Encyclopedia of Islam

515

AF

J:

nabi

  See 

prophets

 

and

 

prophethood

.

nafs

  See 

soul

 

and

 

spirit

.

namaz

  See 

prayer

.

names of God

 

(Arabic: 

al asma al-husna, 

the most beautiful names)

Muslims believe in one God, but know him by 

99 “most beautiful” names that attest to differ-

ent divine qualities. The q

Uran

 states, “The most 

beautiful names belong to God (a

llah

) so call on 

him by them; but shun such men as use profan-

ity in his names: for what they do, they will soon 

be requited” (Q 7:180). Moreover, a 

hadith

 from 

Abu Hurayra (d. 678), the close companion of the 

Prophet, asserts, “God has 99 names, one hundred 

minus 1, and whoever memorizes them will enter 

paradise.” The first verse of the Quran, known 

as the 

basmala

, states three of these names: “In 

the name of God (Allah), the most compassion-

ate (al-Rahman), the most merciful (al-Rahim).” 

This verse begins all but one of the Quran’s chap-

ters. Other names attest to the divine qualities of 

omnipotence (al-Qadir), omniscience (al-Alim), 

gentleness (al-Latif), righteousness (al-Barr), 

and kindness (al-Rauf). Muslims have speculated 

about God’s hundredth name, which some believe 

is hidden and that only God knows it.

The 99 names come from three sources: (1) 

directly from the Quran (as in the basmala and Q 

59:22–24); (2) names derived indirectly from the 

Quran (for example, al-Basit Expander [of hearts], 

Q 2:245); and (3) traditional names of God that 

are not found in the Quran in any form (for 

example,  al-Adl The Just). Muslim theologians 

have divided the 99 names into two groupings. 

One involves differentiating between the Names 

of the Essence (such as God’s own name, Allah, 

which is the supreme name, and al-Rahman) from 

the Names of the Qualities (such as al-Barr).

All of God’s names are incorporated into the 

lives of Muslims in a wide variety of ways. They 

appear as first and/or last names of persons pre-

ceded by the word Abd (Servant of  . . .), such 

as Abd Allah (Servant of God), Abd al-Salam 

(Servant of Peace), or Abd al-Jabbar (Servant of 

the Powerful). God’s names are recited in the 

required daily prayers, during meditations involv-

ing 

prayer

 

beads

, and Sufi 

dhikr

 rituals. They are 

printed on posters for display in mosques, homes, 

and businesses. One of the most popular religious 

songs in modern times is “Asma Allah al-husna” 

N

---

K  516  

The 99 names of God

---

(“God’s most beautiful names”), composed by the 

Egyptian musician Sayyid Makkawi (1924–1997). 

Recitations of God’s names have also been posted 

as audio files on the Internet.

See also 

prayer

; 

theology

.

Jon Armajani