Allah Has The Most Beautiful Names

Allah Almighty has the most beautiful names, which He has chosen for Himself and which are mentioned in the Holy Quran and the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

In four verses of the Holy Quran, these names are described as Al-Asma-ul-Husna, meaning the Most Beautiful Names. In one verse, Allah says: “And to Allah belong the most beautiful names, so call upon Him by them.” (Surah Al-A'raf, verse 180)

For further reference, see Surah Al-Isra (17:110) and Surah Al-Hashr (59:22).

According to Hadith, Allah has 99 names expressing His attributes. Knowing, understanding and preserving these names, along with their meanings, carry special significance.

Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Allah has 99 names, and whoever preserves them will enter Paradise.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 2736)

Another narration states: “Whoever counts and properly memorises them will enter Paradise.”

Differences Among Scholars Over the Names of Allah

Apart from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, several Hadith collections mention the number 99 along with a detailed list of the names. Among the early Hadith books that contain such lists are Sunan Ibn Majah, Jami' al-Tirmidhi and Al-Mustadrak. However, the lists mentioned in these collections are not identical.

Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (RA) selected the list narrated by Imam al-Tirmidhi.

The list is as follows:

Huwallahu-lladhi la ilaha illa Huwa

1. Ar-Rahman – The Most Merciful.

2. Ar-Rahim – The Most Compassionate.

3. Al-Malik – The Sovereign.

4. Al-Quddus – The Most Holy.

5. As-Salam – The Source of Peace and Perfection.

6. Al-Mu'min – The Giver of Security.

7. Al-Muhaymin – The Protector and Guardian.

8. Al-Aziz – The Almighty.

9. Al-Jabbar – The Compeller and Restorer.

10. Al-Mutakabbir – The Supreme and Majestic.

11. Al-Khaliq – The Creator.

12. Al-Bari – The Originator.

13. Al-Musawwir – The Fashioner.

14. Al-Ghaffar – The All-Forgiving.

15. Al-Qahhar – The Subduer.

16. Al-Wahhab – The Bestower.

17. Ar-Razzaq – The Provider.

18. Al-Fattah – The Opener and Judge.

19. Al-Alim – The All-Knowing.

20. Al-Qabid – The Withholder.

21. Al-Basit – The Expander.

22. Al-Khafid – The Abaser.

23. Ar-Rafi – The Exalter.

24. Al-Mu'izz – The Giver of Honour.

25. Al-Mudhill – The Humiliator.

26. As-Sami – The All-Hearing.

27. Al-Basir – The All-Seeing.

28. Al-Hakam – The Supreme Judge.

29. Al-Adl – The Just.

30. Al-Latif – The Most Subtle and Gracious.

31. Al-Khabir – The All-Aware.

32. Al-Halim – The Forbearing.

33. Al-Azim – The Magnificent.

34. Al-Ghafur – The Most Forgiving.

35. Ash-Shakur – The Appreciative.

36. Al-Aliyy – The Most High.

37. Al-Kabir – The Most Great.

38. Al-Hafiz – The Preserver.

39. Al-Muqit – The Sustainer.

40. Al-Hasib – The Reckoner and Sufficient.

41. Al-Jalil – The Majestic.

42. Al-Karim – The Most Generous.

43. Ar-Raqib – The Watchful.

44. Al-Mujib – The Responsive.

45. Al-Wasi – The All-Encompassing.

46. Al-Hakim – The All-Wise.

47. Al-Wadud – The Most Loving.

48. Al-Majid – The Most Glorious.

49. Al-Ba'ith – The Resurrector.

50. Ash-Shahid – The All-Witnessing.

51. Al-Haqq – The Absolute Truth.

52. Al-Wakil – The Trustee and Disposer of Affairs.

53. Al-Qawiyy – The All-Strong.

54. Al-Matin – The Firm and Steadfast.

55. Al-Waliyy – The Protecting Friend and Helper.

56. Al-Hamid – The Praiseworthy.

57. Al-Muhsi – The Accounter of All Things.

58. Al-Mubdi – The Originator.

59. Al-Mu'id – The Restorer.

60. Al-Muhyi – The Giver of Life.

61. Al-Mumit – The Giver of Death.

62. Al-Hayy – The Ever-Living.

63. Al-Qayyum – The Self-Subsisting Sustainer of All.

64. Al-Wajid – The Finder and Self-Sufficient.

65. Al-Majid – The Most Noble.

66. Al-Wahid – The One.

67. As-Samad – The Eternal Refuge and the Self-Sufficient.

68. Al-Qadir – The All-Powerful.

69. Al-Muqtadir – The Omnipotent.

70. Al-Muqaddim – The Expediter.

71. Al-Mu'akhkhir – The Delayer.

72. Al-Awwal – The First.

73. Al-Akhir – The Last.

74. Az-Zahir – The Manifest and Most High.

75. Al-Batin – The Hidden.

76. Al-Wali – The Supreme Ruler.

77. Al-Muta'ali – The Most Exalted.

78. Al-Barr – The Source of All Goodness.

79. At-Tawwab – The Accepter of Repentance.

80. Al-Muntaqim – The Avenger.

81. Al-Afuww – The Pardoner.

82. Ar-Ra'uf – The Most Kind.

83. Malik-ul-Mulk – The Owner of All Sovereignty.

84. Dhul-Jalali wal-Ikram – The Lord of Majesty and Honour.

85. Al-Muqsit – The Equitable.

86. Al-Jami – The Gatherer.

87. Al-Ghaniyy – The Self-Sufficient.

88. Al-Mughni – The Enricher.

89. Al-Mani – The Preventer.

90. Ad-Darr – The One Who Has the Power to Cause Harm.

91. An-Nafi – The Benefactor.

92. An-Nur – The Light.

93. Al-Hadi – The Guide.

94. Al-Badi – The Incomparable Originator.

95. Al-Baqi – The Everlasting.

96. Al-Warith – The Ultimate Inheritor.

97. Ar-Rashid – The Guide to the Right Path.

98. As-Sabur – The Most Patient.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi, narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA); Fath al-Bari, Vol. 11, p. 213.