You probably heard about the 99 names of Allah, and I am sure you only know some of them. There are many more names for him than just these you know, and more than a thousand names and characteristics have been attributed to him in various religious scriptures and prayers, for example.
He possesses unlimited virtues, titles, and perfections in equal measure. So what are the 99 names of Allah? And what is the meaning of them?
What is behind the 99 names of Allah?
The following are the 99 Names or Asma ul-Husna, according to a narration from Abu Abdullah Ja’far ibn Muhammad, who relates from the Holy Prophet (peace be on him and his household):
AR-RAHMAAN, AR-RAHEEM, AL-MALIK, AL-QUDDUS, AS-SALAM, AL-MUMIN, AL-MUHAYMIN, AL-AZEEZ, AL-JABBAR, AL-MUTAKABBIR, AL-KHAALIQ, AL-BAARI, AL-MUSAWWIR, AL-GHAFFAR, AL-QAHHAR, AL-WAHHAAB, AR-RAZZAAQ, AL-FATTAAH, AL-ALEEM, AL-QAABID, AL-BAASIT, AL-KHAAFIDH, AR-RAAFI, AL-MUIZZ, AL-MUZIL, AS-SAMEE, AL-BASEER, AL-HAKAM, AL-ADL, AL-LATEEF, AL-KHABEER, AL-HALEEM, AL-ATHEEM, AL-GHAFOOR, ASH-SHAKOOR, AL-ALEE
AL-KABEER, AL-HAFEEDH, AL-MUQEET, AL-HASEEB, AL-JALEEL, AL-KAREEM, AR-RAQEEB, AL-MUJEEB, AL-WAASI, AL-HAKEEM, AL-WADOOD, AL-MAJEED, AL-BAITH, ASH-SHAHEED, AL-HAQQ, AL-WAKEEL, AL-QAWIYY, AL-MATEEN, AL-WALIYY, AL-HAMEED, AL-MUHSEE, AL-MUBDI, AL-MUID, AL-MUHYEE, AL-MUMEET, AL-HAYY, AL-QAYYOOM, AL-WAAJID, AL-MAAJID, AL-WAAHID, AL-AHAD, AS-SAMAD, AL-QADIR, AL-MUQTADIR, AL-MUQADDIM, AL-MUAKHKHIR, AL-AWWAL, AL-AAKHIR, AZ-DHAAHIR, AL-BAATIN, AL-WAALI, AL-MUTAALI, AL-BARR, AT-TAWWAB, AL-MUNTAQIM, AL-AFUWW, AR-RAOOF, MAALIK-UL-MULK, DHUL-JALAALI WAL-IKRAAM, AL-MUQSITT, AL-JAAMI, AL-GHANIYY, AL-MUGHNI, AL-MANI, AD-DHARR, AN-NAFI, AN-NUR, AL-HAADI, AL-BADEE, AL-BAAQI, AL-WAARITH, AR-RASHEED, AS-SABOOR.
If you can’t understand the meaning of these names you have to learn Arabic.
What are the 99 names of Allah with meaning?
The Good/Beautiful Names of Allah or Asma ul-Husna are mentioned in the Quran in the verse 180Â Surah Al-Aaraf, however, the number is not mentioned anywhere else in the verses:
“Allah has the Most Beautiful Names. So call upon Him by them, and keep away from those who abuse His Names.1 They will be punished for what they used to do”.
Muslim opinions regarding the 99 names of Allah
Regarding the qualities of Allah, there are three categories of humans. These are what they are:
Group 1:
A group that considers that Allah has names and that the meanings of those names, which express His perfections or rule out His flaws, are worthy of being given to Him.
Group 2:
 A group that assigns to someone other than Allah qualities that are unique to Him. A sect that respects Allah but has erred in understanding His name.
Group 3:
 A group thinks Allah has terrible qualities and does bad things. For instance, they assume He has a body that requires space, and He is oppressive in deeds and ignorant in judgment.
The Word “name” in Arabic and it’s meaning
The word “Ism” describes something a person uses to get at something. In addition to this meaning, it can also be described. For instance, a word that refers to the essence of something or a trait that is present in anything. In our case, it is the 99 names of Allah with meaning, and by meaning, we mean descriptions.
The Divinity of 99 Names of Allah
The Good or Beautiful Names are used to describe the 99 names. Why are they given the reputation of being kind people? This characteristic reveals that these names fall under the descriptive name category, just like the names that only mention Allah.
The term “Good Names” refers to descriptive names found among Allah’s 99 names and includes the quality of goods as part of their meaning. These names are superior to other attributes compared to Allah’s 99 names essence.
Therefore, even though the qualities of courage and virtue are names with descriptive meanings and have good qualities, they are not deserving of Allah because they describe a physical quality that cannot be disproved by them. However, He can be described as kind, fair, and merciful.
In conclusion, a name must connote a connotation of perfection to be considered one of the Good Names; this perfection cannot be combined with any fault or lack.
Categories of the 99 names of Allah
There are two categories of names exist:
- Nasty names, such as ignorant and oppressor.
- Reputable names, such as just and knowledgeable. Additionally, these names are split into two groups:
Names that, more or less, have some perfection in them. However, they also have a flaw and contingency, such as being attractive or having curly hair, etc.
Knowledgeable, decisive, etc., are attributes that denote total perfection and don’t have any flaws or deficiencies, given that they are not connected to the possibility of material possibilities or composition.
These last names are called Good Names and do not only include one or two names; instead, Allah is the owner of every good and lovely name.
Why are there 99 names of Allah?
Asma ul-Husna translates to “good names,” and while Allah’s names are good, some are more significant than others and are referred to as the Asma ul-Husna. Narrations claim that Allah has 99 names and that whoever calls them by these names will hear his prayers, and whoever counts them will live in paradise.
Even though Allah has many names, all of them are good, faultless, and attractive; these 99 names are more significant. The following will explain the rationale for this.
99 names of Allah: only Allah knows the truth of them
The first line of the verse implies that Allah alone is the owner of all excellent and beautiful names; none are equal to Him in meaning.
This is consistent with the way the sentence has been written in Arabic. However, because He gives these meanings to someone other than Himself, the phrase “only to Allah” actually signifies that only Allah is the owner of these meanings.
Therefore, unless Allah wills and intends for others to own a portion of each lovely name, only He can use them. And more Quranic verses support this.
Since Allah is infinite, some of the 99 names of Allah and traits are more important than others. Asma ul-Husna, or Allah’s 99 Names, exists because we must act on these names and traits rather than just listing or counting them. Regardless of that, only God knows the true meaning of those names.
