In Islam, God (ٱللَّٰه, Allāh)is the absolute one, the all-powerful and all-knowing ruler of the universe, and the creator of everything in existence.
Islam emphasizes that God is strictly singular (tawḥīd); unique (wāḥid); inherently One (aḥad) and also all-merciful and omnipotent.
God has no parents and no children. According to Islam, God is neither a material nor a spiritual being. According to Islamic teachings, beyond the Throne (al-ʾArsh) and according to the Quran, “No vision can grasp him, but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things.”
In Islam there is only one God and there are 99 names of that one God (al-ʾasmāʾ al-ḥusnā lit. meaning: “The best names”), each of which evokes a distinct attribute of God. All these names refer to God, the supreme and all-comprehensive. Among the 99 names of God, the most familiar and frequent are “the Entirely Merciful” (Ar-Raḥmān) and “the Especially Merciful” (Ar-Raḥīm). Creation and ordering of the universe is seen as an act of prime mercy for which all creatures praise God’s attributes and bear witness to God’s unity.
One of the best verses in the Quran that Allah describes himself is Ayat-el Kursi:
Ayatul Kursi is the Verse of Surah Al-Baqarah. The largest Surah of Quran Majeed is Surah Al-Baqarah. In addition, the verse number 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah is Ayat-al-Kursi.
Indeed, Ayatul Kursi is the leader of this leader Surah of the Holy Quran.
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
“Allah! There is no god but He – the Living, The Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him Nor Sleep. His are all things In the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede In His presence except As he permitteth? He knoweth What (appeareth to His creatures As) Before or After or Behind them. Nor shall they encompass Aught of his knowledge Except as He willeth. His throne doth extend Over the heavens And on earth, and He feeleth No fatigue in guarding And preserving them, For He is the Most High. The Supreme (in glory).”
Surat-al Ikhlas. Chapter 112
- Say: He is Allah, the One!
- Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute!
- He begets not, nor was He begotten;
- And there is none comparable unto Him.
The 99 Names and Attributes of Allah (SWT)
Al-Asma-ul-Husna ( اَلاسْمَاءُ الْحُسناى )
The first of the five pillars of Islam is belief in Allah (SWT). As Muslims, we believe in Allah (SWT) in accordance with His beautiful names and attributes. Learning and memorising the names of Allah (SWT) will help us to identify the correct way to believe in Him.
“Allah – there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.” (Qur’an 20:8)
“And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them.” (Qur’an 7:180)
Prophet Muhammad SAW said:
“Allah has ninety-nine names, i.e. one-hundred minus one, and whoever knows them will go to Paradise.” (Bukhari)
Abu Hurairah reported Prophet Muhammad SAW as saying:
Verily, there are 99 names for Allah, i.e. hundred excepting one. He who enumerates them would get into Paradise. (Muslim)
# | Name | Transliteration | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|
1 | الرَّحْمَنُ | AR-RAHMAAN | The Beneficent |
2 | الرَّحِيمُ | AR-RAHEEM | The Merciful |
3 | الْمَلِكُ | AL-MALIK | The Eternal Lord |
4 | الْقُدُّوسُ | AL-QUDDUS | The Most Sacred |
5 | السَّلاَمُ | AS-SALAM | The embodiment of Peace |
6 | الْمُؤْمِنُ | AL-MU’MIN | The Infuser of Faith |
7 | الْمُهَيْمِنُ | AL-MUHAYMIN | The Preserver of Safety |
8 | الْعَزِيزُ | AL-AZIZ | All Mighty |
9 | الْجَبَّارُ | AL-JABBAR | The Compeller, The Restorer |
10 | الْمُتَكَبِّر | AL-MUTAKABBIR | The Supreme, The Majestic |
11 | الْخَالِقُ | AL-KHAALIQ | The Creator, The Maker |
12 | الْبَارِئُ | AL-BAARI | The Evolver |
13 | الْمُصَوِّرُ | AL-MUSAWWIR | The Fashioner |
14 | الْغَفَّارُ | AL-GHAFFAR | The Great Forgiver |
15 | الْقَهَّارُ | AL-QAHHAR | The All-Prevailing One |
16 | الْوَهَّابُ | AL-WAHHAAB | The Supreme Bestower |
17 | الرَّزَّاقُ | AR-RAZZAAQ | The Provider |
18 | الْفَتَّاحُ | AL-FATTAAH | The Supreme Solver |
19 | اَلْعَلِيْمُ | AL-‘ALEEM | The All-Knowing |
20 | الْقَابِضُ | AL-QAABID | The Withholder |
21 | الْبَاسِطُ | AL-BAASIT | The Extender |
22 | الْخَافِضُ | AL-KHAAFIDH | The Reducer |
23 | الرَّافِعُ | AR-RAAFI’ | The Exalter, The Elevator |
24 | الْمُعِزُّ | AL-MU’IZZ | The Honourer, The Bestower |
25 | ٱلْمُذِلُّ | AL-MUZIL | The Dishonourer, The Humiliator |
26 | السَّمِيعُ | AS-SAMEE’ | The All-Hearing |
27 | الْبَصِيرُ | AL-BASEER | The All-Seeing |
28 | الْحَكَمُ | AL-HAKAM | The Impartial Judge |
29 | الْعَدْلُ | AL-‘ADL | The Utterly Just |
30 | اللَّطِيفُ | AL-LATEEF | The Subtle One, The Most Gentle |
31 | الْخَبِيرُ | AL-KHABEER | The All-Aware |
32 | الْحَلِيمُ | AL-HALEEM | The Most Forbearing |
33 | الْعَظِيمُ | AL-‘AZEEM | The Magnificent, The Supreme |
34 | الْغَفُور | AL-GHAFOOR | The Great Forgiver |
35 | الشَّكُورُ | ASH-SHAKOOR | The Most Appreciative |
36 | الْعَلِيُّ | AL-‘ALEE | The Most High, The Exalted |
37 | الْكَبِيرُ | AL-KABEER | The Preserver, The All-Heedful and All-Protecting |
38 | الْحَفِيظُ | AL-HAFEEDH | The Preserver |
39 | المُقيِت | AL-MUQEET | The Sustainer |
40 | الْحسِيبُ | AL-HASEEB | The Reckoner |
41 | الْجَلِيلُ | AL-JALEEL | The Majestic |
42 | الْكَرِيمُ | AL-KAREEM | The Most Generous, The Most Esteemed |
43 | الرَّقِيبُ | AR-RAQEEB | The Watchful |
44 | ٱلْمُجِيبُ | AL-MUJEEB | The Responsive One |
45 | الْوَاسِعُ | AL-WAASI’ | The All-Encompassing, the Boundless |
46 | الْحَكِيمُ | AL-HAKEEM | The All-Wise |
47 | الْوَدُودُ | AL-WADUD | The Most Loving |
48 | الْمَجِيدُ | AL-MAJEED | The Glorious, The Most Honorable |
49 | الْبَاعِثُ | AL-BA’ITH | The Infuser of New Life |
50 | الشَّهِيدُ | ASH-SHAHEED | The All Observing Witnessing |
51 | الْحَقُ | AL-HAQQ | The Absolute Truth |
52 | الْوَكِيلُ | AL-WAKEEL | The Trustee, The Disposer of Affairs |
53 | الْقَوِيُ | AL-QAWIYY | The All-Strong |
54 | الْمَتِينُ | AL-MATEEN | The Firm, The Steadfast |
55 | الْوَلِيُّ | AL-WALIYY | The Protecting Associatey |
56 | الْحَمِيدُ | AL-HAMEED | The Praiseworthy |
57 | الْمُحْصِي | AL-MUHSEE | The All-Enumerating, The Counter |
58 | الْمُبْدِئُ | AL-MUBDI | The Originator, The Initiator |
59 | ٱلْمُعِيدُ | AL-MUEED | The Restorer, The Reinstater |
60 | الْمُحْيِي | AL-MUHYI | The Giver of Life |
61 | اَلْمُمِيتُ | AL-MUMEET | The Inflicter of Death |
62 | الْحَيُّ | AL-HAYY | The Ever-Living |
63 | الْقَيُّومُ | AL-QAYYOOM | The Sustainer, The Self-Subsisting |
64 | الْوَاجِدُ | AL-WAAJID | The Perceiver |
65 | الْمَاجِدُ | AL-MAAJID | The Illustrious, the Magnificent |
66 | الْواحِدُ | AL-WAAHID | The One |
67 | اَلاَحَدُ | AL-AHAD | The Unique, The Only One |
68 | الصَّمَدُ | AS-SAMAD | The Eternal, Satisfier of Needs |
69 | الْقَادِرُ | AL-QADEER | The Omnipotent One |
70 | الْمُقْتَدِرُ | AL-MUQTADIR | The Powerful |
71 | الْمُقَدِّمُ | AL-MUQADDIM | The Expediter, The Promoter |
72 | الْمُؤَخِّرُ | AL-MU’AKHKHIR | The Delayer |
73 | الأوَّلُ | AL-AWWAL | The First |
74 | الآخِرُ | AL-AAKHIR | The Last |
75 | الظَّاهِرُ | AZ-ZAAHIR | The Manifest |
76 | الْبَاطِنُ | AL-BAATIN | The Hidden One, Knower of the Hidden |
77 | الْوَالِي | AL-WAALI | The Governor, The Patron |
78 | الْمُتَعَالِي | AL-MUTA’ALI | The Self Exalted |
79 | الْبَرُّ | AL-BARR | The Source of All Goodness |
80 | التَّوَابُ | AT-TAWWAB | The Ever-Pardoning, The Relenting |
81 | الْمُنْتَقِمُ | AL-MUNTAQIM | The Avenger |
82 | العَفُوُ | AL-‘AFUWW | The Pardoner |
83 | الرَّؤُوفُ | AR-RA’OOF | The Most Kind |
84 | َمَالِكُ ٱلْمُلْكُ | MAALIK-UL-MULK | Master of the Kingdom, Owner of the Dominion |
85 | ذُوالْجَلاَلِ وَالإكْرَامِ | DHUL-JALAALI WAL-IKRAAM | Possessor of Glory and Honour, Lord of Majesty and Generosity |
86 | الْمُقْسِطُ | AL-MUQSIT | The Just One |
87 | الْجَامِعُ | AL-JAAMI’ | The Gatherer, the Uniter |
88 | ٱلْغَنيُّ | AL-GHANIYY | The Self-Sufficient, The Wealthy |
89 | ٱلْمُغْنِيُّ | AL-MUGHNI | The Enricher |
90 | اَلْمَانِعُ | AL-MANI’ | The Withholder |
91 | الضَّارَ | AD-DHARR | The Distresser |
92 | النَّافِعُ | AN-NAFI’ | The Propitious, the Benefactor |
93 | النُّورُ | AN-NUR | The Light, The Illuminator |
94 | الْهَادِي | AL-HAADI | The Guide |
95 | الْبَدِيعُ | AL-BADEE’ | The Incomparable Originator |
96 | اَلْبَاقِي | AL-BAAQI | The Everlasting |
97 | الْوَارِثُ | AL-WAARITH | The Inheritor, The Heir |
98 | الرَّشِيدُ | AR-RASHEED | The Guide, Infallible Teacher |
99 | الصَّبُورُ | AS-SABOOR | The Forbearing, The Patient |
Further Reading: Allah, As described in the Quran