The Importance of Knowing Allah’s Names and Attributes

This article briefly discusses the importance of knowing Allah’s names, calling upon Allah by those names, and includes the discussion of the number of Allah’s names.

Knowledge of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah

Every Muslim who seeks knowledge about Allah and to increase his love about Allah can do so by learning more about His names and attributes. By learning more about Allah and about His essence, one can appreciate His power over all things, and can make one sincere toward Him and increase in taqwa (piety). Knowing more about Allah will also not only make us more sincere toward Him but will make us fear Him more and as a result drive us to follow His commands.

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Shaykh Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Saadi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“Believing in and knowing the Most Beautiful Names of Allah includes the three types of Tawheed:

1. Tawheed al-Ruboobiyyah (Unity of Divine Lordship),
2. Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah (Unity of the Divine Nature) and
3. Tawheed al-Asma’ wa’l-Sifaat (Unity of the Divine Names and Attributes).

These three types of Tawheed form the essence and joy of faith (the word translated here as “joy” implies peace and relief from stress), and this knowledge is the basis and purpose of faith. The more a person learns about the Names and Attributes of Allah, the more his faith increases and the stronger his conviction becomes.” (Al-Tawdeeh wa’l-Bayaan li Shajarat al-Eemaan by al-Sa’di, p. 41).

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“Knowledge of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah is the basis of all other kinds of knowledge, for the objects of all these other branches of knowledge were either created or commanded by Him (the various branches of knowledge either deal with objects created by Him or with the laws and guidance revealed by Him). The reason for creation and guidance is found in His Most Beautiful Names (because He is the Creator, He creates things; because He is the Guide to the Straight Path, He reveals guidance, and so on)… Knowing the Most Beautiful Names is the basis of all objects of knowledge, because all knowledge stems from these Names…” (Bada’i’ al-Fawaa’id by Ibn al-Qayyim, 1/163).

(Read the Stories Behind the Dua’s in the Quran)

About the Number of Allah’s Names

All the number of Allah’s names are not known. This is evidenced by simply pondering over the translation of one of the dua’s that is often recited. The dua is mentioned in a sahih hadith reported by Imaam Ahmad (3582), which says that the prophet said that “there is no one among you who, when he is stricken with distress and grief, says [the dua is mentioned below] but Allah will remove his distress and his grief, and will give him joy instead…”

Here is that dua:

“O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave and son of Your maid servant, my forelock is in Your hand. Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You named Yourself with, or You taught to any of Your creation, or revealed in Your Book, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the Unseen with You, that You make the Quran the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety]” (Dua reported by Imaam Ahmad, 3582; it is a saheeh hadeeth).

The number ninety nine is based on the hadith that says, “Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred less one. Whoever learns them will enter Paradise.” (Reported by Al-Bukhaari (2736) and Muslim (2677)). However, many scholars agree that this hadith simply means that learning the 99 names doesn’t mean that all names total to ninety nine. Here are some of what the scholars have said about the issue:

• Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in Sharh Saheeh Muslim: “The scholars are unanimously agreed that this hadeeth does not mean that Allah has only ninety-nine names, or that He does not have any other names apart from these ninety-nine. Rather what the hadeeth means is that whoever learns these ninety-nine will enter Paradise. The point is that one may enter Paradise by learning them, not that the number is limited to these names.”
• Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen was asked about that and replied: “The names of Allah are not limited to a certain number. The evidence for that is [in the dua mentioned above]. [The hadith that mentions the number ninety nine] does not mean that He does not have any names apart from these, rather it means that whoever learns these ninety-nine of His names will enter Paradise. This is like when the Arabs say: ‘I have one hundred horses which I have prepared for a [battle],” which does not mean that the speaker has only these hundred horses, rather these hundred are prepared for this purpose. (Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 1/122.)
• Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] said concerning this hadeeth in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (6/374):  “This (the dua in the hadith above) indicates that Allah has more than ninety-nine names.”
• Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The beautiful names of Allah are not limited and are innumerable… [Based on what’s mentioned in the dua above, this means that] His names may be divided into three types:
  

  (i) Those by which he called Himself and taught them to whomever He willed of His Angels or others, but He did not reveal them in His Book.
  (ii) Those that He revealed in His Book and taught them to His slaves.
  (iii) Those that He kept to Himself in the knowledge of the unseen, so none of His creation knows them. Hence the du‘aa’ says: “You have preserved” i.e., only You know them; it does not mean that He is the only one who is called by them, because the names that are proven to be only for Him include names that Allah revealed in His Book. (Source: Badaa’i‘ al-Fawaa’id, 1/174-176)

  

  (Click here to read about Power of Dua)

Calling upon Allah (Making Dua) using His names

Allah commands the believers in the Quran to call upon Him using His names (that we know). The verse states:

“And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them…” [Surah al-Aaraaf 7:180]

Reference: islamqa.info

Click here for Popular Duas from Quran and Hadith

Allah’s Names

Here are Allah’s names from the Quran.

Ad-Dayyan – The Supreme Judge

Adh-Dhaahir, Al-Baatin – the Outward, the Inward

Al-‘Adheem – The Tremendous, the Supreme in Glory

Al-‘Afuww – The Ever-Pardoning

Al-‘Aleem, Al-‘Aalim, ‘Allaam-ul-Ghuyoob – The All-Knowing, the Omniscient, the Knower of the Unseen

Al-‘Aliyy, Al-A’laa, Al-Muta’aal – The High, the Most High, the Exalted

Al-Awwal, Al-Aakhir – The First, the Last

Al-‘Azeez – The All-Mighty

Al-Baari’ – The Originator

Al-Barr – The Source of All Goodness

Al-Baseer – The All-Seeing

Al-Fattaah – The Superb Arbiter, the Opener

Al-Ghafoor, Al-Ghaffaar, Ghaafir-udh-Dhanb – The Ever Forgiving, the Most Forgiving, the Forgiver of Sins

Al-Ghaniyy – The Self-Sufficient

Al-Haadee – The Guide

Al-Haafidh, Al-Hafeedh – The Protector, the Guardian

Al-Hakam, Khayr-ul-Haakimeen – The Judge, the Best of Judges

Al-Hakeem – The All-Wise

Al-Haleem – The All-Forbearing

Al-Hameed – The Praiseworthy

Al-Haqq – The Truth

Al-Haseeb – The Reckoner

Al-Hayiyy – The All-Modest

Al-Hayy – The Ever-Living

Al-Jabbaar – The Compeller

Al-Jameel – The Beautiful

Al-Jawwaad – The Most Generous

Al-Kaafee – The All-Sufficient

Al-Kabeer – The Most Great

Al-Kareem, Al-Akram – The Most Gracious, the Most Bountiful

Al-Khaaliq, Al-Khallaaq – The Creator, the All-Creator

Al-Khabeer – The All-Aware

Allah – Glorified and Exalted Be He

Al-Lateef – The All-Subtle

Al-Majeed – The All-Glorious

Al-Malik, Al-Maleek, Al-Maalik – The Sovereign, the King, the Possessor

Al-Mannaan – The Bestower

Al-Mateen – The Powerful

Al-Mubeen – The Evident

Al-Muhaymin – The Ever Watchful

Al-Muheet – The All-Encompassing

Al-Muhsin – The Benefactor, the Doer of Good

Al-Mujeeb – The Ever Responsive

Al-Mu’min – The Granter of Security

Al-Muqaddim, Al-Mu’akh-khir – The Advancer, the Delayer

Al-Muqeet – The Maintainer, the One who has Power over Everything

Al-Musawwir – The Fashioner

Al-Mutakabbir – The Supremely Proud

Al-Mutee – The Giver

Al-Qaabidh, Al-Baasit – The Withholder, the Expander

Al-Qaadir, Al-Qadeer, Al-Muqtadir – The Able, the Ever Able, the Perfect in Ability

Al-Qaahir, Al-Qahhaar – The All-Dominant, the Irresistible

Al-Qareeb – The One Who is Ever Near

Al-Qawiyy – The All-Strong

Al-Qayoom – The All-Sustainer

Al-Quddoos – The Holy

Al-Waahid, Al-Ahad – The Only One, the One and Only

Al-Waarith – The Inheritor

Al-Waasi’ – The Boundless, the All-Embracing

Al-Wadood – The Most Loving

Al-Waqeel, Al-Kafeel – The Disposer of Affairs, the Guarantor

Al-Witr – The One Who Has No Equal

An-Naseer, Khayr-un-Naasireen – The Helper, the Best of Helpers

Ar-Raaziq, Ar-Razzaaq – The Provider, the Sustainer

Ar-Rabb – The Lord

Ar-Rafeeq – The Most Gentle

Ar-Rahmaan, Ar-Raheem – the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Al-Wahhaab – The Ever Giving

Al-Waliyy, Al-Mawlaa – The Protector, the Guardian

Ar-Ra’oof – The Most Compassionate

Ar-Raqeeb – The Ever Watchful

Ash-Shaafee – The Curer

Ash-Shaakir, Ash-Shakoor – The Thankful, the Grateful

Ash-Shaheed – The Witness

As-Salaam – The Flawless, the Source of Peace

As-Samad – The Eternal One

As-Samee’ – The All-Hearing

As-Sayyid – The Master

As-Sitteer – The Concealer of Sins

As-Subbooh – The Supremely Glorified

At-Tawwaab – The Acceptor of Repentance

At-Tayyib – The Good and Pure One

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