The first pillar of imaan (faith) in Islam is Belief in Allah. As Muslims, we believe in Allah in accordance with His beautiful names and attributes. Allah has revealed His names repeatedly in the Holy Quran primarily for us to understand who He is. Learning and memorizing the names of Allah will help us to identify the correct way to believe in Him. There is nothing more sacred and blessed than understanding the names of Allah and living by them. How do we expect to worship, love, fear and trust our Lord, The Almighty Allah, if we don’t know who He is?
Allah says in the Quran:
And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them.. (Quran 7:180)
Allah – there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names. (Quran 20:8)
He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. (Quran 59:24) 
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “Allah has ninety-nine names, i.e. one-hundred minus one, and whoever knows them will go to Paradise.”
(Sahih Bukhari 50:894)
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There are ninety-nine names of Allah; he who commits them to memory would get into Paradise. Verily, Allah is Odd (He is one, and it is an odd number) and He loves odd number..”
(Sahih Muslim Book-48 Hadith-5)

99 names of Allah – Meaning and Explanation

1الرَّحْمَنُ

AR-RAHMAANThe Most or Entirely MercifulAllah, Ar-Rahmaan, bestows His Mercy (Rahmah) upon all the creatures in this universe.
2الرَّحِيمُ

AR-RAHEEMThe Bestower of MercyThe Owner of Mercy that encompasses His creation. Ar-Rahmaan points to the vastness of Allah’s Mercy and Ar-Raheem points out to the effect of this Mercy on His Creation.
3الْمَلِكُ

AL-MALIKThe King and Owner of DominionThe One who possesses the attribute of Mulk (kingdom), dominion, power, authority. Allah is Al Malikul Haqq. He is the One who possesses the disposal of all affairs. He commands, makes and does whatever He wants. And Allah gives Mulk to whoever He wants, as Mulk belongs to Him.
4الْقُدُّوسُ

AL-QUDDUSThe Absolutely PureThe One who is Very Pure, Absolutely Pure. He is far and above any imperfection, error, fault and shortcoming. He is High above what does not befit Him. He is the one who is Taahir (Pure) and Uluww (High).
5السَّلاَمُ

AS-SALAMThe Perfection and Giver of PeaceThe One who is Free from all imperfections and deficiencies because of the Perfection of His Being, of His Attributes and His Actions (Ibn Kathir). He keeps His creations safe from any injustice on His part.
6الْمُؤْمِنُ

AL-MU’MINThe One Who gives Emaan and SecurityThe One who Affirms and Believes (Eeman) His Oneness and the One who gives Emaan. It is also The One who gives Security (Aman) and Peace. Al-Mu’min is also the One who removes the fear and the One who is Faithful. His promises are always true.
7الْمُهَيْمِنُ

AL-MUHAYMINThe Guardian, The Witness, The OverseerThe One who observes His creation with regards to their actions. It is also The One Who offers peace and security and The Trustworthy One who proclaims the Truth. He is the One who always watches us and looks after us.
8الْعَزِيزُ

AL-AZEEZThe All MightyThe One who overpowers everything and Who cannot be overcome. It also refers to the One who is extremely precious, none is like Him. He is unbeatable and nothing can prevent Him from fulfilling what He wills.
9الْجَبَّارُ

AL-JABBARThe Compeller, The RestorerAl-Jabbaar is the Compeller, whatever He will is what happens. He is the One who is Exalted, High above His creation and He is the One who Reforms, the One who fixes the situation for His creation.
10الْمُتَكَبِّرُ

AL-MUTAKABBIRThe Supreme, The MajesticAl-Mutakabbir is the Supreme, He reveals His Greatness and Power at every moment and in every incident. Al-Mutakabbir use His rights, privileges and attributes that are above and beyond the rights of everyone else.
11الْخَالِقُ

AL-KHAALIQThe Creator, The MakerThe One Who brings things into existence after their non-existence. Who invents and innovates without a prior model. And then bestows upon them their characteristics of movement and other qualities. He is the One Who invents whatever the eyes can see and perfects their creation.
12الْبَارِئُ

AL-BAARI’The OriginatorThe One who is the Originator of everything. He is the Creator and The One who gives distinguished characteristics to all of His Creation. Al-Bari’ knows His creation best.
13الْمُصَوِّرُ

AL-MUSAWWIRThe FashionerThe One who is the Fashioner and Former of each and every thing in all of creation. It is the One who has given everything in creation a special inclination of desire and a special form and a special manner whereby it is.
14الْغَفَّارُ

AL-GHAFFARThe All- and Oft-ForgivingThe One who is forgiving and looking over our faults over and over again. He also protects us from the effects of our mistakes, in this life and the next so we may go on without shame or guilt. He is the One who can change our wrong deeds into good deeds.
15الْقَهَّارُ

AL-QAHHARThe Subduer, The Ever-DominatingThe One Who dominates everything in His kingdom. He is the One before whom the whole creation has humbled itself, and submitted before His Grandeur, power and perfect strength. He is the Vanquisher without ever being unfair.
16الْوَهَّابُ

AL-WAHHAABThe Giver of GiftsThe One who continually bestows gifts, favors and blessings upon all of creation. It means He not only gives gifts once or twice, but He constantly does so. He is the One who gives freely and endlessly, without expectation of any return.
17الرَّزَّاق

AR-RAZZAAQThe ProviderThe One who creates all means of nourishment and sustenance. He is The One who provides everything that is needed (rizq). It means that He bestows all means of support and growth, for the body, the mind and the spiritual life.
18الْفَتَّاحُ

AL-FATTAAHThe Opener, The JudgeThe One who opens all the doors of mercy, profit and sustenance to His slaves. The gate of the solution of every difficut can be easily opened by Him. He makes clear what is unclear. Al-Fattaah is the One who judges between His slaves with perfect justice.
19اَلْعَلِيْمُ

AL-‘ALEEMThe All-Knowing, The OmniscientThe One whose knowledge (ilm) is neither acquired through learning nor preceded by ignorance, nor followed by forgetfulness. He is aware of all things, even before they happen!
20الْقَابِضُ

AL-QAABIDThe WithholderAl-Qaabid, Al-Baasit is the One who withholds and extends. He contracts when it is good and He expands when it is good. At time He withholds and at other times He gives. This goes for provisions (rizq), life and death.
21الْبَاسِطُ

AL-BAASITThe ExtenderAl-Qaabid, Al-Baasit is the One who withholds and extends. He contracts when it is good and He expands when it is good. At time He withholds and at other times He gives. This goes for provisions (rizq), life and death.
22الْخَافِضُ

AL-KHAAFIDHThe Reducer, The AbaserAl-Khaafidh, Ar-Raafi’ is the One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction and raises whoever He willed by His Endowment.
23الرَّافِعُ

AR-RAAFI’The Exalter, The ElevatorAl-Khaafidh, Ar-Raafi’ is the One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction and raises whoever He willed by His Endowment.
24الْمُعِزُّ

AL-MU’IZZThe Honourer, The BestowerAl-Mu’izz, Al-Muzil is the One who gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him; And He degrades whoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem.
25المُذِلُّ

AL-MUZILThe Dishonourer, The HumiliatorAl-Mu’izz, Al-Muzil is the One who gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him; And He degrades whoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem.
26السَّمِيعُ

AS-SAMEE’The All-HearingThe One Who hears all sounds and voices, in all of their different languages and all their many and various needs. He is the All-Hearing, the The Ever-Listening.
27الْبَصِيرُ

AL-BASEERThe All-SeeingThe One Whose insight sees all things clearly, even the smallest act and both the apparent and the hidden. He is the One who sees and understands all that has been, and all that will be.
28الْحَكَمُ

AL-HAKAMThe Judge, The Giver of JusticeThe One and Only true Judge and always delivers justice in every situation. He is the One whose judgments and decrees are never over-turned and He Who makes the final decision of the nature of all matters. He is the One who arbitrates all disputes.
29الْعَدْلُ

AL-‘ADLThe Utterly JustThe One who is entitled to do what He does.
30اللَّطِيفُ

AL-LATEEFThe Subtle One, The Most GentleThe One who is Most knowledgeable of the most subtle details. His actions are so fine and subtle that they may be beyond our comprehension. He bestows gifts that are finely suited to the needs of His creation. He is extraordinarily gracious and understanding. He guides us and treats us with a kindness without us perceiving it.
31الْخَبِيرُ

AL-KHABEERThe Acquainted, the All-AwareThe One who is acquainted with everything, inner and outer. He is the One who has perfect knowledge and understanding of the real condition, internal qualities and meanings of all that is created.
32الْحَلِيمُ

AL-HALEEMThe Most ForbearingThe One Who keeps bestowing blessings, both visible and hidden, on His creation, even though they disobey Him and make many mistakes. So He forgives and does not give the sinners the punishment they deserve; He encourages them to repent and gives them time to turn to Him.
33الْعَظِيمُ

AL-‘ATHEEMThe Magnificent, The SupremeThe One Who is greatest, mightiest, grandest and above all He has absolute greatness in both his attributes and self. All His actions are Perfect. He is the one deserving the attributes of exaltment, glory and purity from all imperfection. His Might and Grandeur is surely beyond our grasp.
34الْغَفُورُ

AL-GHAFOORThe Forgiving, The Exceedingly ForgivingThe One Who forgives beyond expectation, accepts repentance and pardons our faults. He is the One who veils our sins end protects us from their effects, so we may go on without shame or guilt. No matter, how many or how huge the sin, Al-Ghafoor can cover it up.
35الشَّكُورُ

ASH-SHAKOORThe Most AppreciativeThe One Who gives abundantly in return for what was little. He is the One Who is the Most Appreciative because He appreciates even the smallest of deeds, all the time. And His appreciation is unlimited; for there is no end to the happiness of Paradise.
36الْعَلِيُّ

AL-‘ALEEThe Most High, The ExaltedThe One Who is above and exceeds all others, there is nothing and no-one above Him. His Loftiness is absolutely perfect. He is the Highest. AI-‘Alee is above and surpasses all that has ever been, all that there now is, and all that shall ever be.
37الْكَبِيرُ

AL-KABEERThe Greatest, The Most GrandThe One Who is incomparably great. His Essence is unimaginably great Perfection, in might, power, wisdom and mercy in all His Attributes. He is the Most Great. He is far too great to be compared to any of His creatures; His creatures can never be like Him.
38الْحَفِيظُ

AL-HAFEEDHThe Preserver, The All-Heedful and All-ProtectingThe One Whose power preserves the heavens and the earth. He is the Guardian and Preserver of all the worlds. Al-Hafeedh is heedful of all the actions that we perform by His Knowledge and He protects His slaves from all kinds of hardship and evil.
39المُقيِت

AL-MUQEETThe SustainerAl-Muqeet overwhelms everything with His power and is responsible for all things with His comprehensive and all-inclusive knowledge. He is the Powerful Maintainer and oversees all that exists, sending down provision to His creatures and sharing it out among them, taking care of all living beings.
40الْحسِيبُ

AL-HASEEBThe Reckoner, The SufficientAl-Haseeb is the Bringer to account of His slaves; He knows their deeds, their lifespans and all their affairs. He is the One Who is sufficient; He takes care of all His slaves. Al-Haseeb keeps record of all actions and then He will requite them according to His wisdom.
41الْجَلِيلُ

AL-JALEELThe MajesticThe One who is attributed with Greatness of Power and Glory of Status.
42الْكَرِيمُ

AL-KAREEMThe Most Generous, The Most EsteemedThe One Who is the Most Generous, continually giving forth the most precious bounties to His creation. He is Al-Kareem in His essence, He is the most esteemed and honored because of His Perfection and Oneness. He is Al-Kareem in His dealings with His creation. He forgives, He follows through and His giving exceeds all expectations.
43الرَّقِيبُ

AR-RAQEEBThe WatchfulThe One Who is closely watching over His creation, hearing, seeing and knowing everything. He is the Observer and Witness who is never absent from the scene. Ar-Raqeeb watches you wherever you are, whatever you do, and whenever you do it and He even knows your unspoken intentions.
44الْمُجِيبُ

AL-MUJEEBThe Responsive OneThe One Who answers prayers end responds to requests of those who ask and to the call of those who call upon Him by helping them according to His Wisdom in dealing with their affairs. Al-Mujeeb will often give you more than what you ask for, because He will respond to you with what you need and what is best for you.
45الْوَاسِعُ

AL-WAASI’The All-Encompassing, the BoundlessThe One Whose expansive essence encompasses the whole creation. His capacities and the meanings of His Attributes are without limit and in abundance. The power, mercy, generosity and knowledge of Al-Waasi’ are boundless. His authority never ends and His domain is endless.
46الْحَكِيمُ

AL-HAKEEMThe All-WiseThe One Whose wisdom is perfect, free from any error or misunderstanding. His divine will is executed with His divine wisdom, which means He does everything in the most appropriate way in the best place and time.
47الْوَدُودُ

AL-WADOODThe Most LovingThe One Who is the source of all love and affection. His Love is intense, constant and lasting. Al-Wadood is the One Who is deserving of all love and affection! Al-Wadood loves the believers and the believers love Him more than anything.
48الْمَجِيدُ

AL-MAJEEDThe Glorious, The Most HonorableThe One Whose essence is the perfection of majesty and glory. He is dignified, glorious end exceedingly generous. Al-Majeed is the only One Who deserves all praise and honor due to His excellence in both His Being and Actions.
49الْبَاعِثُ

AL-BA’ITHThe Resurrector, The Raiser of the DeadThe One who resurrects His slaves after death for reward and/or punishment.
50الشَّهِيد

ASH-SHAHEEDThe All- and Ever WitnessingThe One Who is ever observing everything and everyone He created. The One Who witnesses the seen and the unseen, all actions and even thoughts and intentions and He is the ultimate Witness on the Day of Judgement.
51الْحَقُّ

AL-HAQQThe Absolute TruthThe One Who is the the and truly-existing. His essence is the only reality and He is the One through whom the truth, all righteousness and justice are revealed. His Word, Actions, Reward, Punishment and Promise are the truth.
52الْوَكِيلُ

AL-WAKEELThe Trustee, The Disposer of AffairsThe One who can be entrusted with all affairs. He is the ultimate Trustee, guardian and administrator of all things and we can trust in the fact that Al-Wakeel will provide the perfect resolution for every matter.
53الْقَوِيُّ

AL-QAWIYYThe All-StrongThe One Who is beyond all weakness. His strength is supreme. unlimited and inexhaustible. Before Him the strength of anything or any one is insignificant and so does the greatness of any one held as great.
54الْمَتِينُ

AL-MATEENThe Firm, The SteadfastThe One with great firmness. He is the owner of all strength and His nature is the utmost firmness and steadfastness. He is the One who can easily overcome anything through supreme firmness and strength of determination.
55الْوَلِيُّ

AL-WALIYYThe Protecting AssociateThe Protecting Friend, Patron, and Supporter.
56الْحَمِيدُ

AL-HAMEEDThe PraiseworthyThe One who is praised and is praiseworthy. He is the only One who deserves each manner of praise, honour and thanks for His inherent qualities and not only for specific favours.
57الْمُحْصِي

AL-MUHSEEThe All-Enumerating, The CounterThe One who the count of things are known to Him.
58الْمُبْدِئُ

AL-MUBDIThe Originator, The InitiatorThe One who started the human being.
59الْمُعِيدُ

AL-MU’IDThe Restorer, The ReinstaterThe One who brings back the creatures after death.
60الْمُحْيِي

AL-MUHYEEThe Giver of LifeAl-Muhyee is the only One who can bring something to life. He creates from nothing and surrounds all with the right conditions to survive until He decrees life to end. Then He resurrects life on the Day of Judgement and all of this is easy for Him.
61اَلْمُمِيتُ

AL-MUMEETThe Bringer of Death, the DestroyerThe One who renders the living dead.
62الْحَيُّ

AL-HAYYThe Ever-LivingThe One who has a continuous life with no beginning or end. His Life with all His Attributes are perfect end there is no end to His existence. He was before all else, so shall He remain throughout endless time.
63الْقَيُّومُ

AL-QAYYOOMThe Sustainer, The Self-SubsistingThe One who is established on His Own and by Whom all things subsist. He sustains, protects and oversees. He provides, preserves, watches and manages all that exists. He needs no food nor drink, for He is the One who feeds but is not fed. He is absolutely free of any need from all of the creation.
64الْوَاجِدُ

AL-WAAJIDThe PerceiverThe Finder, the Unfailing
65الْمَاجِدُ

AL-MAAJIDThe Illustrious, the MagnificentThe Glorious, He who is Most Glorious.
66الْواحِدُ

AL-WAAHIDThe OneThe One who is unique in His essence and He has no second, no partner, peer or rival. He is the one source from which all of the creation springs forth.
67اَلاَحَدُ

AL-AHADThe Unique, The Only OneThe One who is unique in both His essence and attributes. There is no one or nothing like Him and He was, is and will forever be the unequaled amid indivisible Only One.
68الصَّمَدُ

AS-SAMADThe Eternal, Satisfier of NeedsThe One who is eternal, unaffected and unchanged. He is the One who can satisfy each need in a way He knows is best, while He is without any needs. He is the One upon who all of the creation depends, while He depends on no one.
69الْقَادِرُ

AL-QADEERThe Capable, The PowerfulThe One who has perfect, complete Power and Ability. By the Power of Al-Qadeer the creation is brought into being, life and death is given and by His power the resurrection and recompense will be established.
70الْمُقْتَدِرُ

AL-MUQTADIRThe OmnipotentThe One whose Might is Great and through His overwhelming Power Al-Muqtadir controls all His creatures. He subdues everyone and everything in His domain. His decree prevails in every situation.
71الْمُقَدِّمُ

AL-MUQADDIMThe Expediter, The PromoterAl-Muqaddim, Al-Mu’akhkhir is the One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.
72الْمُؤَخِّرُ

AL-MU’AKHKHIRThe Delayer, the RetarderAl-Muqaddim, Al-Mu’akhkhir is the One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.
73الأوَّلُ

AL-AWWALThe FirstThe One who is the first and foremost. He was before all of the creation and the cause of everything in existence.
74الآخِرُ

AL-AAKHIRThe LastThe One who is the last and the ultimate. He is the One who remains after the creation perishes and the One beyond whom there is nothing.
75الظَّاهِرُ



AZ-DHAAHIRThe ManifestThe One that nothing is above Him and nothing is underneath Him, hence He exists without a place. He, The Exalted, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.
76الْبَاطِنُ

AL-BAATINThe Hidden One, Knower of the HiddenThe One who cannot be seen in the way the creation can be seen. He is the One from whom nothing is hidden and who surrounds all things. He knows even the inner states, yet He is veiled from the creation’s perception.
77الْوَالِي

AL-WAALIThe Governor, The PatronThe One who owns things and manages them.
78الْمُتَعَالِي

AL-MUTA’ALIThe Self ExaltedThe One who is clear from the attributes of the creation.
79الْبَرُّ

AL-BARRThe Source of Goodness, the Kind BenefactorThe One whose kind and gracious goodness is bestowed on the creation. He is the doer of all good and all good deeds come from Him.
80التَّوَابُ

AT-TAWWABThe Ever-Pardoning, The RelentingThe One who grants repentance to whoever He willed among His creatures and accepts their repentance.
81الْمُنْتَقِمُ

AL-MUNTAQIMThe AvengerThe One who victoriously prevails over His enemies and punishes them for their sins. The One who destroys them.
82العَفُوُّ

AL-‘AFUWWThe PardonerThe One who eliminates sins and faults. He is the One who not only forgives sins, but can completely blot out and make any mistake, error or sin disappear whenever He wishes.
83الرَّؤُوفُ

AR-RA’OOFThe Most KindThe One who bestows utmost tender mercy on the creation. He is the One whose compassion, affection, kindness and tenderness are beyond understanding.
84مَالِكُ الْمُلْكِ

MAALIK-UL-MULKMaster of the Kingdom, Owner of the DominionThe One who owns and rules all of the creation. He is the One who has the authority and power to rule, command and decide for the worlds and everything they contain.
85ذُوالْجَلاَلِ وَالإكْرَامِ

DHUL-JALAALI WAL-IKRAAMPossessor of Glory and Honour, Lord of Majesty and GenerosityThe One who is the majestic Possessor and Lord of all generosity. He is the One who is the owner of every attribute of glory, honour and bounty.
86الْمُقْسِطُ

AL-MUQSITThe Equitable, the RequiterThe One who is Just in His Judgement.
87الْجَامِعُ

AL-JAAMI’The Gatherer, the UniterThe One who unites and gathers together. He is the One who assembles together which had been dispersed, composes and connects similar things and opposites and gathers together mankind on the Day of Judgement.
88الْغَنِيُّ

AL-GHANIYYThe Self-Sufficient, The WealthyThe One who is without need of anything. He is the One who is completely independent and the whole creation depends on His wealth. He is in no need of any help or aid of anything or anyone, yet all are in need of Him.
89الْمُغْنِي

AL-MUGHNIThe EnricherThe One who satisfies the necessities of the creatures.
90اَلْمَانِعُ

AL-MANI’The WithholderThe Shielder, the Defender.
91الضَّارَّ

AD-DHARRThe DistresserAd-Dharr, An-Nafi’ is the One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed and benefit to whoever He willed.
92النَّافِعُ

AN-NAFI’The Propitious, the BenefactorAd-Dharr, An-Nafi’ is the One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed and benefit to whoever He willed.
93النُّورُ

AN-NURThe Light, The IlluminatorThe One who is Light and has created light He placed in the heavens and earth to lighten them. An-Nur is also the One who illuminates the hearts of the believers with knowledge, faith and guidance.
94الْهَادِي

AL-HAADIThe GuideThe One who is the source of guidance. He is the One who sent prophets and messengers to guide mankind, guides the senses and hearts and directs His servants to the Straight Path.
95الْبَدِيعُ

AL-BADEE’The Incomparable OriginatorAl-Badee’ is the unique Originator. He is the One whose incomparable power originates, invents and brings into existence all of the unique creation without following any prior model or unlike any similarity to anything that ever existed.
96اَلْبَاقِي


AL-BAAQIThe Ever-Surviving, The EverlastingThe One that the state of non-existence is impossible for Him.
97الْوَارِثُ

AL-WAARITHThe Inheritor, The HeirAl-Waarith is the supreme Heir. He is the One to whom all creatures return. All possessions return to Him when their possessor is gone and it is He who remains after the whole creation has perished.
98الرَّشِيدُ

AR-RASHEEDThe Guide, Infallible TeacherThe Guide to the Right Path, The One who guides.
99الصَّبُورُ


AS-SABOORThe Forbearing, The PatientThe One who does not quickly punish the sinners.

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