The 99 Names of Allah
( Asma al Husna)
The Shahada, the fundamental testimony of Islam, affirms the absolute Oneness of Allah and His exclusive divinity. This Oneness is expressed and manifested through the ninety-nine Names of Allah, called al-Asmā’ al-Ḥusnā, which describe His attributes of perfection as mentioned in the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah.
Listening to and knowing the 99 Names of Allah allows one to deepen the understanding of the meaning of the Shahada, by recognizing Allah through His Names, His attributes, and His Lordship.
Video: The 99 Names of Allah (al-Asmā’ al-Ḥusnā)
Phrases recited in the video
00:00 – 00:05 — English translation:
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed. In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
02:45 – end — Phrases recited after the 99 Names. English translation:
Allah, Exalted and Most High, says in the Noble Qur’an, in Surah Ṭā-Hā:
Allah, there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names.
And the Prophet Muḥammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine Names. Whoever enumerates them will enter Paradise.
The List of the 99 Names of Allah
The following definitions rely on reference sources.They offer an approach to the meaning of the Divine Names, without encompassing the full range of their meanings or their perfection.
(1) اللّٰه — Allāh
The Proper Name of the Creator — The unique Proper Name of the Creator, encompassing all attributes of perfection. No created being shares this Name.
(2) الرَّحْمٰن — Ar-Raḥmān
The Most Merciful — The One whose mercy is vast and embraces all creation, believers and non-believers alike.
(3) الرَّحِيم — Ar-Raḥīm
The Especially Merciful — The One who grants the believers a lasting mercy in this world and in the Hereafter.
(4) المَلِك — Al-Malik
The Sovereign — The Absolute Sovereign to whom belongs all true dominion, visible and unseen.
(5) القُدُّوس — Al-Quddūs
The Most Pure — The One who is perfectly pure, free from any imperfection, fault, or injustice.
(6) السَّلَام — As-Salām
Peace — The Source of peace, safety, and serenity, free from all imperfection.
(7) المُؤْمِن — Al-Muʾmin
The Giver of Security — The One who grants safety, brings reassurance, and confirms the truth of His promises.
(8) المُهَيْمِن — Al-Muhaymin
The Overseer — The One who watches over all things, protects them, and exercises complete authority.
(9) العَزِيز — Al-ʿAzīz
The Almighty — The One whose power is invincible and whom nothing can overcome.
(10) الجَبَّار — Al-Jabbār
The Compeller — The One who enforces His will with wisdom, restores broken hearts, and carries out His decree.
(11) المُتَكَبِّر — Al-Mutakabbir
The Supremely Great — The One whose greatness and majesty rise above all creation.
(12) الخَالِق — Al-Khāliq
The Creator — The One who creates all things with perfect measure.
(13) البَارِئ — Al-Bāriʾ
The Giver of Existence — The One who brings creation into being in harmony, without prior model.
(14) المُصَوِّر — Al-Muṣawwir
The Fashioner — The One who shapes forms and gives every creature its unique appearance.
(15) الغَفَّار — Al-Ghaffār
The Great Forgiver — The One who forgives abundantly and renews His forgiveness again and again.
(16) القَهَّار — Al-Qahhār
The Supreme Subduer — The One before whom all things are humbled.
(17) الوَهَّاب — Al-Wahhāb
The Supreme Giver — The One who gives generously without expecting anything in return.
(18) الرَّزَّاق — Ar-Razzāq
The Provider — The One who provides sustenance for all creatures.
(19) الفَتَّاح — Al-Fattāḥ
The Opener — The One who opens the doors of mercy, victory, and knowledge.
(20) العَلِيم — Al-ʿAlīm
The All-Knowing — The One whose knowledge encompasses all things, visible and hidden.
(21) القَابِض — Al-Qābiḍ
The Withholder — The One who restrains and constricts matters with wisdom.
(22) البَاسِط — Al-Bāsiṭ
The Expander — The One who extends and grants abundance with wisdom.
(23) الخَافِض — Al-Khāfiḍ
The Abaser — The One who lowers ranks with justice.
(24) الرَّافِع — Ar-Rāfiʿ
The Exalter — The One who raises ranks and grants honor.
(25) المُعِزّ — Al-Muʿizz
The Bestower of Honor — The One who grants honor and strength.
(26) المُذِلّ — Al-Mudhill
The Humiliator — The One who humbles with wisdom whom He wills.
(27) السَّمِيع — As-Samīʿ
The All-Hearing — The One who hears all things, even the most subtle.
(28) البَصِير — Al-Baṣīr
The All-Seeing — The One who sees all things with perfect perception.
(29) الحَكَم — Al-Ḥakam
The Judge — The Supreme Judge whose judgment is perfectly just.
(30) العَدْل — Al-ʿAdl
The Utterly Just — The One whose actions are free from all injustice.
(31) اللَّطِيف — Al-Laṭīf
The Subtle — The One who acts with gentleness and wisdom, even in what is hidden.
(32) الخَبِير — Al-Khabīr
The All-Aware — The One who knows the most delicate and hidden realities.
(33) الحَلِيم — Al-Ḥalīm
The Most Forbearing — The One who shows patience and does not hasten in punishment.
(34) العَظِيم — Al-ʿAẓīm
The Magnificent — The One whose greatness surpasses all understanding.
(35) الغَفُور — Al-Ghafūr
The All-Forgiving — The One who forgives and covers faults with mercy.
(36) الشَّكُور — Ash-Shakūr
The Most Appreciative — The One who multiplies reward for even small deeds.
(37) العَلِيّ — Al-ʿAliyy
The Most High — The One exalted above all imperfection.
(38) الكَبِير — Al-Kabīr
The Most Great — The One whose greatness is absolute and incomparable.
(39) الحَفِيظ — Al-Ḥafīẓ
The Preserver — The One who protects and safeguards all things.
(40) المُقِيت — Al-Muqīt
The Sustainer — The One who nourishes and supports every creature.
(41) الحَسِيب — Al-Ḥasīb
The Sufficient — The One who is fully sufficient and who brings all matters to account.
(42) الجَلِيل — Al-Jalīl
The Majestic — The One who possesses majesty and noble greatness.
(43) الكَرِيم — Al-Karīm
The Most Generous — The One who gives abundantly with kindness.
(44) الرَّقِيب — Ar-Raqīb
The Watchful — The One who observes and watches over all things.
(45) المُجِيب — Al-Mujīb
The Responder — The One who answers supplications with mercy.
(46) الوَاسِع — Al-Wāsiʿ
The All-Encompassing — The One whose mercy and knowledge have no limit.
(47) الحَكِيم — Al-Ḥakīm
The All-Wise — The One whose every decision is perfectly wise.
(48) الوَدُود — Al-Wadūd
The Most Loving — The One who loves His servants with tenderness and care.
(49) المَجِيد — Al-Majīd
The Glorious — The One who is glorified and worthy of all praise.
(50) البَاعِث — Al-Bāʿith
The Resurrector — The One who will bring all creation back to life.
(51) الشَّهِيد — Ash-Shahīd
The Witness — The One who is present and witness to all things.
(52) الحَقّ — Al-Ḥaqq
The Absolute Truth — The Ultimate Reality, undeniable and perfect.
(53) الوَكِيل — Al-Wakīl
The Trustee — The One who manages all affairs with wisdom.
(54) القَوِيّ — Al-Qawiyy
The All-Powerful — The One whose strength is complete and unshakable.
(55) المَتِين — Al-Matīn
The Firm — The One whose power never weakens.
(56) الوَلِيّ — Al-Waliyy
The Protecting Guardian — The One who supports and protects the believers.
(57) الحَمِيد — Al-Ḥamīd
The Praiseworthy — The One worthy of praise in all circumstances.
(58) المُحْصِي — Al-Muḥṣī
The Reckoner — The One who counts all things with perfect precision.
(59) المُبْدِئ — Al-Mubdiʾ
The Originator — The One who initiates creation.
(60) المُعِيد — Al-Muʿīd
The Restorer — The One who brings creation back after death.
(61) المُحْيِي — Al-Muḥyī
The Giver of Life — The One through whom life begins and is renewed.
(62) المُـمِيت — Al-Mumīt
The Giver of Death — The One who decrees the end of life with wisdom.
(63) الحَيّ — Al-Ḥayy
The Ever-Living — The One who lives eternally, without beginning or end.
(64) القَيُّوم — Al-Qayyūm
The Self-Subsisting — The One who exists by Himself and sustains all things.
(65) الوَاجِد — Al-Wājid
The Self-Sufficient — The One for whom nothing is lacking and nothing is unattainable.
(66) المَاجِد — Al-Mājid
The Noble — The One who is generous, honorable, and magnanimous.
(67) الوَاحِد — Al-Wāḥid
The One — The One without any partner.
(68) الصَّمَد — Aṣ-Ṣamad
The Eternal Refuge — The One to whom all creation turns in need.
(69) القَادِر — Al-Qādir
The All-Powerful — The One who has power over all things.
(70) المُقْتَدِر — Al-Muqtadir
The Perfectly Powerful — The One whose power is exercised with complete perfection.
(71) المُقَدِّم — Al-Muqaddim
The Promoter — The One who advances whom He wills.
(72) المُؤَخِّر — Al-Muʾakhkhir
The Delayer — The One who postpones matters according to His wisdom.
(73) الأَوَّل — Al-Awwal
The First — The One who existed before all things.
(74) الآخِر — Al-Ākhir
The Last — The One who remains after all things.
(75) الظَّاهِر — Aẓ-Ẓāhir
The Manifest — The One whose signs and actions are evident.
(76) البَاطِن — Al-Bāṭin
The Hidden — The One whom no vision can fully perceive.
(77) الوَالِي — Al-Wālī
The Governor — The One who governs and manages all affairs.
(78) المُتَعَالِي — Al-Mutaʿālī
The Exalted — The One far above all imperfection.
(79) البَرّ — Al-Barr
The Source of Goodness — The One who spreads kindness and goodness to His creation.
(80) التَّوَّاب — At-Tawwāb
The Accepter of Repentance — The One who welcomes repentance again and again with mercy.
(81) المُنْتَقِم — Al-Muntaqim
The Just Requiter — The One who restores justice with fairness.
(82) العَفُوّ — Al-ʿAfuww
The Pardoner — The One who erases sins with gentleness.
(83) الرَّؤُوف — Ar-Raʾūf
The Most Kind — The One whose compassion is deep and tender.
(84) مَالِكُ المُلْك — Mālik al-Mulk
The Owner of Sovereignty — The Possessor of all dominion.
(85) ذُو الجَلَالِ وَالإِكْرَام — Dhū al-Jalāli wa al-Ikrām
The Lord of Majesty and Honor — The One who unites supreme greatness and generous kindness.
(86) المُقْسِط — Al-Muqsiṭ
The Utterly Just — The One who establishes perfect equity.
(87) الجَامِع — Al-Jāmiʿ
The Gatherer — The One who will gather all creation together.
(88) الغَنِيّ — Al-Ghaniyy
The Self-Sufficient — The One who needs nothing.
(89) المُغْنِي — Al-Mughnī
The Enricher — The One who grants sufficiency and abundance to whom He wills.
(90) المَانِع — Al-Māniʿ
The Preventer — The One who protects by preventing harm.
(91) الضَّارّ — Aḍ-Ḍārr
The One Who Can Cause Harm — The One who decrees trials with wisdom.
(92) النَّافِع — An-Nāfiʿ
The Benefactor — The One who brings benefit and good.
(93) النُّور — An-Nūr
The Light — The Light that illuminates hearts and all existence.
(94) الهَادِي — Al-Hādī
The Guide — The One who guides to the truth.
(95) البَدِيع — Al-Badīʿ
The Incomparable — The One who creates without example or equal.
(96) البَاقِي — Al-Bāqī
The Everlasting — The One who remains forever.
(97) الوَارِث — Al-Wārith
The Inheritor — The One to whom everything ultimately returns.
(98) الرَّشِيد — Ar-Rashīd
The Guide to Rightness — The One who directs toward what is right.
(99) الصَّبُور — Aṣ-Ṣabūr
The Most Patient — The One whose patience is perfect, without haste, filled with wisdom and gentleness toward all creation.
Hadith Related to the Names of Allah
Arabic text :
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
النبي محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ، ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ، ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ، نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ، سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ، أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ، أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي، وَنُورَ صَدْرِي، وَجَلَاءَ حُزْنِي، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي
English translation :
According to ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd, the Messenger of Allah, the Prophet Muḥammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
O Allah, I am Your servant, the son of Your servant, the son of Your maidservant. My forelock is in Your Hand. Your judgment over me is carried out, and Your decree concerning me is just. I ask You by every Name that belongs to You, by which You have named Yourself, or which You have revealed in Your Book, or which You have taught to one of Your creation, or which You have kept with You in the knowledge of the unseen, to make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the removal of my sorrow, and the departure of my distress.
Source: Authentic hadith reported notably by Aḥmad.
FAQ – The 99 Names of Allah
Are all 99 Names of Allah explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an?
The Names of Allah are affirmed in the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah. The list of the ninety-nine Names is derived from authentic texts and the understanding of scholars, even if they are not all mentioned together in a single verse.
What does the expression al-Asmā’ al-Ḥusnā mean?
Al-Asmā’ al-Ḥusnā means “the Most Beautiful Names.” It refers to the Names of Allah that express His attributes of perfection, as mentioned in the Qur’an.
What is the link between the Shahada and the 99 Names of Allah?
The Shahada affirms the Oneness of Allah and His exclusive divinity. The 99 Names of Allah allow one to know Allah through His attributes, which deepens the understanding and meaning of the testimony of faith.
Is it recommended to listen to and memorize the 99 Names of Allah?
Listening to and memorizing the 99 Names of Allah is reported in the authentic Sunnah as a path to knowledge and closeness to Allah.