In brief: the 99 Names of Allah
The 99 Names of Allah (أسماء الله الحسنى, Asma' Allah al-Husna) are the divine attributes revealed in the Quran and the Sunnah. Each Name reveals a unique aspect of the Creator: mercy, justice, power, wisdom. Meditating upon them, invoking them, and living by them constitute a path of purification of the heart and spiritual elevation. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah has 99 names, one hundred minus one; whoever enumerates them will enter Paradise." (Bukhari, Muslim)
Reference
Understanding the Names of Allah
17,90 €
View the book1. Quranic and Prophetic Foundations of the Divine Names
The Names of Allah are rooted in the التوحيد (Tawhid), the Oneness of Allah, the absolute foundation of Muslim faith. The Quran and the Sunnah remind us that these Names are the key to knowing the Creator, to love and reverent fear (خشية, khashya). Each name carries a profound meaning, a spiritual energy, an invitation to sincere worship.
The Quranic verse "To Allah belong the most beautiful names, so invoke Him by them" (Chapter Al-A'raf, 7:180) establishes the foundation for invocation through the Divine Names. Another verse clarifies: "Say: Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful..." (Chapter Al-Isra, 17:110), emphasizing the plurality of the Names and the uniqueness of the Essence. Scholars insist on the necessity of believing in the reality of these attributes, without anthropomorphism (تشبيه) nor negation (تعطيل), according to the path of the just middle way (الوسطية). Any deviation in this matter constitutes shirk or misguidance.
2. The Hadith of the 99 Names: meaning and scope
The canonical list of the 99 Names was established progressively, from Quranic sources and hadiths, notably the famous hadith of Abû Hurayra (رضي الله عنه) reported by Bukhari and Muslim. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) taught: "Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred minus one. Whoever enumerates them (أحصاها, ahsaha) will enter Paradise."
The term أحصاها (ahsaha) does not simply mean "to recite" or "to memorize," but implies a profound approach: knowing the meaning of each Name, believing in its reality, invoking Allah by this Name and acting in accordance with its implications. The great scholars, from al-Ghazali to Ibn al-Qayyim, classified the Names according to their domains: power, mercy, majesty, beauty, guidance. This article proposes an encyclopedic synthesis.
3. Complete Table of the 99 Names of Allah
This table presents the 99 Names of Allah with their Arabic script, their transliteration, their English translation and their thematic family. Click on a Name to discover its detailed explanation on our blog dedicated to the Divine Names.
| # | Arabic | Name | Meaning | Family | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | الله | Allah | God, the Supreme Being | Oneness | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | الرحمن | Ar-Rahman | The Most Merciful | Mercy | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | الرحيم | Ar-Rahim | The Very Merciful | Mercy | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | الملك | Al-Malik | The Sovereign | Majesty | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | القدوس | Al-Quddus | The Holy | Majesty | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | السلام | As-Salam | The Peace | Beauty | |||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | المؤمن | Al-Mu'min | The Faithful, the Guarantor of Security | Protection | |||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | المهيمن | Al-Muhaymin | The Preserver | Protection | |||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | العزيز | Al-'Aziz | The Almighty | Power | |||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | الجبار | Al-Jabbar | The Compeller | Power | |||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | المتكبر | Al-Mutakabbir | The Magnificent | Majesty | |||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | الخالق | Al-Khaliq | The Creator | Creation | |||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | البارئ | Al-Bari' | The Producer | Creation | |||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | المصور | Al-Musawwir | The Fashioner | Creation | |||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | الغفار | Al-Ghaffar | The Grand Pardoner | Mercy | |||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | القهار | Al-Qahhar | The Supreme Overpowerer | Power | |||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | الوهاب | Al-Wahhab | The Benevolent Giver | Providence | |||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | الرزاق | Ar-Razzaq | The Provider | Providence | |||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | الفتاح | Al-Fattah | The Opener / Judge | Providence | |||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | العليم | Al-'Alim | The Omniscient | Knowledge | |||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | القابض | Al-Qabid | The Withholder | Providence | |||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | الباسط | Al-Basit | The Expander | Providence | |||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | الخافض | Al-Khafid | The Reducer | Justice | |||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | الرافع | Ar-Rafi' | The Exalter | Justice | |||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | المعز | Al-Mu'izz | The Bestower of Honor | Justice | |||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | المذل | Al-Mudhill | The Humiliator | Justice | |||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | السميع | As-Sami' | The All-Hearing | Knowledge | |||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | البصير | Al-Basir | The All-Seeing | Knowledge | |||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | الحكم | Al-Hakam | The Judge | Justice | |||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | العدل | Al-'Adl | The Just | Justice | |||||||||||||||||||
| 31 | اللطيف | Al-Latif | The Subtle | Mercy | |||||||||||||||||||
| 32 | الخبير | Al-Khabir | The Well-Informed | Knowledge | |||||||||||||||||||
| 33 | الحليم | Al-Halim | The Forbearing | Mercy | |||||||||||||||||||
| 34 | العظيم | Al-'Adhim | The Immense | Majesty | |||||||||||||||||||
| 35 | الغفور | Al-Ghafur | The All-Forgiving | Mercy | |||||||||||||||||||
| 36 | الشكور | Ash-Shakur | The Most Grateful | Beauty | |||||||||||||||||||
| 37 | العلي | Al-'Ali | The Most High | Majesty | |||||||||||||||||||
| 38 | الكبير | Al-Kabir | The Most Great | Majesty | |||||||||||||||||||
| 39 | الحفيظ | Al-Hafidh | The Guardian | Protection | |||||||||||||||||||
| 40 | المقيت | Al-Muqit | The Sustainer | Providence | |||||||||||||||||||
| 41 | الحسيب | Al-Hasib | The Reckoner | Justice | |||||||||||||||||||
| 42 | الجليل | Al-Jalil | The Majestic | Majesty | |||||||||||||||||||
| 43 | الكريم | Al-Karim | The Noble, the Generous | Generosity | |||||||||||||||||||
| 44 | الرقيب | Ar-Raqib | The Watchful | Protection | |||||||||||||||||||
| 45 | المجيب | Al-Mujib | The Responder | Response | |||||||||||||||||||
| 46 | الواسع | Al-Wasi' | The All-Encompassing | Majesty | |||||||||||||||||||
| 47 | الحكيم | Al-Hakim | The Wise | Wisdom | |||||||||||||||||||
| 48 | الودود | Al-Wadud | The Loving | Love | |||||||||||||||||||
| 49 | المجيد | Al-Majid | The Glorious | Glory | |||||||||||||||||||
| 50 | الباعث | Al-Ba'ith | The Resurrector | Resurrection | |||||||||||||||||||
| 51 | الشهيد | Ash-Shahid | The Witness | Supervision | |||||||||||||||||||
| 52 | الحق | Al-Haqq | The Truth | Truth | |||||||||||||||||||
| 53 | الوكيل | Al-Wakil | The Trustee | Protection | |||||||||||||||||||
| 54 | القوي | Al-Qawiyy | The Most Strong | Power | |||||||||||||||||||
| 55 | المتين | Al-Matin | The Very Firm | Power | |||||||||||||||||||
| 56 | الولي | Al-Waliyy | The Protector | Protection | |||||||||||||||||||
| 57 | الحميد | Al-Hamid | The Praised | Praise | |||||||||||||||||||
| 58 | المحصي | Al-Muhsi | The Reckoner | Knowledge | |||||||||||||||||||
| 59 | المبدئ | Al-Mubdi' | The Originator | Creation | |||||||||||||||||||
| 60 | المعيد | Al-Mu'id | The Restorer | Resurrection | |||||||||||||||||||
| 61 | المحيي | Al-Muhyi | The Giver of Life | Creation | |||||||||||||||||||
| 62 | المميت | Al-Mumit | The Giver of Death | Creation | |||||||||||||||||||
| 63 | الحي | Al-Hayy | The Living | Life | |||||||||||||||||||
| 64 | القيوم | Al-Qayyum | The Self-Subsisting | Existence | |||||||||||||||||||
| 65 | الواجد | Al-Wajid | The Finder | Creation | |||||||||||||||||||
| 66 | الماجد | Al-Majid |
| Concept | Arabic | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Islamic Ethics | أخلاق | Akhlaq: moral character, behavioral excellence and virtue |
| Propriety | أدب | Adab: Islamic etiquette, spiritual refinement, courteous conduct |
| Purification of the Soul | تزكية | Tazkiyah: spiritual growth, inner development |
| Introspection | محاسبة | Muhasabah: examination of conscience, daily self-evaluation |
| Trust in God | توكل | Tawakkul: surrender to divine will, inner serenity |
| Gratitude | شكر | Shukr: recognition of blessings, contentment, appreciation |
10. Complementary Islamic Resources
Deepen your knowledge of the Names of Allah and Islamic faith with these resources:
Pillars and foundations: The five pillars of Islam ; Books on the 99 names of Allah ; Faith and spirituality ; Belief and spirituality.
Prayer and invocations: Prayer and purification ; Invocations and duas ; Adhkar and duas ; Salat Al-Fajr ; Salat Isha.
Quran and exegesis: The surahs of the Quran ; Surah Al-Fatiha ; Surah Al-Kawthar ; Tafsir and Quranic sciences ; The 114 surahs of the Quran.
Celebrations and calendar: Ramadan: origin and history ; Eid al-Adha ; Eid al-Fitr ; Laylat al-Qadr ; Islamic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 99 Names of Allah
What are the 99 Names of Allah and where can I find them?
The 99 Names of Allah (أسماء الله الحسنى) are the divine attributes revealed in the Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah. They describe Allah's qualities: mercy, power, wisdom, justice, beauty. The complete list appears in the collections of authentic hadiths (Bukhari and Muslim) and in specialized works such as Understanding the Names of Allah by Sheikh al-Badr.
How can I memorize and enumerate the 99 Names of Allah?
To memorize them effectively, proceed by thematic groups (mercy, power, creation, etc.), repeat them daily in your dhikr, and associate each Name with a specific invocation. The booklet 99 Names of Allah taken from the Quran and the Sunnah (pocket format, 3 euros) is an ideal companion for progressive memorization.
What is the difference between Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim?
Ar-Rahman designates Allah's universal mercy that encompasses all creatures, believers and non-believers, in this world. Ar-Rahim designates the particular mercy reserved for believers in the hereafter. Both Names appear in the Basmala which opens every surah of the Quran.
How can I invoke Allah by His Names in prayer?
During prayer and invocations, the believer uses the Names of Allah suited to their request: "Ya Ghafur" to ask for forgiveness, "Ya Shafi" for healing, "Ya Razzaq" for sustenance. The Prophet (ﷺ) invoked Allah by His Names in his invocations, particularly during the tashahud and prostration.
Can one give the Names of Allah as first names?
It is recommended in Islam to give first names composed with "Abd" (servant) followed by a divine Name: Abd ar-Rahman (servant of the All-Merciful), Abd al-Karim (servant of the Generous), etc. However, it is forbidden to bear a Name of Allah alone without the prefix "Abd," because these Names designate exclusively the attributes of the Creator. The work The Most Beautiful Names of Allah by Al-Ghazali addresses this question in detail.
What is the best book for studying the 99 Names of Allah?
For an in-depth study, Understanding the Names of Allah by Sheikh al-Badr (17.90 euros) is the most complete contemporary reference. Al-Ghazali's classic (16 euros) offers a spiritual and philosophical approach. For children, The ABC of the Names of Allah (12.50 euros) is an excellent choice. All are available in the dedicated collection of Al-Imen.
Key points to remember
- The 99 Names of Allah (أسماء الله الحسنى) are divine attributes revealed in the Quran and the Sunnah, keys to the knowledge of God.
- To "enumerate" them (أحصاها) implies knowing their meaning, believing in their reality, invoking Allah by them and acting in conformity with their teachings.
- The Names are divided into families: mercy, power, knowledge, creation, justice, protection, generosity.
- Their daily meditation (dhikr) develops serenity, patience, gratitude and trust in Allah (توكل).
- Each Name is a teaching to live out in prayer, education and personal ethics.
- The work Understanding the Names of Allah by Sheikh al-Badr is the recommended reference for an in-depth study.
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