"Allâh (SWT) has 99 Names, i.e. 100 - 1, & whoever
knows Them will go to Paradise." (Bukhari
V3.B50#894)
1( الرحمن Ar-Rahmān)
(meanings) The Compassionate, The Beneficent, The Gracious Beginning of every chapter except one, and in numerous other places. Name frequently used in Surah 55, Ar-Rahman.
2 (الرحيم Ar-Rahim)
(meanings) The Merciful Beginning of every chapter except one, and in numerous other places
3( الملك Al-Malik)
(meanings)The King, The Master, The Sovereign Lord
4 (القدوس Al-Quddus)
(meanings)The Holy, The Pure, The Perfect
5 (السلام As-Salām)
(meanings)The Peace and Blessing, The Source of Peace and Safety,
6 (المؤمن Al-Mu’min)
(meanings) The Guarantor, The Affirming,
7 (المهيمن Al-Muhaymin)
(meanings)The Guardian, The Protector
8 (العزيز Al-Aziz)
(meanings) The Almighty, The Sufficient, The Honorable
9 (الجبار Al-Jabbar)
(meanings)The Irresistible, The Compeller, The Lofty
10 (المتكبر Al-Mutakabbir)
(meanings)The Highest, The Greatest
11 (الخالق Al-Khāliq)
(meanings)The Creator
12 (البارئ Al-Bāri)
’(meanings)The Rightful
13 (المصور Al-Musawwir)
(meanings)The Evolver, The Fashioner of Forms
14 (الغفار Al-Ghaffār)
(meanings)The Forgiving
15 (القهار Al-Qahhār)
(meanings)The Subduer
16 (الوهاب Al-Wahhāb )
(meanings)The Bestower
17 (الرزاق Ar-Razzāq)
(meanings)The Provider
18 (الفتاح Al-Fattāh)
(meanings)The Opener, The Victory Giver
19( العليم Al-’Alīm )
(meanings)The All Knowing, The Omniscient
20 (القابض Al-Qābid)
(meanings)The Restrainer, The Straightener
21 (الباسط Al-Bāsit)
(meanings)The Extender / Expander
22 (الخافض Al-Khāfid)
(meanings)The Abaser
23 (الرافع Ar-Rāfi’)
(meanings)The Exalter
24 (المعز Al-Mu’izz)
(meanings)The Giver of Honour
25(المذل Al-Mu’dhell)
(meanings)The Giver of Dishonour
26 (السميع As-Samī)
(meanings)The All Hearing
27 (البصير Al-Basīr)
(meanings)The All Seeing
28 (الحكم Al-Hakam)
(meanings)The Judge, The Arbitrator
29 (العدل Al-`Adl)
(meanings)The Utterly Just
30 (اللطيف Al-Latīf)
(meanings)The Gentle, The Subtly Kind
31 (الخبير Al-Khabīr)
(meanings)The All Aware
32 (الحليم Al-Halīm)
(meanings)The Forbearing, The Indulgent
33 (العظيم Al-’Azīm)
The Magnificent
34 (الغفور Al-Ghafūr)
(meanings) The All Forgiving
35 (الشكور Ash-Shakūr)
(meanings)The Grateful
36 (العلي Al-’Aliyy)
(meanings)The Sublime
37 (الكبير Al-Kabīr)
(meanings)The Great
38 (الحفيظ Al-Hafīz)
(meanings)The Preserver
39 (المقيت Al-Muqīt)
(meanings)The Nourisher
40(الحسيب Al-Hasīb )
(meanings)The Bringer of Judgment
41 (الجليل Al-Jalīl)
(meanings)The Majestic
42 (الكريم Al-Karīm)
(meanings) The Bountiful, The Generous
43 (الرقيب Ar-Raqīb)
(meanings)The Watchful
44 (المجيب Al-Mujīb)
(meanings) The Responsive, The Answer
45 (الواسع Al-Wāsi’)
(meanings)The Vast, The All-Embracing, The Omnipresent, The Boundless
46 (الحكيم Al-Hakīm)
(meanings)The Wise
47 (الودود Al-Wadūd)
(meanings) The Loving
48 (المجيد Al-Majīd)
(meanings)The Glorious
49 (الباعث Al-Bā’ith)
(meanings)The Resurrecter
50 (الشهيد Ash-Shahīd)
(meanings)The Witness
51 (الحق Al-Haqq)
(meanings)The Truth, The Real
52 (الوكيل Al-Wakīl)
(meanings)The Trustee, The Dependable
53 (القوى Al-Qawwiy)
(meanings)The Strong
54 (المتين Al-Matīn)
(meanings)The Firm, The Steadfast
55 (الولى Al-Waliyy)
(meanings)The Friend, Patron and Helper
56 (الحميد Al-Hamīd)
(meanings)The All Praiseworthy
57 (المحصى Al-Muhsi)
(meanings)The Accounter, The Numberer of All
58 (المبدئ Al-Mubdi’)
(meanings)The Originator, The Producer, The Initiator
59 (المعيد Al-Mu’īd)
(meanings)The Restorer, The Reinstater Who Brings Back All
60 (المحيى Al-Muhyi)
(meanings) The Giver of Life
61( المميت Al-Mumīt)
(meanings) The Destroyer, The Bringer of Death
62 (الحي Al-Hayy)
(meanings)The Living
63( القيوم Al-Qayyūm)
(meanings)The Subsisting
64 (الواجد Al-Wājid)
(meanings)The Perceiver, The Finder, The Unfailing
65( الماجد Al-Mājid)
(meanings)The Illustrious, The Magnificent
66( الواحد Al-Wāhid)
(meanings)The One, The Unique
67 (الاحد Al-’Ahad)
(meanings) The Unity, The Indivisible
68 (الصمد As-Samad)
(meanings) The Eternal, The Absolute, The Self-Sufficient
69 (القادر Al-Qādir)
(meanings) The Omnipotent, The All Able
70 (المقتدر Al-Muqtadir)
(meanings)The Determiner, The Dominant
71( المقدم Al-Muqaddim)
(meanings) The Expediter, He Who Brings Forward
72 (المؤخر Al-Mu’akhkhir)
(meanings)The Delayer, He Who Puts Far Away
73 (الأول Al-’Awwal)
(meanings)The First
74 (الأخر Al-’Akhir)
(meanings)The Last
75 (الظاهر Az-Zāhir)
(meanings) The Manifest, The Evident, The Outer
76 (الباطن Al-Bātin)
(meanings)The Hidden, The Unmanifest, The Inner
77 (الوالي Al-Wāli)
(meanings)The Patron
78 (المتعالي Al-Mutā’ali)
(meanings)The Exalted
79 (البر Al-Barr)
(meanings)The Good
80 (التواب At-Tawwāb)
(meanings)The Ever Returning, Ever Relenting
81 (المنتقم Al-Muntaqim)
(meanings)The Avenger
82 (العفو Al-Afuww)
(meanings)The Pardoner, The Effacer
83 (الرؤوف Ar-Ra’ūf)
(meanings)The Kind, The Pitying
84 (مالك الملك Mālik-ul-Mulk)
(meanings)The Owner of all Sovereignty
85 (ذو الجلال والإكرام Dhū-l-Jalāli wa-l-’ikrām
(meanings)The Lord of Majesty and Generosity
86 (المقسط Al-Muqsiţ)
(meanings)The Equitable, The Requiter
87 (الجامع Al-Jāmi )
(meanings)The Gatherer, The Unifier
89 (المغني Al-Mughni)
(meanings)The Enricher, The Emancipator
90 (المانع Al-Māni’)
(meanings)The Withholder, The Shielder, the Defender
91 (الضار Ad-Dārr )
(meanings)The Distressor, The Harmer, The Afflictor
92 (النافع An-Nāfi)
The Propitious, The Benefactor, The Source of Good
93 (النور An-Nūr)
(meanings)The Light
94 (الهادي Al-Hādi)
(meanings)The Guide, The Way
95 (البديع Al-Badī)
(meanings)The Incomparable, The Unattainable
96 (الباقي Al-Bāqi)
(meanings)The Immutable, The Infinite, The Everlasting
97 (الوارث Al-Wārith )
(meanings)The Heir, The Inheritor of All
98 (الرشيد Ar-Rashīd)
(meanings)The Guide to the Right Path
99 (الصبور As-Sabur)
(meanings)The Timeless, The Patient
Hadith
Q: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Allah has ninety-nine names; anyone who memorizes them will enter Jannah (Paradise). Does this mean that anyone who memorizes the Names of Allah will enter Jannah?
A: This is one of the Hadiths that promise Jannah and speaks of virtues and good deeds. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred less one. Anyone who learns them will enter Jannah. According to another narration: Anyone who memorizes them will enter Jannah. (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
This Hadith urges us to consider carefully, ponder over, memorize and learn the Names of Allah, so that we can benefit from their great meanings, gain Khushu` (the heart being submissively attuned to the act of worship), obey Allah and fulfill our duty towards Him(Glorified and Exalted be He).
Anyone who memorizes the Names of Allah, fulfills their duties towards Him, and shuns the major sins will be admitted to Jannah while those who commit major sins subject themselves to Allah’s Wrath and their fate is left to His Will: He may punish them or admit them to Jannah. Memorizing and learning the Names of Allah is one means to enter Jannah if a person does not commit major sins. Attaining Jannah has certain conditions that must be fulfilled and certain obstacles that must be avoided. Committing sins is one of the obstacles which prevent one from entering Jannah with those who will enter first. A Muslim who commits sins and does not repent before death will eventually enter Jannah after being punished and purified.
Also, Allah may forgive and admit them to Jannah without punishment. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The Fve (Obligatory Daily) Prayers, from one Jumu’ah (Friday Prayer) to the next and from one Ramadan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, as long as major sins have been avoided. Major sins include those prohibited acts for which a warning of severe punishment is given. These include all those which incur Allah’s Wrath, and are cursed by our Prophet (peace be upon him) such as Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage), consuming Khamr (intoxicant), undutifulness to parents, involvement in Riba (usury/interest), Ghibah (backbiting), Namimah (tale-bearing), etc.
These are some major sins whose committers will be left to Allah’s Will: He may forgive and admit them to Jannah due to their belief in His Oneness and their Islam or punish them in a manner commensurate with their sins and eventually bring them out of the Fire and into Jannah after purifying them of their sins. There are various Hadiths Mutawatir (Hadiths reported by a significant number of narrators throughout the chain of narration, whose agreement upon a lie is impossible) reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that indicate that many disobedient Muslimswill enter the Fire because of their sins and will be punished in a manner commensurate with these sins.
Afterwards, the disobedient will be taken out of the Fire due to the Shafa`ah (intercession) of the Prophet (peace be upon him), angels, other prophets, and the children who died before they reached the age of puberty while others will be granted forgiveness due to Allah’s Mercy. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills .
Those disobedient Muslims are subject to Allah’s Will: He may forgive them and admit them to Jannah, or punish them in a manner commensurate with their sins and then take them out of the Fire as they will not stay therein forever. None will abide eternally in the Fire except the Kafir (disbeliever) and Mushrik (one who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) who will not be forgiven.
Therefore, disobedient Muslims will not remain eternally in the Fire, according to Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah (adherents to the Sunnah and the Muslim mainstream) unlike the Khawarij (separatist group that believes committing a major sin amounts to disbelief) and Mu`tazilah (a deviant Islamic sect claiming that those who commit major sins are in a state between belief and disbelief) who believe that the disobedient will stay eternally in the Fire. However, Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah hold the view that the disobedient who have died as Muslims believing in the Oneness of Allah, but have not repented of their sins shall be subject to Allah’s Will. May Allah grant us all success!
Q: Will the one who memorize the Magnificent Names of Allah be admitted to Jannah (Paradise)?
A: It is reported in a Hadith Sahih (authentic Hadith) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred less one. Anyone who learns them will enter Jannah. According to another narration: Anyone who memorizes them will enter Jannah. These ninety-nine Names were not reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in any Hadith Sahih. However, the Muslim who is guided to learning them, by heart and put into action – and they are ninety-nine Names, is promised that goodness.
The above is one of the Hadiths which speak of the virtues of memorizing the ninety-nine Names of Allah, provided that one does not die while insisting on committing major sins because they are one of the causes that deprive a person from entering Jannah and cause him to be thrown into the Fire, unless one attains Allah’s Forgiveness.
The basic principle is that unrestricted Ayahs (Qur’anic verses) and Hadiths should be interpreted in light of restricted ones, because neither the Ayah nor the Hadith contradicts each other. They rather confirm one another.
Allah (Glorified be He) says: If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, We shall expiate from you your (small) sins, and admit you to a Noble Entrance (i.e. Paradise). Therefore, Allah indicates that avoiding major sins is a condition for expiating sins and entering Jannah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, The Five (Obligatory Daily) Prayers, from one Jumu’ah (Friday Prayer) to the next and from one Ramadan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, as long as major sins have been avoided.
Those who memorize the ninety-nine Magnificent Names of Allah but commit Zina or consume Khamr are subject to Allah’s punishment and will be thrown into the Fire unless they repent and Allah forgives them.Contrary to the belief of Khawarij and Mu`tazilah, Muslims who believe in the Oneness of Allah will not abide eternally in the Fire for committing major sins. Those sinful people will be punished in a manner commensurate with their sins and then Allah will take them out of the Fire due to His Grace and Kindness. None will abide forever in the Fire except those whom the Qur’an and the Hadith rule as Kafir.
A disobedient person such as a fornicator, a thief, and those who are undutiful to their parents etc., will not abide eternally in the Fire. The disobedient, who did not repent of their sins before death, will not abide in the Fire forever. They are threatened to suffer the torment of the Fire. If Allah forgives them, He (Glorified and Exalted be He) is the Source of Generosity and Benevolence; otherwise He will punish them to a degree commensurate with their sins and will eventually take them out of the Fire after being purified.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) informed us in many concurrent Hadiths that the disobedient will be taken out of the Fire and he (peace be upon him) will intercede several times for them as will the angels, the believers, and the children who died before reaching the age of puberty. This is the truth which Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah follow and which differs from the view of Khawarij and Mu`tazilah. The view of Ahl-ul-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah is supported by Allah’s statement in His Noble Book: Verily, Allâh forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states that if one commits sins, the matter is subject to His Will but He will not forgive whoever dies as a Mushrik.
Anyone who dies as Mushrik will not be forgiven and will reside eternally in the Fire. A Mushrik is not considered to be one of Ahl-ul-Fatrah (people having no access to Divine Messages) or those who come under the same ruling as them, we seek refuge with Allah!
Whoever dies before repenting of their sins shall be subject to Allah’s Will; if He wills, He can pardon themout of His Grace, and if He wills He can punish them in a manner commensurate with their sins and then take them out of the Fire by His immense Bounty and Mercy after they have been purified. Khawarij and Mu`tazilah hold a different view, as they believe that the disobedient will remain eternally in the Fire but according to the followers of the Truth, this is false.
Q: Your Eminence, it was reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: Allah has ninety-nine Names, one hundred less one. Anyone who ‘ahsaha’ will enter Jannah. Does the word ‘ahsaha’ mentioned in the Hadith mean memorizing or just reading them? Please advise me, may Allah reward you with the best!
A: This Hadith was related in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) from the Prophet (peace be upon him). It was reported in two different wordings: first, “ahsaha” and second, anyone who memorizes them, will enter Jannah. The word ‘ahsaha’ means to memorize by heart and to act according to them. Thus, whoever learns the Names of Allah by heart and acts accordingly will be admitted to Jannah.
However, if one memorizes the Names of Allah by heart, but does not act or believe in them, they will be of no avail. The word ‘ahsaha’ means to memorize and act upon them. Therefore, it is Wajib upon whoever memorizes Allah’s Names to act accordingly. For example, a person should be ‘Rahim’, i.e. show mercy to others and should also believe that Allah is Al-`Aziz (the Ever-Mighty), Al-Hakim (the Most Wise), Al-Ra’uf (the Most Compassionate), Al-Rahim (the Most Beneficent), Al-Qadir (the All Powerful) Who has unlimited knowledge of all things.
Such a person should fear Allah and remember that He is watching them and should not persist in committing sins of which HisLord knows. They should avoid sins and all forms of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship).
One should exert all his efforts to memorize and act upon the Names of Allah, believe in Him and His Messenger, affirm the Names and the Attributes which Allah has affirmed for Himself in a manner befitting His majesty without Tahrif (distortion of the meaning), Ta`til (negation of the meaning or function of Allah’s Attributes), Takyif (descriptive designation of Allah’s Attributes), or Tamthil (likening Allah’s Attributes to those of His Creation) and believe that Allah is Perfect in His Essence, His Names, His Attributes and His Deeds, with no peer, equal or rival. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says in His Noble Book: Say (O Muhammad ??? ???? ???? ????): “He is Allâh, (the) One. “Allâh-us-Samad (????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ???????) [Allâh the Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, (He neither eats nor drinks)]. “He begets not, nor was He begotten. “And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.” .
One must believe that Allah is the Self-Sufficient, Who is similar to nothing and nothing is comparable to Him; Whom all creatures need, Who is Perfect in His Essence, Who neither begets nor was He begotten, and Whom none is co-equal or is similar to Him. Allah (Exalted be He) says: There is nothing like Him; and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. And: Do you know of any who is similar to Him? And: So put not forward similitudes for Allâh (as there is nothing similar to Him, nor He resembles anything).
There is nothing equal, comparable, or that can rival Allah (Exalted be He). He is Perfect in all things; His Knowledge, His Essence, His Wisdom, His Mercy, His Honor, His Power, and in all His Names which if one memorizes and acts accordingly, will allow them admission to Jannah.
However, if the disobedient memorize and enumerate the Names of Allah, they will be subject to Allah’s Will; if He wills, He may forgive them, and if He wills He may punish them and eventually admit them to Jannah after they are taken out of the Fire and are purified provided that they have died as Muslims believing in the Oneness of Allah. Allah (Glorified be He) says: If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, We shall expiate from you your (small) sins
Major sins include all forms of Shirk, Kufr (disbelief), and the sins that were forbidden by Allah and their doers cursed, and warned of a severe punishment and Allah’s Wrath. The servant to Allah, male and female, must shun them for Allah (Glorified be He) says: If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, We shall expiate from you your (small) sins i.e., the minor sins and admit you to a Noble Entrance (i.e. Paradise).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The Five (Obligatory Daily) Prayers, from one Jumu’ah (Friday Prayer) to the next and from one Ramadan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, as long as major sins have been avoided. According to another narration: …so long as major sins are not committed. Major sins include Zina, theft, undutifulness to parents, severing the ties of kinship, consuming Riba, Ghibah, Namimah, fleeing during battle, and magic, in addition to other sins which Allah forbids.
Therefore, memorizing the Magnificent Names of Allah is one means of true happiness and being admitted into Jannah provided that one acts according to them, remains steadfast in obeying Allah and His Messenger, and does not persist in committing major sins.
