Names of God in the Qur'an

The 99 Names of Allah, also known as The 99 Most Beautiful Names of God ( ), are the names of God (specifically, attributes) by which Muslims regard God and which are traditionally maintained as described in the Qur'ān, and Sunnah, amongst other places. There is, according to hadith, a special group of 99 names but no enumeration of them. Thus the exact list is not agreed upon, and the names of God (as adjectives, word constructs, or otherwise) exceed 99 in the Qur'ān and Sunnah. Some of the names of God have been hidden from mankind, therefore there are not only 99 names of God but there are more. 
==Origin==
In one Islamic tradition, the Islamic prophet Muhammad used to call God by all His Names:
Muhammad is also reported to have said in a famous hadith:
Of note is that this hadith does not say that there are only 99 names, but 99 names that are better than the others. This caused people to search them out in the Qur'an and Sunnah, and a list was compiled. Over time it became custom to recite the list in its entirety. While some Muslims believe that this list is mentioned by Muhammad himself, the specialist Muslim scholars argue strongly that the list was just compiled by a Muslim scholar as an addendum to the actual hadith (al-Waleed ibn Muslim). If it was only an attempt of a scholar, they are not necessarily the names proper, and other attempts may still be made. A recent scholar, Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Razek, made an attempt of this kind and explained in detail why he differs in opinion with al-Waleed about enlisting some of the names.Dr. Mahmoud Abdul Razek Al Radwany a professor in the faculty of Sharia at Al Azhar University, Cairo “Of the 99 Names Of Allah That We Repeat: Only 69 Are Authentic” published in the Egyptian daily, Al Ahram, in Nov 18, 2005. His objections are mostly grammatical in that a ‘name’ in Arabic must be a noun: “only 69 of those names are authenticated from the Quran and Sunnah, while 29 are not authentic in that 22 are verbs or adjectives, and 7 are 'modafa' or ‘added to.’”
Islamic Forum/
However, reciting the traditional names has developed into a ritual by some Muslims as an attempt to enumerate them, while most other Muslims believe that the "enumeration" is not just the act of recitation, but applying the attributes that the names suggest.
==List of names==
The Qur'an refers to the attributes of God as God's “most beautiful names” (Arabic: ) (see , , , ). According to Gerhard Böwering,Islamic theology makes a distinction between the attributes of God and the divine essence.
Below is a list of the 99 Names of God according to the tradition of Islam.
# 	Arabic	Transliteration 	Translation (can vary based on context) 	Qur'anic usage
1 	 	Ar-Rahmān 	The All Beneficent, The Most Merciful in Essence, The Compassionate, The Most Gracious 	Beginning of every chapter except one, and in numerous other places. Name frequently used in Surah 55, Ar-Rahman.
2 	 	Ar-Rahīm 	The Most Merciful, The Most Merciful in Actions 	Beginning of every chapter except one, and in numerous other places
3 	 	Al-Malik 	The Owner, The Sovereign, The True and Ultimate King 	59:23, 20:114
4 	 	Al-Quddūs 	The Most Holy, The Most Pure, The Most Perfect 	59:23, 62:1
5 	 	As-Salām 	The Peace and Blessing, The Source of Peace and Safety, The Most Perfect 	59:23
6 	 	Al-Mu'min 	The Guarantor, The Self Affirming, The Granter of Security, The Affirmer of Truth 	59:23
7 	 	Al-Muhaymin 	The Guardian, The Preserver, The Overseeing Protector 	59:23
8 	 	Al-Azīz 	The Almighty, The Self Sufficient, The Most Honorable 	3:6, 4:158, 9:40, 48:7, 59:23
9 	 	Al-Jabbār 	The Despot, The Irresistible, The Compeller, The Most Lofty, The Restorer/Improver of Affairs	59:23
10	 	Al-Mutakabbir 	He Who Reveals His Greatness in All 	59:23
11	 	Al-Khāliq 	The Creator 	6:102, 13:16, 39:62, 40:62, 59:24
12	 	Al-Bāri' 	The Rightful 	59:24
13	 	Al-Musawwir 	The Fashioner of Forms 	59:24
14	 	Al-Ghaffār 	The Ever Forgiving 	20:82, 38:66, 39:5, 40:42, 71:10
15	 	Al-Qahhār 	The All Compelling Subduer 	13:16, 14:48, 38:65, 39:4, 40:16
16	 	Al-Wahhāb 	The Bestower 	3:8, 38:9, 38:35
17	 	Ar-Razzāq 	The Ever Providing 	51:58
18	 	Al-Fattāh 	The Opener, The Victory Giver 	34:26
19	 	Al-'Alīm 	The All Knowing, The Omniscient 	2:158, 3:92, 4:35, 24:41, 33:40
20	 	Al-Qābid 	The Restrainer, The Straightener 	2:245
21	 	Al-Bāsit 	The Extender / Expander 	2:245
22	 	Al-Khāfid 	The Abaser 	95:5
23	 	Ar-Rāfi' 	The Exalter 	58:11, 6:83
24	 	Al-Mu'izz 	The Giver of Honour 	3:26
25	 	Al-Mu'dhell 	The Giver of Dishonour 	3:26
26	 	As-Samī 	The All Hearing 	2:127, 2:256, 8:17, 49:1
27	 	Al-Basīr 	The All Seeing 	4:58, 17:1, 42:11, 42:27
28	 	Al-Hakam 	The Judge, The Arbitrator 	22:69
29	 	Al-`Adl 	The Utterly Just 	6:115
30	 	Al-Latīf 	The Gentle, The Subtly Kind 	6:103, 22:63, 31:16, 33:34
31	 	Al-Khabīr 	The All Aware 	6:18, 17:30, 49:13, 59:18
32	 	Al-Halīm 	The Forbearing, The Indulgent 	2:235, 17:44, 22:59, 35:41
33	 	Al-'Azīm 	The Magnificent, The Infinite 	2:255, 42:4, 56:96
34	 	Al-Ghafūr 	The All Forgiving 	2:173, 8:69, 16:110, 41:32
35	 	Ash-Shakūr 	The Grateful 	35:30, 35:34, 42:23, 64:17
36	 	Al-'Aliyy 	The Sublimely Exalted 	4:34, 31:30, 42:4, 42:51
37	 	Al-Kabīr 	The Great 	13:9, 22:62, 31:30
38	 	Al-Hafīz 	The Preserver 	11:57, 34:21, 42:6
39	 	Al-Muqīt 	The Nourisher 	4:85
40	 	Al-Hasīb 	The Bringer of Judgment 	4:6, 4:86, 33:39
41	 	Al-Jalīl 	The Majestic 	55:27, 39:14, 7:143
42	 	Al-Karīm 	The Bountiful, The Generous 	27:40, 82:6
43	 	Ar-Raqīb 	The Watchful 	4:1, 5:117
44	 	Al-Mujīb 	The Responsive, The Answerer 	11:61
45	 	Al-Wāsi' 	The Vast, The All Encompassing 	2:268, 3:73, 5:54
46	 	Al-Hakīm 	The Wise 	31:27, 46:2, 57:1, 66:2
47	 	Al-Wadūd 	The Loving 	11:90, 85:14
48	 	Al-Majīd 	The All Glorious 	11:73
49	 	Al-Bā'ith 	The Raiser of The Dead 	22:7
50	 	Ash-Shahīd 	The Witness 	4:166, 22:17, 41:53, 48:28
51	 	Al-Haqq 	The Truth, The Real 	6:62, 22:6, 23:116, 24:25
52	 	Al-Wakīl 	The Trustee, The Dependable 	3:173, 4:171, 28:28, 73:9
53	 	Al-Qawwiyy 	The Strong 	22:40, 22:74, 42:19, 57:25
54	 	Al-Matīn 	The Firm, The Steadfast 	51:58
55	 	Al-Waliyy 	The Protecting Friend, Patron and Helper 	4:45, 7:196, 42:28, 45:19
56	 	Al-Hamīd 	The All Praiseworthy 	14:8, 31:12, 31:26, 41:42
57	 	Al-Muhsi 	The Accounter, The Numberer of All 	72:28, 78:29, 82:10-12
58	 	Al-Mubdi' 	The Producer, Originator, and Initiator of All 	10:34, 27:64, 29:19, 85:13
59	 	Al-Mu'īd 	The Restorer, The Reinstater Who Brings Back All 	10:34, 27:64, 29:19, 85:13
60	 	Al-Muhyi 	The Giver of Life 	7:158, 15:23, 30:50, 57:2
61	 	Al-Mumīt 	The Bringer of Death, The Destroyer 	3:156, 7:158, 15:23, 57:2
62	 	Al-Hayy 	The Ever Living 	2:255, 3:2, 25:58, 40:65
63	 	Al-Qayyūm 	The Self Subsisting Provider of All 	2:255, 3:2, 20:111
64	 	Al-Wājid 	The Perceiver, The Finder, The Unfailing 	38:44
65	 	Al-Mājid 	The Illustrious, The Magnificent 	85:15, 11:73,
66	 	Al-Wāhid 	The One, The Indivisible 	2:163, 5:73, 9:31, 18:110
67	 	Al-'Ahad 	The One, The Unique 	112:1
68	 	As-Samad 	The Eternal, The Eternally Besought of All, The Everlasting, The Uncaused Cause of All Being 	112:2
69	 	Al-Qādir 	The All Able 	6:65, 36:81, 46:33, 75:40
70	 	Al-Muqtadir 	The All Determiner, The Dominant 	18:45, 54:42, 54:55
71	 	Al-Muqaddim 	The Expediter, He Who Brings Forward 	16:61, 17:34,
72	 	Al-Mu'akhkhir 	The Delayer, He Who Puts Far Away 	71:4
73	 	Al-'Awwal 	The First (Alpha) 	57:3
74	 	Al-'Akhir 	The Last (Omega) 	57:3
75	 	Az-Zāhir 	The Manifest, The All Victorious 	57:3
76	 	Al-Bātin 	The Hidden, The All Encompassing 	57:3
77	 	Al-Wāli 	The Patron 	13:11, 22:7
78	 	Al-Mutā'ali 	The Self Exalted 	13:9
79	 	Al-Barr 	The Most Kind and Righteous 	52:28
80	 	At-Tawwāb 	The Ever Returning, Ever Relenting 	2:128, 4:64, 49:12, 110:3
81	 	Al-Muntaqim 	The Avenger 	32:22, 43:41, 44:16
82	 	Al-Afuww 	The Pardoner, The Effacer of Sins 	4:99, 4:149, 22:60
83	 	Ar-Ra'ūf 	The Compassionate, The All Pitying 	3:30, 9:117, 57:9, 59:10
84	 	Mālik-ul-Mulk 	The Owner of All Sovereignty 	3:26
85	 	Dhū-l-Jalāli wa-l-'ikrām	The Lord of Majesty and Generosity 	55:27, 55:78
86	 	Al-Muqsiţ 	The Equitable, The Requiter 	7:29, 3:18
87	 	Al-Jāmi 	The Gatherer, The Unifier 	3:9
88	 	Al-Ghaniyy 	The All Rich, The Independent 	3:97, 39:7, 47:38, 57:24
89	 	Al-Mughni 	The Enricher, The Emancipator 	9:28
90	 	Al-Māni' 	The Withholder, The Shielder, the Defender 	67:21
91	 	Ad-Dārr 	The Distressor, The Harmer, The Afflictor 	6:17
92	 	An-Nāfi 	The Propitious, The Benefactor, The Useful 	30:37
93	 	An-Nūr 	The One Who Creates the Light of Belief in the Hearts of All the Believers 	24:35
94	 	Al-Hādi 	The Guide 	25:31
95	 	Al-Badī 	The Incomparable, The Originator 	2:117, 6:101
96	 	Al-Bāqi 	The Ever Enduring and Immutable 	55:27
97	 	Al-Wārith 	The Heir, The Inheritor of All 	15:23
98	 	Ar-Rashīd 	The Guide, Infallible Teacher and Knower 	2:256
99	 	As-Sabur 	The Patient, The Timeless. 	2:153, 3:200, 103:3
==100th name==
Several hadiths, which vary according to different Shi'a sects of Islam, suggest that the 100th Name will be revealed by the Mahdi. (النصير, An-Naseer, The Helper)
Some Ulamaa said that the 100th or must be numbered as 1st is the name "Allah"
===Baha' ad-Din al-`Amili===
According to Bahá'í scholar ‘Abdu’l-Hamíd Ishráq-Khávari, Shaykh Baha' al-Din adopted the pen name (takhallus) 'Baha' after being inspired by words of Shi'a Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (the fifth Imam) and Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (the sixth Imam), who had stated that the Greatest Name of God was included in either Du'ay-i-Sahar or Du'ay-i-Umm-i-Davud. In the first verse of the Du'ay-i-Sahar, a dawn prayer for the Ramadan, the name "Bahá" appears four times: "Allahumma inni as 'aluka min Bahá' ika bi Abháh va kulla Bahá' ika Bahí".
===Bábí and Bahá'í===
Bahá'í sources state that the Báb fulfills the prophecy of the Mahdi, and the 100th name was revealed as "Bahá’" (an Arabic word بهاء meaning "glory, splendor" etc.), which is the root word for Bahá'u'lláh and Bahá'í. It is also known as the 'Greatest Name'. The Báb wrote a noted pentagram-shaped tablet with 360 derivatives of the word "Bahá'" used in it.
==Personal names==
According to Islamic tradition, a Muslim may not be given any of the 99 names of God in exactly the same form. For example, nobody may be named al-Malik (The King), but may be named Malik (King). This is because of the belief that God is almighty, and no human being is the equivalent of God, and no human being will ever be the equivalent of God. Muslims are allowed to use the 99 names of Allah for themselves but should not put 'Al' at the front of them. 
However the names/attributes of God can be combined with the word "‘Abd -" which means "servant/slave" (of God) and are commonly used as personal names among Muslims. For example, ‘Abd ar-Raḥmān ("Servant of the Most Compassionate/the Beneficent"). The two parts of the name may be written separately (as above) or combined as one transliterated name; in such a case, the vowel transcribed after ‘Abd is often written as u when the two words are transcribed as one: e.g., Abdurrahman, Abdul'aziz, "Abdul-Jabbar," or even Abdullah ("Servant of God"). (This has to do with Arabic case vowels, the final u vowel showing the normal "quote" nominative/vocative case form: ‘abdu.)
Some Muslim people have names resembling those 99. Examples include
* Ra'ouf, such as Ra'ouf Mus'ad. 
* Salam, such as Salam Fayyad.
* Kareem, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
==Comparisons==
The 99 names of Allah bear a striking resemblance to the Sahasranama (1000 Names) ascribed to Hindu Deities. See Vishnu Sahasranama.
==Notes==
==See also==
*Sahasranama
*Arabic theophoric names
*Basmala
*Names of God
*Names of God in Judaism
*Names of God in Hinduism
*"The Nine Billion Names of God", a short story by Arthur C. Clarke.
==External links==
*Asmaul Husna Widget Displays a slideshow of the 99 Names of Allah in an Islamic ornamental frame.
*The Most Beautiful Names of Allah Gives a list of the names in English and Arabic as well as the verses in which they are found in the Qur'an.
*The Beautiful Names of Allah A site containing the derivation and meanings of the 99 names. Also has audio of someone saying each one.
*99 Names of Allah The names of Allah in Arabic with English meaning and benefit virtues of reciting each Ism.
* The Most Beautiful Names of Allah The most beautiful names of Allah in Arabic with English transliteration and meaning.
* Benefits of reciting The Most Beautiful Names of Allah The benefits of reciting the most beautiful names of Allah.
* 99 Names of Allah With meanings and benefits of recitation.
* 99 Excellent Names of Allah with references to verses where the name appears in the Qur'an.
* The Most Beautiful Names of Allah with references to verses where the name appears in the Qur'an. 
* The 99 Names and Attributes of Allah, numbered list of names and meanings.
* The beautiful names of Allah 99 names written clearly in Arabic
* Oil paintings of all the 99 names of Allah Also you can view 99 names of Prophet.
* 99 Names of Allah 99 names of almighty God with a brief description of each name.
* Asmāʼul-Husnā: The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah online book By M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
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Category:Allah
Category:Aqidah
Category:Qur'an
Category:Names of God
Category:Islam