The Ninety-Nine Most Beautiful Allah’s Attributes
“Call upon Allah, or call upon the All-Merciful; whichever you call upon, to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names...” (Qur’an 17:110)
In Arabic, “Allah” is the proper name of the one and only one God worth of worship. The name Allah embraces all His beautiful names. He has ninety-nine other most beautiful names that are referred as Allah’s attributes. A human being needs to have unshakable faith in Him and profound knowledge of His attributes, for unless a person has a faith in Allah and knowledge of His attributes, may not render obedience to Him. The knowledge of Allah’s attributes enables a person to cultivate the noblest human qualities and to fashion his or her life in virtue and devoutness. If a person does not recognize Allah as the Creator, the Ruler, and Sustainer of this universe and Who has no partner to share with Him the Divine power and authority, that person may fall prey to false gods. But if a person recognized Allah and knew His divine attributes, there is not the least possibility of falling a prey to this illusion. For example, if we know that Allah is Omnipresent and Omniscient and He sees, hears and knows everything that we do in public or private or even our unexpressed thoughts, then how can we afford to indulge in disobedience to Allah? The one who is aware of these attributes will feel under divine will and scrutiny all the time, therefore, will behave in the most appropriate way. But the one who is not aware of these attributes may be misled into Allah’s disobedience out of ignorance. So is the case with all other attributes. Furthermore, the qualities and attributes which a person must possess can be cultivated and developed out of profound knowledge of Allah’s attributes. It is the knowledge of Allah’s attributes which purifies a person’s mind and soul, beliefs, morals, and actions. “To Allah alone belong all the fairest and most perfect Names, so call on Him by those Names, and leave alone those who deviate from the right way with respect to His attributes and violate their sanctity.”(Qur’an 7:180)
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Allah / God's Proper Name
Allah is the most sacred Name that indicates the Being Most High, His oneness and His godly attributes.
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Ar-Rahman / The Compassionate
It means ‘granting blessings and warding off evil, through grace, condescension and beneficence.’
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Al-Rahim / The Merciful
Here ‘mercy’ implies pity, patience and forgiveness, all of which sinners need.
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Al-Malik / The Sovereign
Allah owns the universe and controls it.
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Al-Quddus / The Holy
Allah is free from imperfection, shortcomings or need, and He is the One to whom are attributed all good and beautiful Names.
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Al-Salam / The All-Peace
A believer, by following the will of Allah, lives in peace with himself, with other human beings, with the universe and with His Lord.
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Al-Mu’min / The Giver of Peace
Allah is the real giver of security. Only by being faithful to Him can one feel truly secure and have no fear at all.
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Al-Muhaymin / The Protector
Allah is the great preserver and is watchful over everything.
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9. Al-Aziz / The Almighty
Allah is the Conqueror that is never conquered and never harmed, because of His might, glory, force and pride.
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Al-Jabbar / The Irresistible
Allah is the one who oblige His creatures to do whatever He wishes. Man’s will is granted by Allah, so he can act only with His permission.
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Al-Mutakabbir / The Superb
Allah has all pride and glory. He is beyond need and is without imperfection. He is beyond the qualities of what He has created.
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Al-Khaliq / The Creator
Allah created things out of nothing with no precedence and for a purpose known only to Him.
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Al-Bari’ / The Maker
Allah created matter, then He made out of its elements different sorts of things and beings.
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Al-Musawwir / The Shaper
Allah shaped His creatures and made them numerous and varried. He gave each a form which was unique and distinctive.
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Al-Ghaffar / The Forgiving
Allah forgives the sins, small and big, of His worshippers.
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Al-Qahhar / The Dominant
The universe runs according to laws laid down by Allah. No one can reverse them and those who try to break them suffer.
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Al-Wahhab / The All-Giving
Allah gives abundant blessings perpetually. He gives all who are in need what they need, for no purpose other than giving and for nothing in return.
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Al-Razzaq / The All-Provider
Allah provides sustenance for His creatures. He, alone, is the giver of their livelihood.
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Al-Fattah / The Opener
Allah opens the stores of His mercy for people.
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Al-’Alim / The All-Knowing
Allah’s knowledge is comprehensive. It extends to everything seen and unseen, present and future, near and far, existing and non-existing, His knowledge precedes, and is the cause of, existence.
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Al-Qabid / The Seizer
Allah seizes souls in sleep and at death.
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Al-Basit / The Expander
Allah gives abundantly to whoever He will.
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Al-Khafid / The Abaser
Honour or abasement in this life are not final. Allah may raise people and abase others in order to put everyone to the test.
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Al-Rafi’ / The Exalter
Honour in the Kingdom of Allah comes with merit. There, rank is related to one’s response to his Lord.
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Al-Mu’izz / The Honourer
Allah is Possessor of Glory, and Giver of Glory. He gives glory to His obedient and loving servants.
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Al-Mudhill / The Humiliator
Allah humiliates those who disbelieve in or disobey Him.
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Al-Sami’ / The All-Hearing
Allah hears everything, nothing escapes His divine hearing, and no call prevents Him from hearing other calls.
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Al-Basir / The All-Seeing
Allah sees everything everywhere all the time.
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Al-Hakam / The Judge
Allah is the Judge whose judgment is implemented and cannot be nullified.
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Al-’Adl / The Just
Allah is just in all His doings. He gives to each what he deserves, and puts everything in its proper position.
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Al-Latif / The Subtle
Allah is gentle to people. He looks after them though they may not be aware of it.
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Al-Khabir / The All-Aware
Allah’s knowledge is profound and comprehensive. He has the knowledge and the understanding of the Creator, the Maker.
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Al-Halim / The All-Clement
Allah does not punish people for every sin. He tolerates the minor ones and pospones the punishment of some of the major ones, so that we may repent.
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Al-’Azim / The All-Glorious
Allah’s reality is too great to be grasped by the human mind. He is indefinitely greater than His creation.
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Al-Ghafur / The Forgiving
Allah’s forgiveness is unlimited. Believers should serve Allah with hope, not despair, in their hearts
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Al-Shakur / The Appreciative
Allah appreciates even the smallest of our acts of obedience and He rewards us for them in this life and the Hereafter.
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Al-’Aliy / The Sublime
Allah is beyond any praise or description. No ordinary human being may claim to have seen or spoken to Allah, or to have the authority to speak for Him.
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Al-Kabir / The Great
Allah is great in Himself, His attributes and His actions.
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Al-Hafiz / The Guardian
Allah upholds the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them.
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Al-Muqit / The Sustainer
Allah gives strength and diverse abilities to all His creatures.
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Al-Hasib / The Reckoner
Whether we proclaim what is in our hearts or hide it, Allah shall call us to account for it.
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Al-Jalil / The Majestic
Allah is majestic and splendid. To Him is due all honour and devotion.
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Al-Karim / The Generous
Allah has created for us all the things that are on earth.
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Al-Raqib / The Watchful
Allah is the Watchful One who never forgets what He has created, the Present One who is never absent.
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Al-Mujib / One Who Answers All
A believer is taught that Allah is very close to him and ready to answer his prayers.
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Al-Wasi’ / The All-Embracing
Allah’s knowledge, mercy, forgiveness and provision are vast. Allah embraces all things in His knowledge.
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Al-Hakim / The Wise
Wisdom, the pure essence of knowledge, is all Allah’s.
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Al-Wadud / The Loving
“Purest and finest love”. Between Allah and His faithful servants there is such mutual love.
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Al-Majid / The Glorious
He possesses perfect honour and nobility. He is the All-noble in Himself and His Doings.
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Al-Ba’ith / The Resurrector
Our present form of life ends, yet death is but a phase after which Allah, the Resurrector, raises us and brings us to life again.
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Al-Shahid / The Witness
There is nothing that we do but Allah is a witness to it. His knowledge not only comprehends all things, but is also neither subject to nor obliterated by time.
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Al-Haqq / The Truth
Allah is the only Reality, so manifest, so high and so great. He is the only True God and thus has every right to be worshipped.
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Al-Wakil / The Trustee
All our affairs are best entrusted to His care, for He is the best Guardian of all interests.
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Al-Qawiyy / The All-strong
Allah commands all power, it is all in His Hand. He is the Creator of all powers in the physical world, and in the world of the unseen.
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Al-Matin / The Firm
Allah’s power is steadfast. It is the same today as yesterday, and will remain so forever.
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Al-Waliyy / The Protector
Allah is the True Protector. He protects His servants from the powers of evil.
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Al-Hamid / The Praiseworthy
Allah is the only One who is Praiseworthy, for He has given us everything we enjoy in this life; even life itself. We should extol His favours, and love and exalt Him.
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Al-Muhsi / The Reckoner
Allah takes account of all things in the universe: their numbers, their movements and any changes that befall them.
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Al-Mubdi / The Originator
Allah is the Originator of all creation. Nothing exists of its own accord. His will is the source of all being.
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Al-Mu’id / The Restorer
On Resurrection Day, Allah recreates us and brings us back to life, as responsible beings, to be confronted with the consequences of our doings on this earth.
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Al-Muhiyy / The Giver of Life
Allah is the Quickener: The Giver of Life. It is He who bestows life on dead matter.
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Al-Mumit / The Life-Taker
Allah, who gives life, is the One who takes it. Death to a Muslim is not the end of life, it is a transformation of it.
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Al-Hayy / The Living
Allah is the Living One whose Life is perfect; He is not subject to death or sickness, and is not dependent on any circumstances.
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Al-Qayyum / The Eternal
Allah is the Eternal: the One without beginning or end, Absolute, not limited by time or place or circumstances.
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Al-Wajid / The Finder
Allah is the One who always finds whatever He wills and desires. He is in need of nothing. He is the One whose bounty is inexhaustible.
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Al-Majid / The Noble
Allah is the Noble One, and extremely Generous One, who gives abundantly; and this entitles Him to be glorified, praised and honoured.
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Al-Wahid / The One
He is the One and Only God. There is no alternative to Him, no equal, no like, no partner, no son and no wife; He is above all such relationships.
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Al-Samad / The Everlasting Refuge
Allah is the Refuge sought by all persons in times of need. When in trouble, or distress, or facing adversity.
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Al-Qadir / The Powerful
Allah has the power to do whatever He will. Nothing can interfere in the design of Allah.
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Al-Muqtadir / The Prevailing
Allah is the All-powerful who has absolute power and mastery. Nothing is beyond His power.
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Al-Muqaddim / The Promoter
Allah promotes to higher positions the servants whom He loves for being the staunchest in faith, and gives them a rich reward.
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Al-Mu’akhkhir / The Detainer
Allah, most exalted, detains the unbelievers on the Day of Judgment, and keeps them at a distance from His Forgiveness and Mercy.
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Al-Awwal / The First
Allah is the Being whose existence is without a beginning, for if there were a beginning for Him, then something should caused Him to be, and that something should have existed before Him.
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Al-Akhir / The Last
The Last is the Eternal on who will continue to exist after the universe as we know it, has vanished.
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Al-Dhahir / The Evident
Allah is the Evident, the Manifest. He made Himself evident without being visible.
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Al-Batin / The Hidden
Allah is the Immanent; His Self and Reality are utterly unknown to us.
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Al-Wali / The Protector
Allah is the Owner of things and beings, who disposes of them as He will, and whose judgment is immediately implemented.
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Al-Muta’ali / The All-Exalted
Allah is high above His creation in power and authority, not in place or direction. Angels and worshippers look up to Him in awe and reverence.
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Al-Barr / The Beneficent
Allah is the Benign One to His servants. He is Good to people; bestowing upon them health, wealth, honour, posterity and power.
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Al-Tawwab / The Acceptor of Repentance
Allah returns to His servant the favour of His mercy if he turns to the straight path and eschews the wrong course.
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Al-Muntaqim / The Avenger
Allah is very patient; He gives many opportunities to the worst sinners for repentance. But, eventually, there comes a time when justice must be done and punishment must be given.
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Al-’Afuw / The Forgiving
Allah pardons the sins of His servants. Out of gentleness and love He ignores their misdeeds or blots them out altogether, if they forsake evil and repent.
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Al-Ra’uf / The Gentle
Allah is the Most Kind. His kindness is ultimate mercy. It means granting forgiveness to sinner, and the upholding of integrity for the obedient.
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Maliku’l-Mulk / The Lord of the Kingdom
Allah is the Lord of the Kingdom, the sole Owner of all creation. Everything in this world is subjected to Allah’s will and law.
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Dhu’l-Jalal Wa’l-Ikram / The Lord of Majesty and Generosity
Allah is the Possessor of Majesty: loftiness with supreme honour.
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Al-Muqsit / The Just
Perfect fairness is an attribute of Allah. Allah bears witness-and the angels, and men possessed of knowledge-that there is no god but He, upholding justice.
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Al-Jami’ / The Gatherer
Allah has the power to gather the bones and particles of every body, from wherever they may be scattered, for the Reckoning. Allah will gather all mankind, from the beginning of their race, and crowd them together.
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Al-Ghani / The Self-Sufficient
Allah is free of need, He is independent of all His creation. He owns everything and everybody; while people own nothing except what He allows them to have; and they depend on Him for their livelihood.
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Al-Mughni / The Enricher
Allah is the Enricher who gives us material possessions and frees us from want.
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Al-Mani’ / The Withholder
Allah withholds His bounty from people, either because they do not deserve it, or to test them. If He wishes to deprive somebody of His bounty, no power that can interfere.
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Al-Darr / The Afflictor
No affliction besets us or is removed from us except by Allah’s permission. So, we must fear only Him, for fear of harm has always driven people of all civilizations to worshipping false gods.
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Al-Nafi’/ The Beneficent
Man cannot earn any good for himself, nor remove any harm from himself except by the will of Allah.
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Al-Mu’min / The Giver of Peace
Allah is the real giver of security. Only by being faithful to Him can one feel truly secure and have no fear at all.
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Al-Nur / The Light
Allah is the Ultimate, Manifest Light, Light in and by Himself, not kindled from other lights.
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Al-Hadi / The Guide
Allah guides hearts to the truth, and to what is good for people spiritually and materially.
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Al-Badi’ / The Innovative Creator
Allah created the universe without any pre-existing mode. It is full of beauty, magnificense, and order.
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Al-Baqi / The Everlasting
Allah will never cease to exist. Any dependent being will terminate once his support is cut off; but Allah’s existence does not depend on any factor or cause.
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Al-Warith / The Inheritor
Allah is the Inheritor to whom shall revert all that survive the physical death of mankind. Al-Warith is also the One who bequeaths the heritage of the earth to whoever He will.
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Al-Rashid / The Guide
He is the One who guides to rectitude. He has shown us the Right Path in the teachings of His Prophets, so clearly that human nature will readily follow it.
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Al-Sabur / The Forbearing
Allah is Patient with the unbelievers and the disobedient. Forbearance does not mean approval of evil. Allah does not punish them right away, but allows them time so that they may turn to Him.