The word ALLAH comes from the Arabic word ‘‘illah’’ which means god in English and the meaning of god is anything that is worshipped.
For Muslims, ALLAH is the one and only true God. The One who has no son nor any partner. He is pure. He is the king of kings. He is the protector, keeper of the universe, and sustainer of all things.
ALLAH is the creator of everything from atoms to galaxies, from ants to whales, seeds to trees, seasons, night and day. ALLAH created the universe in 6 days and He never got tired or needed a rest. He is the creator of seven heavens. He is the Lord of the entire universe and beyond.
ALLAH In Islam:
Islam is a monotheistic religion, its basic belief is that there is only one God. Islam forbids the idea of multiple gods.
In Islam, Muslims refer to God as “ALLAH” which means the one and only God. ALLAH describes Himself with this name in Quran. It is also a personal name of ALLAH. The word ALLAH is more accurate than God because god is anything that is worshipped but ALLAH is the one and only creator, the only one worthy of our worship.
The word Islam means submission. In Islam to become a Muslim one has to take shahada, “There is no God but ALLAH”. He created us and the whole universe with the purpose which is to worship Him alone. He sent messengers like Abraham, Noah, Joseph, David, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad PBUH to guide us in fulfilling this purpose.
ALLAH In Quran:
There is a four-line definition of ALLAH SWT in Quran Surah Ikhlas:
Say, ‘’He is ALLAH, the one and only’’.
ALLAH, the Absolute eternal.
He begets not, nor He is begotten.
And there is nothing comparable to Him. (1-4: 125)
Besides knowing who God is, one should also know what God is not. This four-line definition is a litmus test to identify God.
There is a verse in the Quran known as ‘‘Ayat al Kursi or The Throne Verse’’. It describes the Oneness of ALLAH and His attributes in a very unique way.
‘‘ALLAH- there is no deity except Him, the Ever Living, the Sustainer of all existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is (presently) before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Highest, the Greatest.’’ (2:255)
The names and attributes of ALLAH :
The most beautiful names belong to ALLAH. There are at least ninety-nine names of ALLAH. If you remember and worship ALLAH by them you’ll get to Jannah (paradise), and if you supplicate by His names He answers your supplications.
Narrated by Abu Huraira that Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, “Verily, there are ninety-nine names for ALLAH, i.e; one hundred minus one, and whoever knows them will go to Paradise.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, book 50 Hadith 894)
Abu Huraira reported ALLAH’s Apostle PBUH as saying: “There are ninety-nine names of ALLAH, he who memorizes them will get into Paradise. Verily, ALLAH is Odd and He loves odd numbers.”
(Sahih Muslim, book 48 Hadith 5)
ALLAH says in Quran
“And to ALLAH belong the best names, so invoke Him by them”
(Surah Al-A’raf 7:180)
He is ALLAH. There is no god but He, the knower of secrets and declarations. He is the compassionate, the Merciful.
He is ALLAH; besides whom there is no god, the Sovereign, the Holy, the Peace Giver, the Faith Giver, the Overseer, the Almighty, the Omnipotent, the Overwhelming. Glory be to ALLAH, beyond what they associate.
He is ALLAH; the Creator, the Maker, the Designer. They are the most beautiful names. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him. He is the Majestic, the Wise.
(22-24: 59)
99 names of Allah – Meaning and Explanation
| # | Name | Transliteration | Meaning |
| 1 | ٱلْرَّحْمَـانُ | AR-RAHMAAN | The Most or Entirely Merciful |
| 2 | ٱلْرَّحِيْمُ | AR-RAHEEM | The Bestower of Mercy |
| 3 | ٱلْمَلِكُ | AL-MALIK | The King and Owner of Dominion |
| 4 | ٱلْقُدُّوسُ | AL-QUDDUS | The Absolutely Pure |
| 5 | ٱلْسَّلَامُ | AS-SALAM | The Perfection and Giver of Peace |
| 6 | ٱلْمُؤْمِنُ | AL-MU’MIN | The One Who gives Emaan and Security |
| 7 | ٱلْمُهَيْمِنُ | AL-MUHAYMIN | The Guardian, The Witness, The Overseer |
| 8 | ٱلْعَزِيزُ | AL-AZEEZ | The All Mighty |
| 9 | ٱلْجَبَّارُ | AL-JABBAR | The Compeller, The Restorer |
| 10 | ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرُ | AL-MUTAKABBIR | The Supreme, The Majestic |
| 11 | ٱلْخَالِقُ | AL-KHAALIQ | The Creator, The Maker |
| 12 | ٱلْبَارِئُ | AL-BAARI’ | The Originator |
| 13 | ٱلْمُصَوِّرُ | AL-MUSAWWIR | The Fashioner |
| 14 | ٱلْغَفَّارُ | AL-GHAFFAR | The All- and Oft-Forgiving |
| 15 | ٱلْقَهَّارُ | AL-QAHHAR | The Subduer, The Ever-Dominating |
| 16 | ٱلْوَهَّابُ | AL-WAHHAAB | The Giver of Gifts |
| 17 | ٱلْرَّزَّاقُ | AR-RAZZAAQ | The Provider |
| 18 | ٱلْفَتَّاحُ | AL-FATTAAH | The Opener, The Judge |
| 19 | ٱلْعَلِيمُ | AL-‘ALEEM | The All-Knowing, The Omniscient |
| 20 | ٱلْقَابِضُ | AL-QAABID | The Withholder |
| 21 | ٱلْبَاسِطُ | AL-BAASIT | The Extender |
| 22 | ٱلْخَافِضُ | AL-KHAAFIDH | The Reducer, The Abaser |
| 23 | ٱلْرَّافِعُ | AR-RAAFI’ | The Exalter, The Elevator |
| 24 | ٱلْمُعِزُّ | AL-MU’IZZ | The Honourer, The Bestower |
| 25 | ٱلْمُذِلُّ | AL-MUZIL | The Dishonourer, The Humiliator |
| 26 | ٱلْسَّمِيعُ | AS-SAMEE’ | The All-Hearing |
| 27 | ٱلْبَصِيرُ | AL-BASEER | The All-Seeing |
| 28 | ٱلْحَكَمُ | AL-HAKAM | The Judge, The Giver of Justice |
| 29 | ٱلْعَدْلُ | AL-‘ADL | The Utterly Just |
| 30 | ٱلْلَّطِيفُ | AL-LATEEF | The Subtle One, The Most Gentle |
| 31 | ٱلْخَبِيرُ | AL-KHABEER | The Acquainted, the All-Aware |
| 32 | ٱلْحَلِيمُ | AL-HALEEM | The Most Forbearing |
| 33 | ٱلْعَظِيمُ | AL-‘ATHEEM | The Magnificent, The Supreme |
| 34 | ٱلْغَفُورُ | AL-GHAFOOR | The Forgiving, The Exceedingly Forgiving |
| 35 | ٱلْشَّكُورُ | ASH-SHAKOOR | The Most Appreciative |
| 36 | ٱلْعَلِيُّ | AL-‘ALEE | The Most High, The Exalted |
| 37 | ٱلْكَبِيرُ | AL-KABEER | The Greatest, The Most Grand |
| 38 | ٱلْحَفِيظُ | AL-HAFEEDH | The Preserver, The All-Heedful and All-Protecting |
| 39 | ٱلْمُقِيتُ | AL-MUQEET | The Sustainer |
| 40 | ٱلْحَسِيبُ | AL-HASEEB | The Reckoner, The Sufficient |
| 41 | ٱلْجَلِيلُ | AL-JALEEL | The Majestic |
| 42 | ٱلْكَرِيمُ | AL-KAREEM | The Most Generous, The Most Esteemed |
| 43 | ٱلْرَّقِيبُ | AR-RAQEEB | The Watchful |
| 44 | ٱلْمُجِيبُ | AL-MUJEEB | The Responsive One |
| 45 | ٱلْوَاسِعُ | AL-WAASI’ | The All-Encompassing, the Boundless |
| 46 | ٱلْحَكِيمُ | AL-HAKEEM | The All-Wise |
| 47 | ٱلْوَدُودُ | AL-WADOOD | The Most Loving |
| 48 | ٱلْمَجِيدُ | AL-MAJEED | The Glorious, The Most Honorable |
| 49 | ٱلْبَاعِثُ | AL-BA’ITH | The Resurrector, The Raiser of the Dead |
| 50 | ٱلْشَّهِيدُ | ASH-SHAHEED | The All- and Ever Witnessing |
| 51 | ٱلْحَقُّ | AL-HAQQ | The Absolute Truth |
| 52 | ٱلْوَكِيلُ | AL-WAKEEL | The Trustee, The Disposer of Affairs |
| 53 | ٱلْقَوِيُّ | AL-QAWIYY | The All-Strong |
| 54 | ٱلْمَتِينُ | AL-MATEEN | The Firm, The Steadfast |
| 55 | ٱلْوَلِيُّ | AL-WALIYY | The Protecting Associate |
| 56 | ٱلْحَمِيدُ | AL-HAMEED | The Praiseworthy |
| 57 | ٱلْمُحْصِيُ | AL-MUHSEE | The All-Enumerating, The Counter |
| 58 | ٱلْمُبْدِئُ | AL-MUBDI | The Originator, The Initiator |
| 59 | ٱلْمُعِيدُ | AL-MU’ID | The Restorer, The Reinstater |
| 60 | ٱلْمُحْيِى | AL-MUHYEE | The Giver of Life |
| 61 | ٱلْمُمِيتُ | AL-MUMEET | The Bringer of Death, the Destroyer |
| 62 | ٱلْحَىُّ | AL-HAYY | The Ever-Living |
| 63 | ٱلْقَيُّومُ | AL-QAYYOOM | The Sustainer, The Self-Subsisting |
| 64 | ٱلْوَاجِدُ | AL-WAAJID | The Perceiver |
| 65 | ٱلْمَاجِدُ | AL-MAAJID | The Illustrious, the Magnificent |
| 66 | ٱلْوَاحِدُ | AL-WAAHID | The One |
| 67 | ٱلْأَحَد | AL-AHAD | The Unique, The Only One |
| 68 | ٱلْصَّمَدُ | AS-SAMAD | The Eternal, Satisfier of Needs |
| 69 | ٱلْقَادِرُ | AL-QADIR | The Capable, The Powerful |
| 70 | ٱلْمُقْتَدِرُ | AL-MUQTADIR | The Omnipotent |
| 71 | ٱلْمُقَدِّمُ | AL-MUQADDIM | The Expediter, The Promoter |
| 72 | ٱلْمُؤَخِّرُ | AL-MU’AKHKHIR | The Delayer, the Retarder |
| 73 | ٱلأَوَّلُ | AL-AWWAL | The First |
| 74 | ٱلْآخِرُ | AL-AAKHIR | The Last |
| 75 | ٱلْظَّاهِرُ | AZ-DHAAHIR | The Manifest |
| 76 | ٱلْبَاطِنُ | AL-BAATIN | The Hidden One, Knower of the Hidden |
| 77 | ٱلْوَالِي | AL-WAALI | The Governor, The Patron |
| 78 | ٱلْمُتَعَالِي | AL-MUTA’ALI | The Self Exalted |
| 79 | ٱلْبَرُّ | AL-BARR | The Source of Goodness, the Kind Benefactor |
| 80 | ٱلْتَّوَّابُ | AT-TAWWAB | The Ever-Pardoning, The Relenting |
| 81 | ٱلْمُنْتَقِمُ | AL-MUNTAQIM | The Avenger |
| 82 | ٱلْعَفُوُّ | AL-‘AFUWW | The Pardoner |
| 83 | ٱلْرَّؤُفُ | AR-RA’OOF | The Most Kind |
| 84 | مَالِكُ ٱلْمُلْكُ | MAALIK-UL-MULK | Master of the Kingdom, Owner of the Dominion |
| 85 | ذُو ٱلْجَلَالِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامُ | DHUL-JALAALI WAL-IKRAAM | Possessor of Glory and Honour, Lord of Majesty and Generosity |
| 86 | ٱلْمُقْسِطُ | AL-MUQSIT | The Equitable, the Requiter |
| 87 | ٱلْجَامِعُ | AL-JAAMI’ | The Gatherer, the Uniter |
| 88 | ٱلْغَنيُّ | AL-GHANIYY | The Self-Sufficient, The Wealthy |
| 89 | ٱلْمُغْنِيُّ | AL-MUGHNI | The Enricher |
| 90 | ٱلْمَانِعُ | AL-MANI’ | The Withholder |
| 91 | ٱلْضَّارُ | AD-DHARR | The Distresser |
| 92 | ٱلْنَّافِعُ | AN-NAFI’ | The Propitious, the Benefactor |
| 93 | ٱلْنُّورُ | AN-NUR | The Light, The Illuminator |
| 94 | ٱلْهَادِي | AL-HAADI | The Guide |
| 95 | ٱلْبَدِيعُ | AL-BADEE’ | The Incomparable Originator |
| 96 | ٱلْبَاقِي | AL-BAAQI | The Ever-Surviving, The Everlasting |
| 97 | ٱلْوَارِثُ | AL-WAARITH | The Inheritor, The Heir |
| 98 | ٱلْرَّشِيدُ | AR-RASHEED | The Guide, Infallible Teacher |
| 99 | ٱلْصَّبُورُ | AS-SABOOR | The Forbearing, The Patien |
