God-Allah! there is no god except He! To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. (Qur’an 20:8). Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: ‘To God-Allah belongs 99 names. Anyone who memorizes them will enter Paradise; He (God-Allah) is odd (odd number, he is the Only One), and He loves odd numbers (such as 99)’
Most of Allah’s 99 names represents His attributes. Thus, a name like Al-Khaliq denotes the attribute of creation which belongs to Allah, since Al-Khaliq means, “the Creator”. Al-Raziq on the other hand, represents the attribute of providing sustenance to his creation, since Al-Raziq means, “the Provider”. The same applies to Allah’s other names. Hence, knowing them all helps us formulate a clear concept of Allah and His essential attributes. This is an important concept for a Muslim or future Muslims to have. Moreover, it helps him adopt the right attitude when he is faced with a problem or a difficult situation. Say, for example, a person finds himself in a situation where he is in bad need of even a small amount of food, as in the case of refugees who flee from their homes as a result of war or famine. A refugee who is well aware of Allah’s attributes realizes that it is Allah who provides sustenance for all His creatures. Hence, he turns to Him for help and prays Him to provide him with such sustenance. Islam tries to make its followers fully aware of their position and responsibilities. It is a great virtue to be aware of Allah’s attributes and that virtue is obtained through acting, reciting and understaning His attributes. Recitation is encouraged as many times.
Name Translation
ALLAH Allâh
AR-RAHMAN The Most Compassionate,
The Beneficent
The Gracious
AR-RAHIM The Merciful
AL-MALIK The King
AL-QUDDUS The Most Holy
AS-SALAM The All-Peaceful, The Bestower of peace
AL-MUMIN The Granter of security
AL-MUHAYMIN The Protector
AL-AZIZ The Mighty
AL-JABBAR The Compeller
AL-MUTAKABBIR Supreme in Greatness,
The Majestic
AL-KHALIQ The Creator
AL-BARI The Maker
AL-MUSAWWIR The Bestower of form,
The Shaper
AL-GAFFAR The Forgiver
AL-QAHHAR The Subduer
AL-WAHHAB The Bestower
AR-RAZZAQ The Provider
AL-FATTAH The Opener, The Judge
AL-ALIM The All-Knowing
AL-QABID The Withholder
AL-BASIT The Expander
AL-KHAFID The Abaser
AR-RAFI The Exalter
AL-MUIZZ The Bestower of honour
AL-MUDHILL The Humiliator
AS-SAMI The All-Hearing
AL-BASIR The All-Seeing
AL-HAKAM The Judge
AL-ADL The Just, The Equitable
AL-LATIF The Gentle, The Knower of subtleties
AL-KHABIR The All-Aware
AL-HALIM The Forbearing
AL-'AZIM The Incomparably Great
AL-GAFUR The Forgiving
ASH-SHAKUR The Appreciative
AL-ALIYY The Most High
AL-KABIR The Most Great
AL-HAFIZ The Preserver
AL-MUGHITH The Sustainer
AL-HASIB The Reckoner
AL-JALIL The Majestic, The Revered, The Sublime
AL-KARIM The Generous
AR-RAQIB The Watchful
AL-MUJIB The Responsive
AL-WASI The All-Encompassing, The All-Embracing
AL-HAKIM The Wise
AL-WADUD The Loving One
AL-MAJID The Most Glorious
AL-BAITH The Resurrector
ASH-SHAHID The Witness
AL-HAQQ The Truth
AL-WAKIL The Ultimate Trustee, The Disposer of Affairs
AL-QAWIYY The Most Strong
AL-MATIN The Firm One, The Authoritative
AL-WALIYY The Protector
AL-HAMID The All-Praised, The Praiseworthy
AL-MUHSI The Reckoner
AL-MUBDI The Originator
AL-MUID The Restorer to life
AL-MUHYI The Giver of life
AL-MUMIT The Causer of death
AL-HAYY The Ever-Living
AL-QAYYUM The Self-Existing by Whom all subsist
AL-WAJID The Self-Sufficient, The All-Perceiving
AL-MAJID The Glorified
AL-WAHID The One
AS-SAMAD The Eternally Besought
AL-QADIR The Omnipotent, The Able
AL-MUQTADIR The Powerful
AL-MUQADDIM The Expediter
AL- MUAKHKHIR The Delayer
AL-AWWAL The First
AL-AKHIR The Last
AZ-ZAHIR The Manifest
AL-BATIN The Hidden
AL-WALI The Governor, The Protector
AL-MUTAALI The Most Exalted
AL-BARR The Benign, The Source of All-Goodness
AT-TAWWAB The Granter and Accepter of repentence
AL- MUNTAQIM The Lord of Retribution, The Avenger
AL-AFUWW The Pardoner
AR-RAUF The Most Kind, The Clement
MALIK-UL-MULK Owner of the Kingdom
DHUL JALAL WAL IKRAM Possessor of Majesty and Honour
AL-MUQSIT The Just, The Equitable
AL-JAME The Gatherer
AL-GHANIYY The All-Sufficient
AL-MUGHNI The Enricher
AL-MANI The Preventer of harm
AD-DARR The Afflicter
AN-NAFI The Benefiter
AN-NUR The Light
AL-HADI The Guide
AL-BADI The Originator
AL-BAQI The Everlasting
AL-WARITH The Ultimate Inheritor
AR-RASHID The Guide
AS-SABUR The Patient One
For the convenience of non Arabic readers, these names are written in English language so just read them whenever you are in clean state and environment. Jazakullah.
Courtesy of www.islamicity.com