The 99 Names of Allah (al-asma al-husna, "the most beautiful names") are how Muslims understand who God is. They are not separate gods or aspects — they are descriptions of the same one Being, drawn from how the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) speak of Him.
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا
And to Allah belong the most beautiful names, so call upon Him by them.
Quran, Al-Araf 7:180 (partial)
A Few of the Best Known
- Ar-Rahman (الرَّحْمَٰن) — The Entirely Merciful. Allah's mercy is described in the Quran as "having encompassed all things" (7:156).
- Ar-Rahim (الرَّحِيم) — The Especially Merciful. Specifically the mercy reserved for those who turn back to Him.
- Al-Malik (الْمَلِك) — The Sovereign. The one to whom all dominion belongs.
- As-Salam (السَّلَام) — The Source of Peace. From the same root as the greeting "as-salamu alaykum."
- Al-Khaliq (الْخَالِق) — The Creator.
- Al-Ghafur (الْغَفُور) — The Forgiving.
- Al-Wadud (الْوَدُود) — The Most Loving.
- Al-Hakim (الْحَكِيم) — The Wise. (Most occurrences of "wisdom" in the Quran are paired with another attribute, like power or knowledge.)
Where the Names Come From
The Quran itself names Allah many times — verses end with phrases like 'and Allah is the Forgiving, the Merciful' (e.g. Quran 2:173). A hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) records that Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred minus one (Sahih Bukhari 2736, Sahih Muslim 2677). Muslims believe that learning and reflecting deeply on them is a path to spiritual reward and Paradise.
Scholars debated which exact ninety-nine the hadith referred to — the Prophet did not list them. The most famous list, from Sunan at-Tirmidhi 3507, is widely used but not unanimously regarded as authentic in its full enumeration. The principle is what matters: God is described, not contained.
How Muslims Use the Names
- In du'a — addressing the relevant attribute. Asking Al-Razzaq (the Provider) for sustenance, Al-Shafi (the Healer) for recovery.
- In dhikr — repetition as remembrance. "Subhan Allah (Glory be to God), alhamdu lillah (Praise be to God), Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest)" weaves through every prayer.
- In reflection — pondering one Name at a time. The 99 Names of Allah feature in AskSakina is built for exactly this.
- In naming children — many Muslim names are servant-of formations: Abdullah (servant of Allah), Abd-ur-Rahman (servant of the Most Merciful), Abd-ul-Aziz (servant of the Mighty).
Names of Mercy and Names of Justice
The Names are sometimes grouped by theme — names of mercy (Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, Al-Wadud, Al-Halim) and names of majesty (Al-Aziz, Al-Jabbar, Al-Mutakabbir). The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said in a hadith qudsi: 'My mercy precedes My wrath.' (Sahih Bukhari 7404). The mercy names are not in tension with the justice names — they frame them.
قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ أَوِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنَ ۖ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا۟ فَلَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ
Say (unto mankind): Cry unto Allah, or cry unto the Beneficent, unto whichsoever ye cry (it is the same). His are the most beautiful names.
Quran, Al-Isra 17:110 (partial)
Why Allah Is Not a Different God
The word "Allah" is simply Arabic for "the God" (al-ilah). Arab Christians have used the same word for centuries — open an Arabic Bible and the word for God is Allah. The 99 Names describe the same God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them) in whom Jews and Christians also believe — the differences are in theological framing, not in the existence of one Creator.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'I cannot praise You enough; You are as You have praised Yourself.' (Sahih Muslim 486). Even the Names, beautiful as they are, cannot fully describe the One who carries them.
Each Name on AskSakina has Arabic, transliteration, meaning, and a short reflection.
A wider introduction to the faith.
Where the Names appear, and how to find them.