Names of God in the Qur'an

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The 99 Names of Allah, also known as The 99 Attributes of God (Arabic: أسماء الله الحسنى transliteration: Asma’ Allah al-Ḥusná), are the names of God which Muslims believe are revealed in the Qur'an and Sunnah.^[1] Though the names (as adjectives, word constructs, or otherwise) exceed ninety-nine in the Qur'an and Sunnah, Muslims believe that there are an elite group of names, or the Best names, which number 99.

Contents 1 Origin 2 List of Names 2.1 Additional Names 3 100th name 3.1 Sufism 3.2 Mahdi 3.3 Bábi and Bahá'í 4 Personal Names 5 Numerology 6 See also 7 Notes 8 External links

[edit] Origin

In one Islamic tradition, the Islamic prophet Muhammad used to call God by all His Names: :"اللهم اني ادعوك باسمائك الحسنى كلها"

"O God, I invoke You with all of Your Beautiful Names."

(Narrated by Ibn Majah, book of Du`a; and by Imam Malik in his Muwatta', Kitab al-Shi`r)

Muhammad is also reported to have said in a famous Hadith:

"Verily, there are ninety-nine names of God, one hundred minus one. He who enumerates [and believes in them and the one God behind] them would get into Paradise."

(Sahih Muslim, Vol. 4, no. 1410)

Of note is that this hadith does not say that there are only 99 names, but 99 names that are better than the others. This caused people to search them out in the Qur'an and Sunnah, and a list was compiled. Over time it became custom to recite the list in its entirety. While some Muslims believe that this list is mentioned by Muhammad himself, the specialist Muslim scholars argue strongly that the list was just compiled by a Muslim scholar as an addendum to the actual hadith, (Al Waleed ibn Muslim). If it was only an attempt of a scholar, they are not necessarily the names proper, and other attempts may still be made. A recent scholar, Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Razek, made an attempt [2] of this kind and explained in detail why he differs in opinion with Al Waleed about enlisting some of the names. However, reciting the traditional names has developed into a ritual by some Muslims (a bit like a Catholic litany of Saints) as an attempt to enumerate them, while most other Muslims believe that the "enumeration" is not just the act of recitation, but applying the attributes that the names suggest.

[edit] List of Names

The Qur'an refers to the attributes of God as God's “most beautiful names” (Arabic: al-asmāʾ al-ḥusnā) (see ^{[Qur'an 7:180]}, ^{[Qur'an 17:110]}, ^{[Qur'an 20:8]}, ^{[Qur'an 59:24]})). According to Gerhard Böwering, "They are traditionally enumerated as 99 in number to which is added as the highest name (al-ism al-aʿẓam), the supreme name of God, Allāh. The locus classicus for listing the divine names in the literature of qurʾānic commentary is ^{[Qur'an 17:110]}, “Call upon God, or call upon the merciful; whichsoever you call upon, to him belong the most beautiful names,” and also ^{[Qur'an 59:22]} q 59:22-4, which includes a cluster of more than a dozen divine epithets."^[2]

Islamic theology makes a distinction between the attributes of God and the divine essence.^[2]

Below is a list of the 99 Names of God according to the tradition of Islam.

#	Arabic	Transliteration	Translation (can vary based on context)	Qur'anic Usage
1	ar:الرحمن	Ar-Rahman	The All Beneficent, The Most Merciful in Essence, The Compassionate, The Most Gracious	Beginning of every chapter except one
2	ar:الرحيم	Ar-Rahim	The Most Merciful, The Most Merciful in Actions	Beginning of every chapter except one
3	al:الملك	Al-Malik	The King, The Sovereign, The True and Ultimate King	20:114
4	al:القدوس	Al-Quddus	The Most Holy, The Most Pure, The Most Perfect	2 times: 59:23, 62:1
5	as-sa:السلام	As-Salaam	The Peace and Blessing, The Source of Peace and Safety, The Most Perfect	59:23
6	al:المؤمن	Al-Mu'min	The Guarantor, The Self Affirming, The Granter of Security, The Affirmer of Truth	59:23
7	al:المهيمن	Al-Muhaymin	The Guardian, The Preserver, The Overseeing Protector	59:23
8	al:العزيز	Al-Aziz	The Almighty, The Self Sufficient, The Most Honorable	3:6,4:158,9:40,48:7
9	al:الجبار	Al-Jabbar	The Powerful, The Irresistible, The Compeller, The Most Lofty, The Restorer/Improver of Affairs	59:23
10	al:المتكبر	Al-Mutakabbir	The Tremendous	59:23
11	al:الخالق	Al-Khaliq	The Creator	6:102,13:16,39:62,40:62,59:24
12	al:البارئ	Al-Bari'	The Rightful	59:24
13	al:المصور	Al-Musawwir	The Fashioner of Forms	59:24
14	al:الغفار	Al-Ghaffar	The Ever Forgiving	20:82,38:66,39:5,40:42,71:10
15	al:القهار	Al-Qahhar	The All Compelling Subduer	13:16,14:48,38:65,39:4,40:16
16	al:الوهاب	Al-Wahhab	The Bestower	3:8,38:9,38:35
17	ar:الرزاق	Ar-Razzaq	The Ever Providing	51:58
18	al:الفتاح	Al-Fattah	The Opener, The Victory Giver	34:26
19	al:العليم	Al-Alim	The All Knowing, The Omniscient	2:158,3:92,4:35,24:41,33:40
20	al:القابض	Al-Qabid	The Restrainer, The Straightener	2: 245
21	al:الباسط	Al-Basit	The Expander, The Munificent	2: 245
22	al:الخافض	Al-Khafid	The Abaser	95:5
23	ar:الرافع	Ar-Rafi‘e	The Exalter	58:11,6:83
24	al:المعز	Al-Mu‘ezz	The Giver of Honour	3:26)
25	al:المذل	Al-Mudhell	The Giver of Dishonour	3:26)
26	as-sa:السميع	As-Sami‘e	The All Hearing	2:127,2:256,8:17,49:1
27	al:البصير	Al-Basir	The All Seeing	4:58,17:1,42:11,42:27
28	al:الحكم	Al-Hakam	The Judge, The Arbitrator	22:69
29	al:العدل	Al-`Adl	The Utterly Just	6:115
30	al:اللطيف	Al-Latif	The Subtly Kind	6:103,22:63,31:16,33:34
31	al:الخبير	Al-Khabir	The All Aware	6:18,17:30,49:13,59:18
32	al:الحليم	Al-Halim	The Forbearing, The Indulgent	2:235,17:44,22:59,35:41
33	al:العظيم	Al-Azeem	The Magnificent, The Infinite	2:255,42:4,56:96
34	al:الغفور	Al-Ghafur	The All Forgiving	2:173,8:69,16:110,41:32
35	ash:الشكور	Ash-Shakur	The Grateful	35:30,35:34,42:23,64:17
36	al:العلي	Al-Aliyy	The Sublimely Exalted	4:34,31:30,42:4,42:51
37	al:الكبير	Al-Kabir	The Great	13:9,22:62,31:30
38	al:الحفيظ	Al-Hafiz	The Preserver	11:57,34:21,42:6
39	al:المقيت	Al-Muqit	The Nourisher	4:85
40	al:الحسيب	Al-Hasib	The Reckoner	4:6,4:86,33:39
41	al:الجليل	Al-Jalil	The Majestic	55:27,39:14,7:143
42	al:الكريم	Al-Karim	The Bountiful, The Generous	27:40,82:6
43	ar:الرقيب	Ar-Raqib	The Watchful	4:1,5:117
44	al:المجيب	Al-Mujib	The Responsive, The Answerer	11:61
45	al:الواسع	Al-Wasse‘e	The Vast, The All Encompassing	2:268,3:73,5:54
46	al:الحكيم	Al-Hakim	The Wise	31:27,46:2,57:1,66:2
47	al:الودود	Al-Wadud	The Loving, The Kind One	11:90,85:14
48	al:المجيد	Al-Majid	The All Glorious	11:73
49	al:الباعث	Al-Ba'ith	The Raiser of The Dead	22:7
50	ash:الشهيد	Ash-Shaheed	The Witness	4:166,22:17,41:53,48:28
51	al:الحق	Al-Haqq	The Truth, The Real	6:62,22:6,23:116,24:25
52	al:الوكيل	Al-Wakil	The Trustee, The Dependable	3:173,4:171,28:28,73:9
53	al:القوى	Al-Qawaie	The Strong	22:40,22:74,42:19,57:25
54	al:المتين	Al-Matin	The Firm, The Steadfast	51:58
55	al:الولى	Al-Walaie	The Protecting Friend, Patron and Helper	4:45,7:196,42:28,45:19
56	al:الحميد	Al-Hamid	The All Praiseworthy	14:8,31:12,31:26,41:42
57	al:المحصى	Al-Muhsi	The Accounter, The Numberer of All	72:28,78:29,82:10-12
58	al:المبدئ	Al-Mubdi'	The Producer, Originator, and Initiator of All	10:34,27:64,29:19,85:13
59	al:المعيد	Al-Mu‘id	The Reinstater Who Brings Back All	10:34,27:64,29:19,85:13
60	al:المحيى	Al-Muhyi	The Giver of Life	7:158,15:23,30:50,57:2
61	al:المميت	Al-Mumit	The Bringer of Death, The Destroyer	3:156,7:158,15:23,57:2
62	al:الحي	Al-Hayy	The Ever Living	2:255,3:2,25:58,40:65
63	al:القيوم	Al-Qayyum	The Self Subsisting Sustainer of All	2:255,3:2,20:111
64	al:الواجد	Al-Wajid	The Perceiver, The Finder, The Unfailing	38:44
65	al:الماجد	Al-Majid	The Illustrious, The Magnificent	?
66	al:الواحد	Al-Wahid	The One, The Unique, Manifestation of Unity	2:163,5:73,9:31,18:110
67	al:الاحد	Al-Ahad	The One, the All Inclusive, The Indivisible	112:1
68	as-sa:الصمد	As-Samad	The Self Sufficient, The Impregnable, The Eternally Besought of All, The Everlasting	112:2
69	al:القادر	Al-Qadir	The All Able	6:65,36:81,46:33,75:40
70	al:المقتدر	Al-Muqtadir	The All Determiner, The Dominant	18:45,54:42,54:55
71	al:المقدم	Al-Muqaddim	The Expediter, He Who Brings Forward	?
72	al:المؤخر	Al-Mu'akhir	The Delayer, He Who Puts Far Away	71:4
73	al:الأول	Al-Awwal	The First	57:3
74	al:الأخر	Al-Akhir	The Last	57:3
75	al:الظاهر	Az-Zahir	The Manifest, The All Victorious	57:3
76	al:الباطن	Al-Batin	The Hidden, The All Encompassing	57:3
77	al:الوالي	Al-Wali	The Patron	13:11,22:7
78	al:المتعالي	Al-Muta'ali	The Self Exalted	13:9
79	al:البر	Al-Barr	The Most Kind and Righteous	52:28
80	at:التواب	At-Tawwab	The Ever Returning, Ever Relenting	2:128,4:64,49:12,110:3
81	al:المنتقم	Al-Muntaqim	The Avenger	32:22,43:41,44:16
82	al:العفو	Al-‘Afuww	The Pardoner, The Effacer of Sins	4:99,4:149,22:60
83	ar:الرؤوف	Ar-Ra'uf	The Compassionate, The All Pitying	3:30,9:117,57:9,59:10
84	:مالك الملك	Malik-al-Mulk	The Owner of All Sovereignty	3:26
85	ذو الجلال و الإكرام	Dhu-al-Jalali wa-al-Ikram	The Lord of Majesty and Generosity	55:27,55:78
86	al:المقسط	Al-Muqsit	The Equitable, The Requiter	7:29,3:18
87	al:الجامع	Al-Jami‘e	The Gatherer, The Unifier	3:9
88	al:الغنى	Al-Ghanaie	The All Rich, The Independent	3:97,39:7,47:38,57:24
89	al:المغنى	Al-Mughni	The Enricher, The Emancipator	9:28
90	al:المانع	Al-Mani'e	The Withholder, The Shielder, the Defender	67:21
91	ad:الضار	Ad-Darr	The Distressor, The Harmer This attribute can only be found in hadith	6:17
92	an:النافع	An-Nafi‘e	The Propitious, The Benefactor	?
93	an:النور	An-Nur	The Light	24:35
94	al:الهادي	Al-Hadi	The Guide	25:31
95	al:البديع	Al-Badi	The Incomparable, The Originator	2:117,6:101
96	al:الباقي	Al-Baqi	The Ever Enduring and Immutable	55:27
97	al:الوارث	Al-Warith	The Heir, The Inheritor of All	15:23
98	ar:الرشيد	Ar-Rashid	The Guide, Infallible Teacher and Knower	2:256
99	as-sa:الصبور	As-Sabur	The Patient, The Timeless.	?

[edit] Additional Names

Another epithet found in the Qur'an is Dhul Fadl al Azim (ذو الفضل العظيم) "The Lord of Infinite Grace" (2.105, 3.74, 8.29, 57.21, 57.29, 62.4), but it is not part of the traditional list of the 99 names of God.

The following list contains Names that are not in the traditional list of 99 Names above.

#	Arabic	Transliteration	Translation	Qur'anic Usage
1	ar:المالك	Al-Maalik	The True, Complete and Controlling Owner of Everything	2 times
2	ar:المليك	Al-Maleek	The Constant Owner and Controller of Everything	1 time
3	ar:ذو الفضل العظيم	Dhul Fadl al Azim	The Lord of Infinite Grace

[edit] 100th name

[edit] Sufism

In Sufism, the idea of the 100th name is most prominent. It has become the elusive object of mystic devotion, the symbol of God's transcendent being^{[citation needed]}. Sufis often describe their discipline as the quest to know the one-hundredth name of God and thus to merge their consciousness with the divine reality.^{[citation needed]} [3]

[edit] Mahdi

Other such Hadiths, which vary according to different Shi'a sects of Islam, suggest that the 100th Name will be revealed by the Mahdi.

[edit] Bábi and Bahá'í

The Bahá'í Faith claims that the Báb fulfills the prophecy of the Mahdi, and the 100th name was revealed as "Bahá’" (an Arabic word بهاء meaning "glory, splendor" etc.), and is the root word for Bahá'u'lláh and Bahá'í.^[3] The Báb wrote a noted pentagram-shaped tablet with 360 derivatives of the word "Bahá'" used in it.^[3] While the Bahá'í Faith has roots in Islam and the monotheistic traditions, it is considered to be an independent religion, and its followers are not considered Muslims.

[edit] Personal Names

According to Islamic tradition, a Muslim may not be given any of the 99 names of God in the exact same form. For example, nobody may be named Al Malik (The King), but may be named Malik (King).

However the names/attributes of God can be combined with the word "‘Abd -" which means servant (of God) and are commonly used as personal names among Muslims. For example ‘Abd ar-Rahman ("servant of(or slave to) the Most Compassionate/the Beneficent").

Some Muslim people have names resembling those 99 (but without the article "The" which is only used to denote God) as the names could mean attributes people can have. Examples include

• Ra'ouf, such as Ra'ouf Mus'ad.
• Salam, such as Salam Fayyad.

[edit] Numerology

Some Muslims believe that what could be interpreted as the number 99 written in Arabic numeral system is imprinted on human hands. If one looks at his or her palms, thumbs facing upward, the lines in the hands appear as "١٨ ٨١", which are the Arabic numerals commonly used in eastern Arab countries- of 81 and 18, which sum to 99. If you subtract the numbers 81 and 18 you are left with 63 which was the age of which Muhammad along with 3 of his four companions died.^[4]

However, this has no Islamic or Qu'ranic basis supporting it and, from an Islamic perspective, is irrelevant to the concept of the names of God discussed in the previous section. In Islam nothing can be taken as Beliefs or Aqidah without clear proof which means that the belief should be found in definite source (Qur'an or authentic hadeeth) and its meaning should bring no confusion so that there is no possibility of difference of opinion except if apostates don't want to see it so. This is very likely a novelty of unknown origin that has developed in some Muslim cultures, especially those that use numeral system mentioned above. It also happens to work with a combination of Chinese and Western numerals, appearing as "八1 1八" - "81 18". In general, many Muslims have diverging views however Sunni Sect Islam has no documentation of this.

[edit] See also

• Names of God
• Names of God in Judaism
• Names of God in Hinduism
• "The Nine Billion Names of God", a short story by Arthur C. Clarke.

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Information on all the names of allah A site containing the derivation and meanings of the 99 names. Also has audio of someone saying each one.
• THE 99 BEAUTIFUL NAMES OF ALLAH The names of Allah in Arabic with English meaning and benefit virtues of reciting each Ism.
• The Most Beautiful Names of Allah The most beautiful names of Allah in Arabic with English transliteration and meaning.
• Benefits of Reciting The Most Beautiful Names of Allah The benefits of reciting the most beautiful names of Allah.
• 99 Names of ALLAH With meanings and benefits of recitation.
• 99 Excellent Names of ALLAH with references to verses where the name appears in the Holy Qur'an.
• Ninety-nine Names of God with references to verses where the name appears in the Qur'an.
• The 99 Names and Attributes of Allah, numbered list of names and meanings.
• The 99 names of God - A different interpretation.
• The beautiful names of Allah 99 names written clearly in Arabic
• 99 Names of God, oil paintings of all the 99 names.
• 99 Names of Allah Almighty 99 names of almighty God 'Allah' with a brief description of each name.
• Chanting the names in Arabic with music, Version two,Version three, a video.
• A recent attempt by Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Razek to enumerate the names of Allah