The 99 Names of Allah: A Journey to Faith
At the heart of Islam, belief in Allah, the One God, is the first pillar of faith. Learning and memorizing the 99 names of Allah, called 'Asma al-Husna' in Arabic, allows us to better understand His nature and strengthen our spiritual connection with Him. The Quran, in Surah Ta Ha (20:8), reminds us of the importance of these names: "There is no god but He! To Him are the most beautiful names."
Each name of Allah represents a specific attribute of His perfection, revealing a facet of His greatness and mercy. Memorizing these names helps us identify the correct way to believe in Allah, cultivate love and devotion to Him, and live a life in accordance with His teachings.
The 99 Names of Allah and Their Meanings
| Number | Name | Phonetic | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | God | AR-RAHMAAN | The All-Merciful |
| 2 | God | AR-RAHEEM | The Most Merciful |
| 3 | الْمَلِكُ | AL-MALIK | The sovereign, the king |
| 4 | الْقُدُّوسُ | AL-QUDDUS | The Infinitely Holy |
| 5 | السَّلاَمُ | AS-SALAM | Peace, Salvation |
| 6 | الْمُؤْمِنُ | AL-MU'MIN | The faithful, The trusting |
| 7 | God | AL-MUHAYMIN | The Preserver |
| 8 | الْعَزِيزُ | AL-AZIZ | The Almighty |
| 9 | الْجَبَّارُ | AL-JABBAR | The one who dominates and constrains |
| 10 | ُالْمُتَكَبِّر | AL-MUTAKABBIR | The inaccessible |
| 11 | الْخَالِقُ | AL-KHAALIQ | The creator |
| 12 | الْبَارِئُ | AL-BAARI | The producer |
| 13 | God | AL-MUSAWWIR | He who shapes his creatures |
| 14 | الْغَفَّارُ | AL-GHAFFAR | The Forgiving Infinite |
| 15 | الْقَهَّارُ | AL-QAHHAR | The Dominator, The Irresistible, The Subjugator |
| 16 | God | AL-WAHHAAB | The Supreme Donor |
| 17 | God | AR-RAZZAAQ | The provider, the support |
| 18 | الْفَتَّاحُ | AL-FATTAAH | The conqueror, the solver |
| 19 | God | AL-'ALEEM | The Omniscient |
| 20 | الْقَابِضُ | AL-QAABID | The holder, the retainer, the constrictor |
| 21 | الْبَاسِطُ | AL-BAASIT | He who extends his generosity |
| 22 | الْخَافِضُ | AL-KHAAFIDH | He who lowers |
| 23 | God | AR-RAAFI' | The one who raises |
| 24 | الْمُعِزُّ | AL-MU'IZZ | The one who makes powerful |
| 25 | ٱلْمُذِلُّ | AL-MUZIL | He who humbles the proud |
| 26 | God | AS-SAMEE' | The hearer, the one who hears everything |
| 27 | الْبَصِيرُ | AL-BASEER | The Seer, the one who sees all things |
| 28 | الْحَكَمُ | AL-HAKAM | The referee |
| 29 | الْعَدْلُ | AL-'ADL | The Righteous One |
| 30 | اللَّطِيفُ | AL-LATEEF | The Good in the Trial |
| 31 | الْخَبِيرُ | AL-KHABEER | The Well-informed |
| 32 | God | AL-HALEEM | The Gentle, the Clement |
| 33 | God | AL-'AZEEM | The immense, the eminent |
| 34 | الْغَفُور | AL-GHAFOOR | The one who forgives |
| 35 | God | ASH-SHAKOOR | The very grateful |
| 36 | God | AL-'ALEE | The High |
| 37 | الْكَبِيرُ | AL-KABEER | The Infinitely Great |
| 38 | الْحَفِيظُ | AL-HAFEEDH | The Guardian |
| 39 | المُقيِت | AL-MUQEET | The Feeder |
| 40 | اﻟْﺣَسِيبُ | AL-HASEEB | The Verifier, The Sufficient, The One Who Is Enough |
| 41 | الْجَلِيلُ | AL-JALEEL | The Majestic, The Glorious |
| 42 | God | AL-KAREEM | The most generous |
| 43 | God | AR-RAQEEB | The observer, the vigilant |
| 44 | ٱلْمُجِيبُ | AL-MUJEEB | The one who answers |
| 45 | God | AL-WAASI' | The omnipresent, the unlimited |
| 46 | God | AL-HAKEEM | The Sage |
| 47 | الْوَدُودُ | AL-WADUD | The most loving |
| 48 | God | AL-MAJEED | The most glorious, the most honorable |
| 49 | الْبَاعِثُ | AL-BA'ITH | The awakener, the resuscitator |
| 50 | God | ASH-SHAHEED | The witness, the whole observing |
| 51 | الْحَقُ | AL-HAQQ | The Absolute Truth |
| 52 | God | AL-WAKEEL | The Steward, The Trustworthy One |
| 53 | الْقَوِيُ | AL-QAWIYY | The Almighty |
| 54 | الْمَتِينُ | AL-MATEEN | The Farm |
| 55 | God | AL-WALIYY | The protective partner |
| 56 | الْحَمِيدُ | AL-HAMEED | The Praiseworthy |
| 57 | الْمُحْصِي | AL-MUHSEE | The Enumerating Whole |
| 58 | الْمُبْدِئُ | AL-MUBDI | The initiator |
| 59 | ٱلْمُعِيدُ | AL-MUEED | The Restorer, the Renewer |
| 60 | God | AL-MUHYI | The giver of life |
| 61 | اَلْمُمِيتُ | AL-MUMEET | He who creates death |
| 62 | الْحَيُّ | AL-HAYY | The eternal living |
| 63 | God | AL-QAYYOOM | Support, Self-sufficiency |
| 64 | God | AL-WAAJID | The Collector, the Ingenious |
| 65 | الْمَاجِدُ | AL-MAAJID | The Illustrious, The Sovereign |
| 66 | God | AL-WAAHID | The unique |
| 67 | اَلاَحَدُ | AL-AHAD | The one and only, the incomparable |
| 68 | الصَّمَدُ | AS-SAMAD | The Eternal, the Satisfyer of needs |
| 69 | الْقَادِرُ | AL-QADEER | The Omnipotent |
| 70 | الْمُقْتَدِرُ | AL-MUQTADIR | The powerful one |
| 71 | God | AL-MUQADDIM | The Sender, the Promoter |
| 72 | الْمُؤَخِّرُ | AL-MU'AKHKHIR | The Self-Timer |
| 73 | الأوَّلُ | AL-AWWAL | The first |
| 74 | الآخِرُ | AL-AAKHIR | The Last, the Infinite |
| 75 | God | AZ-ZAAHIR | The Manifesto |
| 76 | الْبَاطِنُ | AL-BAATIN | The invisible, the Knower of the hidden |
| 77 | God | AL-WAALI | The sole governor |
| 78 | الْمُتَعَالِي | AL-MUTA'ALI | He who is all exalted |
| 79 | الْبَرُّ | AL-BARR | The source of all goodness |
| 80 | التَّوَابُ | AT-TAWWAB | Eternal forgiveness |
| 81 | الْمُنْتَقِمُ | AL-MUNTAQIM | The Avenger |
| 82 | العَفُوُ | AL-'AFUWW | The Pardoner |
| 83 | God | AR-RA'OOF | The Most Benevolent |
| 84 | َمَالِكُ ٱلْمُلْكُ | MAALIK-UL-MULK | Master of the Kingdom, Owner of the Domain |
| 85 | ذُوالْجَلاَلِ وَالإكْرَامِ | DHUL-JALAALI WAL-IKRAAM | Lord of glory and honor, Lord of majesty and generosity |
| 86 | الْمُقْسِطُ | AL-MUQSIT | The Righteous One |
| 87 | الْجَامِعُ | AL-JAAMI' | The Gatherer, the Unifier |
| 88 | ٱلْغَنيُّ | AL-GHANIYY | Self-sufficiency, The Rich |
| 89 | ٱلْمُغْنِيُّ | AL-MUGHNI | The Enricher |
| 90 | God | AL-MANI' | The shield, the protector, the defender |
| 91 | الضَّارَ | AD-DHARR | The one who can harm |
| 92 | God | AN-NAFI' | The auspicious, the benefactor |
| 93 | النُّورُ | AN-NUR | The light, the illuminator |
| 94 | God | AL-HAADI | The Guide |
| 95 | الْبَدِيعُ | AL-BADEE' | The incomparable creator |
| 96 | اَلْبَاقِي | AL-BAAQI | The eternal |
| 97 | God | AL-WAARITH | The heir to everything |
| 98 | God | AR-RASHEED | The Guide, the Infallible Teacher |
| 99 | صَّبُورُ | AS-SABOOR | The indulgent, The patient |
Allah has ninety-nine names, that is, one hundred minus one, and whoever knows them will go to Paradise.
For the youngest, you can facilitate this learning through repetition and in a fun way. For example, the Quranic plush My Little Deen teaches the 99 names of Allah to your children. They will listen to it day after day which will greatly facilitate their learning. You can find them by clicking here.
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