t mean that all names total to ninety nine. Here are some of
what the scholars have said about the issue:
- Al-Nawawi
(may Allah have mercy on him) stated in Sharh Saheeh Muslim: “The
scholars are unanimously agreed that this hadeeth does not mean that
Allah has only ninety-nine names, or that He does not have any other
names apart from these ninety-nine. Rather what the hadeeth means is
that whoever learns these ninety-nine will enter Paradise. The point is
that one may enter Paradise by learning them, not that the number is
limited to these names.”
- Shaykh
Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked about that and replied: “The names of Allah
are not limited to a certain number. The evidence for that is [in the
dua mentioned above]. [The hadith that mentions the number ninety nine]
does not mean that He does not have any names apart from these, rather
it means that whoever learns these ninety-nine of His names will enter
Paradise. This is like when the Arabs say: ‘I have one hundred horses
which I have prepared for a [battle],” which does not mean that the
speaker has only these hundred horses, rather these hundred are prepared
for this purpose. (Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 1/122.)
- Shaykh
al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] said concerning this hadeeth in Majmoo’
al-Fataawa (6/374): “This (the dua in the hadith above) indicates that
Allah has more than ninety-nine names.”
- Ibn
al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The beautiful names of
Allah are not limited and are innumerable… [Based on what’s mentioned in
the dua above, this means that] His names may be divided into three
types:
(i) Those
by which he called Himself and taught them to whomever He willed of His
Angels or others, but He did not reveal them in His Book.(ii) Those that He revealed in His Book and taught them to His slaves.(iii) Those
that He kept to Himself in the knowledge of the unseen, so none of His
creation knows them. Hence the du‘aa’ says: “You have preserved” i.e.,
only You know them; it does not mean that He is the only one who is
called by them, because the names that are proven to be only for Him
include names that Allah revealed in His Book. (Source: Badaa’i‘
al-Fawaa’id, 1/174-176)
Calling upon Allah (Making Dua) using His names
Allah commands the believers in the Quran to call upon Him using His names (that we know). The verse states:
“And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them…” [Surah al-Aaraaf 7:180]
Allah’s Names
Here are Allah’s names from the Quran.
Ad-Dayyan – The Supreme Judge
Adh-Dhaahir, Al-Baatin – The Outward, the Inward
Al-‘Adheem – The Tremendous, the Supreme in Glory
Al-‘Afuww – The Ever-Pardoning
Al-‘Aleem, Al-‘Aalim, ‘Allaam-ul-Ghuyoob – The All-Knowing, the Omniscient, the Knower of the Unseen
Al-‘Aliyy, Al-A’laa, Al-Muta’aal – The High, the Most High, the Exalted
Al-Awwal, Al-Aakhir – The First, the Last
Al-‘Azeez – The All-Mighty
Al-Baari’ – The Originator
Al-Barr – The Source of All Goodness
Al-Baseer – The All-Seeing
Al-Fattaah – The Superb Arbiter, the Opener
Al-Ghafoor, Al-Ghaffaar, Ghaafir-udh-Dhanb – The Ever Forgiving, the Most Forgiving, the Forgiver of Sins
Al-Ghaniyy – The Self-Sufficient
Al-Haadee – The Guide
Al-Haafidh, Al-Hafeedh – The Protector, the Guardian
Al-Hakam, Khayr-ul-Haakimeen – The Judge, the Best of Judges
Al-Hakeem – The All-Wise
Al-Haleem – The All-Forbearing
Al-Hameed – The Praiseworthy
Al-Haqq – The Truth
Al-Haseeb – The Reckoner
Al-Hayiyy – The All-Modest
Al-Hayy – The Ever-Living
Al-Jabbaar – The Compeller
Al-Jameel – The Beautiful
Al-Jawwaad – The Most Generous
Al-Kaafee – The All-Sufficient
Al-Kabeer – The Most Great
Al-Kareem, Al-Akram – The Most Gracious, the Most Bountiful
Al-Khaaliq, Al-Khallaaq – The Creator, the All-Creator
Al-Khabeer – The All-Aware
Allah – Glorified and Exalted Be He
Al-Lateef – The All-Subtle
Al-Majeed – The All-Glorious
Al-Malik, Al-Maleek, Al-Maalik – The Sovereign, the King, the Possessor
Al-Mannaan – The Bestower
Al-Mateen – The Powerful
Al-Mubeen – The Evident
Al-Muhaymin – The Ever Watchful
Al-Muheet – The All-Encompassing
Al-Muhsin – The Benefactor, the Doer of Good
Al-Mujeeb – The Ever Responsive
Al-Mu’min – The Granter of Security
Al-Muqaddim, Al-Mu’akh-khir – The Advancer, the Delayer
Al-Muqeet – The Maintainer, the One who has Power over Everything
Al-Musawwir – The Fashioner
Al-Mutakabbir – The Supremely Proud
Al-Mutee – The Giver
Al-Qaabidh, Al-Baasit – The Withholder, the Expander
Al-Qaadir, Al-Qadeer, Al-Muqtadir – The Able, the Ever Able, the Perfect in Ability
Al-Qaahir, Al-Qahhaar – The All-Dominant, the Irresistible
Al-Qareeb – The One Who is Ever Near
Al-Qawiyy – The All-Strong
Al-Qayoom – The All-Sustainer
Al-Quddoos – The Holy
Al-Waahid, Al-Ahad – The Only One, the One and Only
Al-Waarith – The Inheritor
Al-Waasi’ – The Boundless, the All-Embracing
Al-Wadood – The Most Loving
Al-Waqeel, Al-Kafeel – The Disposer of Affairs, the Guarantor
Al-Witr – The One Who Has No Equal
An-Naseer, Khayr-un-Naasireen – The Helper, the Best of Helpers
Ar-Raaziq, Ar-Razzaaq – The Provider, the Sustainer
Ar-Rabb – The Lord
Ar-Rafeeq – The Most Gentle
Ar-Rahmaan, Ar-Raheem – the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Al-Wahhaab – The Ever Giving
Al-Waliyy, Al-Mawlaa – The Protector, the Guardian
Ar-Ra’oof – The Most Compassionate
Ar-Raqeeb – The Ever Watchful
Ash-Shaafee – The Curer
Ash-Shaakir, Ash-Shakoor – The Thankful, the Grateful
Ash-Shaheed – The Witness
As-Salaam – The Flawless, the Source of Peace
As-Samad – The Eternal One
As-Samee’ – The All-Hearing
As-Sayyid – The Master
As-Sitteer – The Concealer of Sins
As-Subbooh – The Supremely Glorified
At-Tawwaab – The Acceptor of Repentance
At-Tayyib – The Good and Pure One