The Beautiful Names of Allah

The Excellent or most beautiful names of Allah are those names reported in Quran and Hadith which describe Allah Unity and Perfect attributes.

Allah said in verse 180, Surah Al A’raf: “The most beautiful names belong to Allah: so call on him by them; but shun such men who commit blasphemy in His names in His names for what they do, they will soon be recompensed for what they did.” [7.180]

Abu Hurairah (raa) narrated that the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Allah has ninety-nine Names, i.e. one- hundred minus one, and whoever counts them (أحصاها   Ahsaha) will enter Paradise.” Al-Bukhari & Muslim. 

Q. What does the verb أحصاها Ahsaha mean?

The verb  أحصاها   Ahsaha means not simply counting them but also to believe in them, understand their meanings, and praise and worship Allah by them as Allah (swt) said “call upon Him by them”.

Pillars of belief in the beautiful names of Allah

Q. What does it mean to believe in the beautiful names of Allah?

Believing in the most beautiful names of Allah and acting according to them involves the following:

1- Believing in each name of Allah as it was reported to us without resembling Allah (swt) to His creatures,

2- Understanding their meanings and connotations without misinterpreting them,

3- Awareness of the attributes linked with them,

4- Counting and reading these names,

5- And applying them in our religious practices meaning to call upon Allah with these names, praise, worship and beseech Him by them, as well as learning lessons from their meanings in our practical life.

Misconception

Q. How to refute the claim of non-Muslims that Muslims worship many gods and they give them many names?

One must distinguish between the names of Allah and His Essence. He (swt) is One in His essence but He (swt) has many names which indicate the Perfect attributes of His Essence. These names are names of Allah not names of multi-gods as it is wrongly claimed.

Fruits of believing in the beautiful names of Allah

Q. What are fruits of believing in the beautiful names of Allah?

1-Growing in Knowledge

The Beautiful Names of Allah is a great source of Islamic knowledge. Understanding their meaning will certainly increase the Muslim’s knowledge about his Lord, His attributes, His actions in the universe, His Holiness and Perfection, and His sunnah in previous nations.

2- Strengthening one’s Iman – Faith

Understanding the beautiful names of Allah will surely reinforce our beliefs in Him (swt) and His attributes. It will certainly increase the Iman (faith) of the believer through strengthening his certainty, and his attachment to his Creator. Muslim becomes more dutiful toward Allah (swt) and fearful of committing sins. This will surely make him grow nearer to Allah and qualify him to enter Paradise.

3- Realization of Tawheed.

The beautiful names include the three types of Tawheed monotheism:

1- monotheism of divinity,

2- monotheism of Lordship,

3- monotheism of names and attributes.

Hence believing in the most beautiful names of Allah and acting according to them leads to the realization of perfect Tawheed which will lead to Paradise. Because Paradise is restricted to those who believe firmly in Allah alone without associating partners with him.

4- Grow in Love of Allah

Any one who knows the names and attributes of Allah will certainly love him.Awareness of these names and attributes of Allah will make the Muslim realize Allah’s great blessings and favors upon him and draw himself closer to Allah and thus his love to Allah will grow.

5- Protection against Sinning and blasphemies

The knowledge of the Beautiful Names of Allah protects and guards man against committing blasphemies and having wrong beliefs about Allah attributes. Understanding the Beautiful Names of Allah results in awareness of His Noble Essence, and beautiful Attributes. Thus the Believer attributes to Allah only what is perfect, excellent, and pure and avoids attributing to Allah any sort of imperfections, weakness, deficiencies, flaws or limitations.

6- Self Improvement

The practical life of the Believer should be an application of the meanings of the Beautiful Names of Allah. Believers should strive to acquire the high qualities associated with the Beautiful Names of Allah. He should strive to be noble in actions and thoughts, and direct these towards achieving closer relations to Allah and People. He should be a constant guardian over himself; always watching over the inner-realities of his hearts. And be ready to take responsibility of reforming his inner-self. And, thus one can protect himself from being misled or misguided.