Names of God in Islam

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The 99 names of Allah (Arabic: أسماء الله الحسنى‎ Asmāʾ Allāh al-Ḥusnā, Beautiful Names of Allah) are the names of God in Islam. They are described in the Quran and Sunnah, among other places.

According to hadith there is a special group of 99 names, but no enumeration of them. Thus the exact list is not agreed upon, and the names of God (as adjectives, word constructs, or otherwise) exceed a total of 99 in the Quran and Sunnah. According to a hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, some of the names of God have also been hidden from mankind.

Origin

The 99 Names of God on the ceiling of the Grand Mosque in Kuwait.

According to Islamic tradition, Muhammad is said to have invoked God by a number of names. The most common hadith used to cite the 99 names is considered weak, though there are less commonly cited hadith which are considered authentic and also support the same point. A widely accepted hadith in Sahih Muslim states:

Abu Hurairah reported Allah's Messenger [Muhammad] (may peace be upon him) 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 numbers. And in the narration of Ibn 'Umar [the words are]: "He who enumerated them"."

— Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj Nishapuri, Sahih Muslim 

Over time, it became custom to recite a list of 99 names, compiled by al-Walid ibn Muslim, as an addendum to the hadith. In 2005, Mahmoud Abdel-Razek compiled an alternative list, endorsing only 69 from the al-Walid list.

The Quran refers to the names of God as God's "most beautiful Names" (al-ʾasmāʾ al-ḥusnā). According to Gerhard Böwering:

They are traditionally enumerated as 99 in number to which is added as the highest Name (al-ism al-ʾaʿẓam), the Supreme Name of God: Allāh. The locus classicus for listing the Divine Names in the literature of Qurʾānic commentary is 17:110, “Call upon God, or call upon The Merciful; whichsoever you call upon, to Him belong the most beautiful Names,” and also 59:22-24, which includes a cluster of more than a dozen Divine epithets.

Mystic philosopher Ibn Arabi surmised that the 99 names are outward signs of the universe's inner mysteries.

Most, though not all, of the 99 names appear in the Quran with a smaller number appearing exclusively in the hadith. The total number of all names in both the Quran and the hadith actually add up to more than 99, though only 99 are supposedly those which are referred to in the hadith as the exclusion of others.

Lists of names

There isn't universal agreement among Muslims as to what exactly counts as a name and what does not. Additionally, while some names are only in the Quran, and others are only in the hadith, there are some names which appear in both. Different sources give different lists of the 99 names.

	Arabic	Transliteration	Translationa	Usage	Type of referenceb
1	الرحمن	Ar-Rahman	The Exceedingly Compassionate, The Exceedingly Beneficent, The Exceedingly Gracious (to all of humanity and all creatures)	Ar-Raḥmān Beginning of every Surah (chapter) except one, and numerous other places. The first verse ('ayat) of Surah ar-Rahman (Surah 55) consists only of this Name.	D
2	الرحيم	Ar-Rahim	The Exceedingly Merciful	Ar-Raḥīm Beginning of every Surah (chapter) except one, and numerous other places (there are a total of 114 Surahs in the Quran.)	D
3	الملك	Al-Malik	The King, The Sovereign	Al-Malik, 59:23, 20:114, 23:116	D
4	القدوس	Al-Quddus	The Holy, The Divine, The Pure, The Purifier	Al-Quddūs, 59:23, 62:1	D
5	السلام	As-Salam	The Peace, The Source of Peace and Safety	As-Salām, 59:23	D
6	المؤمن	Al-Muʾmin	The Granter of Security	Al-Muʾmin, 59:23	D
7	المهيمن	Al-Muhaymin	The Controller	Al-Muhaymin, 59:23	D
8	العزيز	Al-Aziz	The Almighty, The Invulnerable, The Honorable	Al-ʿAzīz, 3:6, 4:158, 9:40, 48:7, 59:23	D
9	الجبار	Al-Jabbar	The Irresistible, The Compeller	Al-Jabbār, 59:23	D
10	المتكبر	Al-Mutakabbir	The Majestic, The Supreme	Al-Mutakabbir, 59:23	D
11	الخالق	Al-Khaliq	The Creator	Al-Khāliq, 6:102, 13:16, 36:81, 39:62, 40:62, 59:24	D
12	البارئ	Al-Bariʾ	The Evolver, The Maker	Al-Bāriʾ, 59:24	D
13	المصور	Al-Musawwir	The Fashioner, The Shaper, The Designer	Al-Muṣawwir, 59:24	D
14	الغفار	Al-Ghaffar	The Repeatedly Forgiving	Al-Ghaffār, 20:82, 38:66, 39:5, 40:42, 71:10	D
15	القهار	Al-Qahhar	The Subduer	Al-Qahhār, 12:39, 13:16, 14:48, 38:65, 39:4, 40:16	D
16	الوهاب	Al-Wahhab	The Bestower	Al-Wahhāb, 3:18, 38:9, 38:35	D
17	الرزاق	Ar-Razzaq	The Provider	Ar-Razzāq, 51:58	D
18	الفتاح	Al-Fattah	The Opener, The Victory Giver	Al-Fattāḥ, 34:26	D
19	العليم	Al-ʿAlim	The All-Knowing, Omniscient	Al-ʿAlīm, 2:158, 3:92, 4:35, 24:41, 33:40	D
20	القابض	Al-Qabid	The Restrainer, The Straightener	Al-Qābiḍ, 2:245	V
21	الباسط	Al-Basit	The Extender / Expander	Al-Bāsiṭ, 2:245	V
22	الخَافِض	Al-Khafid	The Abaser, The Humiliator, The Downgrader	Al-Khāfiḍ, 56:3, see al-Kafʿamī	O
23	الرافع	Ar-Rafiʿ	The Exalter, The Upgrader	Ar-Rāfiʿ, 58:11, 6:83	V
24	المعز	Al-Muʿizz	The Giver of Honor	Al-Muʿizz, 3:26	V
25	المذل	Al-Muzill	The Giver of Dishonor	Al-Muzill, 3:26	V
26	السميع	As-Sami'	The All-Hearing	As-Samīʿ, 2:127, 2:256, 8:17, 49:1	D
27	البصير	Al-Basir	The All-Seeing	Al-Baṣīr, 4:58, 17:1, 42:11, 42:27	D
28	الحكم	Al-Hakam	The Judge, The Arbitrator	Al-Ḥakam, 22:69	V
29	العدل	Al-ʿAdl	The Utterly Just (This name cannot be found in The Qur'an or an Authentic Narration: http://islamqa.info/en/104488)	Al-ʿAdl, 6:115, See al-Kafʿamī
30	اللطيف	Al-Latif	The Gentle, The Subtly Kind	Al-Laṭīf, 6:103, 22:63, 31:16, 33:34	D
31	الخبير	Al-Khabir	The All-Aware	Al-Khabīr, 6:18, 17:30, 49:13, 59:18	D
32	الحليم	Al-Halim	The Forbearing, The Indulgent	Al-Ḥalīm, 2:235, 17:44, 22:59, 35:41	A
33	العظيم	Al-ʿAzim	The Great, The Magnificent	Al-ʿAẓīm, 2:255, 42:4, 56:96	D
34	الغفور	Al-Ghafur	The Much-Forgiving	Al-Ghafūr, 2:173, 8:69, 16:110, 41:32	D
35	الشكور	Ash-Shakur	The Grateful	Ash-Shakūr, 35:30, 35:34, 42:23, 64:17	A
36	العلي	Al-ʿAlī	The Sublime	Al-ʿAlī, 4:34, 31:30, 42:4, 42:51 34:23	D
37	الكبير	Al-Kabir	The Great	Al-Kabīr, 13:9, 22:62, 13:30, 34:23	D
38	الحفيظ	Al-Hafiz	The Preserver	Al-Ḥafīẓ, 11:57, 34:21, 42:6	A
39	المقيت	Al-Muqit	The Nourisher	Al-Muqīt, 4:85	I
40	الحسيب	Al-Hasib	The Bringer of Judgment	Al-Ḥasīb, 4:6, 4:86, 33:39	I
41	الجليل	Al-Jalil	The Majestic, The Exalted	Al-Jalīl, 55:27, 7:143	A, V
42	الكريم	Al-Karim	The Bountiful, The Generous	Al-Karīm, 27:40, 82:6	D
43	الرقيب	Ar-Raqib	The Watchful	Ar-Raqīb, 4:1, 5:117	D
44	المجيب	Al-Mujib	The Responsive, The Answerer	Al-Mujīb, 11:61	A
45	الواسع	Al-Wasiʿ	The Vast, The All-Embracing, The Omnipresent, The Boundless	Al-Wāsiʿ, 2:268, 3:73, 5:54	A
46	الحكيم	Al-Hakim	The All-Wise	Al-Ḥakīm, 31:27, 46:2, 57:1, 66:2	D
47	الودود	Al-Wadud	The Loving	Al-Wadūd, 11:90, 85:14	D
48	المجيد	Al-Majid	The All-Glorious, The Majestic	Al-Majīd, 11:73	A
49	الباعث	Al-Baʿith	The Resurrector	Al-Bāʿith, 22:7	V
50	الشهيد	Ash-Shahid	The Witness	Ash-Shahīd, 4:166, 22:17, 41:53, 48:28	A
51	الحق	Al-Haqq	The Truth, The Reality	Al-Ḥaqq, 6:62, 22:6, 23:116, 24:25	D
52	الوكيل	Al-Wakil	The Trustee, The Dependable, The Advocate	Al-Wakīl, 3:173, 4:171, 28:28, 73:9	A
53	القوي	Al-Qawiy	The Strong	Al-Qawiy, 22:40, 22:74, 42:19, 57:25	D
54	المتين	Al-Matin	The Firm, The Steadfast	Al-Matīn, 51:58	D
55	الولي	Al-Wali	The Friend, Patron and Helper	Al-Walī, 4:45, 7:196, 42:28, 45:19	D
56	الحميد	Al-Hamid	The All Praiseworthy	Al-Ḥamīd, 14:8, 31:12, 31:26, 41:42	D
57	المحصي	Al-Muhsi	The Accounter, The Numberer of All	Al-Muḥṣī, 72:28, 78:29	V
58	المبدئ	Al-Mubdiʾ	The Originator, The Producer, The Initiator	Al-Mubdiʾ, 10:34, 27:64, 29:19, 85:13	V
59	المعيد	Al-Muʿid	The Restorer, The Reinstater Who Brings Back All	Al-Muʿīd, 10:34, 27:64, 29:19, 85:13	V
60	المحيي	Al-Muhyi	The Giver of Life	Al-Muḥyī, 7:158, 15:23, 30:50, 57:2	V
61	المميت	Al-Mumit	The Bringer of Death	Al-Mumīt, 3:156, 7:158, 15:23, 57:2	V
62	الحي	Al-Hayy	The Living	Al-Ḥayy, 2:255, 3:2, 20:111, 25:58, 40:65	D
63	القيوم	Al-Qayyum	The Subsisting, The Independent	Al-Qayyūm, 2:255, 3:2, 20:111	D
64	الواجد	Al-Wajid	The Perceiver, The Finder, The Unfailing	Al-Wājid, 38:44	V
65	الماجد	Al-Majid	The Illustrious, The Magnificent	Al-Mājid, 85:15, 11:73, see al-Kafʿamī	A
66	الواحد	Al-Wahid	The Unique, The Single	Al-Wāḥid, 13:16, 14:48, 38:65, 39:4	D
67	الاحد	Al-Ahad	The One, The Indivisible	Al-Aḥad, 112:1	A
68	الصمد	As-Samad	The Eternal, The Absolute, The Self-Sufficient	Aṣ-Ṣamad, 112:2	D
69	القادر	Al-Qadir	The All-Powerful, He Who is able to do Everything	Al-Qādir, 6:65, 46:33, 75:40	D
70	المقتدر	Al-Muqtadir	The Determiner, The Dominant	Al-Muqtadir, 18:45, 54:42, 6:65	A
71	المقدم	Al-Muqaddim	The Expediter, He Who Brings Forward	Al-Muqaddim, 16:61	V
72	المؤخر	Al-Muʾakhkhir	The Delayer, He Who Puts Far Away	Al-Muʾakhkhir, 71:4	V
73	الأول	Al-Awwal	The First, The Beginning-less	Al-Awwal, 57:3	D
74	الأخر	Al-Aakhir	The Last, The Endless	Al-Aakhir, 57:3	D
75	الظاهر	Az-Zahir	The Manifest, The Evident, The Outer	Aẓ-Ẓāhir, 57:3	D
76	الباطن	Al-Batin	The Hidden, The Unmanifest, The Inner	Al-Bāṭin, 57:3	D
77	الوالي	Al-Wali	The Patron, The Protecting Friend, The Friendly Lord	Al-Wālī, 13:11	I
78	المتعالي	Al-Mutaʿali	The Supremely Exalted, The Most High	Al-Mutaʿālī, 13:9	D
79	البر	Al-Barr	The Good, The Beneficent	Al-Barr, 52:28	D
80	التواب	At-Tawwab	The Ever-Returning, Ever-Relenting	At-Tawwāb, 2:128, 4:64, 49:12, 110:3	D
81	المنتقم	Al-Muntaqim	The Avenger	Al-Muntaqim, 32:22, 43:41, 44:16	P
82	العفو	Al-ʿAfu	The Pardoner, The Effacer, The Forgiver	Al-ʿAfū, 4:43, 4:99, 4:149, 22:60, 58:2	V, I
83	الرؤوف	Ar-Raʾuf	The Kind, The Pitying	Ar-Raʾūf,3:30, 9:117, 57:9, 59:10	I
84	مالك الملك	Malik-ul-Mulk	Owner of all Sovereignty	Mālik-ul-Mulk, 3:26	D
85	ذو الجلال والإكرام	Zul-Jalali wal-Ikram	Lord of Majesty and Generosity	Dhū-l-Jalāli-wa-l-ikrām, 55:27, 55:78	D
86	المقسط	Al-Muqsit	The Equitable, The Requiter	Al-Muqsiṭ,7:29, 3:18, See al-Kafʿamī	O
87	الجامع	Al-Jamiʿ	The Gatherer, The Unifier	Al-Jāmiʿ, 3:9	I
88	الغني	Al-Ghani	The Rich, The Independent	Al-Ghanī,3:97, 39:7, 47:38, 57:24	I, A, D
89	المغني	Al-Mughni	The Enricher, The Emancipator	Al-Mughnī, 9:28	V
90	المانع	Al-Maniʿ	The Withholder, The Shielder, The Defender	Al-Māniʿ, See al-Kafʿamī
91	الضار	Ad-Darr	The Distressor, The Harmer, The Afflictor	Aḍ-Ḍārr, 6:17, see al-Kafʿamī
92	النافع	An-Nafiʿ	The Propitious, The Benefactor, The Source of Good	An-Nāfiʿ, 30:37, see al-Kafʿamī
93	النور	An-Nur	The Light	An-Nūr, 24:35	I
94	الهادي	Al-Hadi	The Guide, The Way	Al-Hādī, 22:54	I
95	البديع	Al-Badiʿ	The Incomparable, The Unattainable, The Beautiful	Al-Badīʿ, 2:117, 6:101	I
96	الباقي	Al-Baqi	The Immutable, The Infinite, The Everlasting	Al-Bāqī, 55:27, see al-Kafʿamī	V
97	الوارث	Al-Warith	The Heir, The Inheritor of All	Al-Wārith, 15:23, 57:10	P
98	الرشيد	Ar-Rashid	The Guide to the Right Path	Ar-Rashīd, 2:256, 72:10, see al-Kafʿamī
99	الصبور	As-Sabur	The Timeless, The Patient	Aṣ-Ṣabūr, 2:153, 3:200, 103:3	I
a Can vary based on context.      b D = Direct; V = from Verb; A = from Adjective or Adjectival Phrase; I = from Indefinite noun; P = from Plural noun; O = Other

The Greatest Name

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The 99 names point to the inherent unity of the all-embracing Greatest Name (Ismi Azam). In Islamic traditions, it is stated "The Greatest Name of Allah is the one which if He [Allah] is called (prayed to) by it, He will Answer."

Personal names

See also: List of Arabic theophoric names

According to Islamic tradition, a Muslim may not be given any of the 99 names of God in exactly the same form. For example, nobody may be named Al-Malik (The King), but may be named Malik (King). This is because of the belief that God is almighty, and no human being is the equivalent of God, and no human being will ever be the equivalent of God. Muslims are allowed to use the 99 names of God for themselves but should not put 'Al' at the front of them.

However the names of God can be combined with the word "‘Abd-" which means "servant/Worshiper" (of God) and are commonly used as personal names among Muslims. For example, ‘Abd ar-Rahmān ("Servant of the Most Compassionate/the Beneficent"). The two parts of the name may be written separately (as above) or combined as one transliterated name; in such a case, the vowel transcribed after ‘Abd is often written as u when the two words are transcribed as one: e.g., Abdurrahman, Abdul'aziz, "Abdul Jabbar", or even Abdullah ("Servant of God"). (This has to do with Arabic case vowels, the final u vowel showing the normal "quote" nominative/vocative case form: ‘abd-u.)

Some Muslim people have names resembling those 99. Examples include:

• Rahmaan, such as Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais.
• Salaam, such as Salam Fayyad.
• Jabbaar, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
• Hakeem, such as Sherman "Abdul Hakim" Jackson.
• Ra'oof, such as Ra'ouf Mus'ad.
• Malik, such as Malik el Shabazz.
• Abdul Muqtedar as in M. A. Muqtedar Khan.

Views of other religions

Bábí and Bahá'í view

Bahá'í sources state that the 100th name was revealed as "Bahá’" (an Arabic word بهاء meaning "glory, splendor" etc.), which is the root word for Bahá'u'lláh and Bahá'í. They also believe that it is the 'Greatest Name'. The Báb wrote a noted pentagram-shaped tablet with 360 derivatives of the word "Bahá'" used in it.

According to Bahá'í scholar ‘Abdu’l-Hamíd Ishráq-Khávari, Baha' ad-Din al-`Amili adopted the pen name (takhallus) 'Baha' after being inspired by words of Shi'a Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (the fifth Imam) and Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (the sixth Imam), who had stated that the Greatest Name of God was included in either Du'ay-i-Sahar or A`amaal Ummi Dawud. In the first verse of the Du'ay-i-Sahar, a dawn prayer for Ramadan, the name "Bahá" appears four times: "Allahumma inni as 'aluka min Bahá' ika bi Abháh va kulla Bahá' ika Bahí".

See also

• Basmala
• List of Arabic theophoric names
• Names of God
• Names of God in Judaism
• Sahasranama, the Hindu lists of 1000 names of God.
• The 99, a comic book based on the 99 names of God in Islam.
• The Nine Billion Names of God, a short story by Arthur C. Clarke.

External links

• 99namesallah.org, containing 99 names of God with complete reference to the Holy Quran (also pdf, powerpoint format).
• Al-Rahman al-Rahim. Problems of Interpretation and Translation
• The Virtues of Reciting 99 Names of Allah
• The Beautiful Names of Allah, containing the derivation and meanings of the 99 names. Also has audio of someone saying each one.
• 99 Names of Allah, a more concise account of the attributes of God.
• The Most Beautiful Names of Allah. Lists the names in English as well as Arabic and the verses in which they are found in the Quran.
• Oil paintings of all the 99 names of Allah.
• (French) Exegesis of Names Of Allah
• (Arabic) al-Maqām al-asnā fī tafsīr al-asmāʼ al-ḥusnā
• asmaul husna