99 Names of Allah (Asma ul Husna)
Explore the 99 beautiful names of Allah with Arabic text, transliteration, meanings, Quran references, and categories. Searchable and filterable.
The 99 Names of Allah (Asma ul-Husna) describe His attributes. A hadith recorded by Bukhari and Muslim states: 'Allah has ninety-nine names, whoever preserves them will enter Paradise.'
Browse all 99 names with Arabic text, transliteration, and meaning below.
99 Names of Allah, Asma ul Husna
Showing 99 of 99 names
Allah
God
The greatest name, the proper name of God, encompassing all divine attributes.
Ar-Rahman
The Most Merciful
The All-Encompassing Mercy, His mercy covers all creation without distinction.
Ar-Raheem
The Most Compassionate
The Especially Merciful, His enduring mercy reserved for believers.
Al-Malik
The King
The Sovereign Lord, ultimate authority over all that exists.
Al-Quddus
The Most Holy
The Pure One, free from every imperfection and deficiency.
As-Salam
The Source of Peace
The Flawless One, the source of all peace, safety, and perfection.
Al-Mu'min
The Granter of Security
The Inspirer of Faith, grants security and confirms truth.
Al-Muhaymin
The Guardian
The Watchful Protector, oversees and preserves all creation.
Al-Aziz
The Almighty
The All-Mighty, possessing absolute power that none can resist.
Al-Jabbar
The Compeller
The Restorer, compels creation to His will and mends the broken.
Al-Mutakabbir
The Supreme
The Majestic, transcendent above all, supreme in greatness.
Al-Khaliq
The Creator
The Creator of all things, brings existence from nothing.
Al-Bari
The Originator
The Evolver, creates each thing uniquely and distinctly.
Al-Musawwir
The Fashioner
The Shaper of Forms, gives each creation its unique form and appearance.
Al-Ghaffar
The Ever-Forgiving
The Repeatedly Forgiving, forgives again and again without limit.
Al-Qahhar
The Subduer
The Dominant, prevails over all, nothing can resist His authority.
Al-Wahhab
The Bestower
The Generous Giver, bestows gifts freely without expectation of return.
Ar-Razzaq
The Provider
The Sustainer, provides for all creatures, seen and unseen.
Al-Fattah
The Opener
The Judge and Opener, opens doors of mercy, guidance, and resolution.
Al-Aleem
The All-Knowing
The Omniscient, knows all things, past, present, and future.
Al-Qabid
The Restrainer
The Withholder, restricts provision as a test or for wisdom.
Al-Basit
The Extender
The Expander, extends provision, mercy, and hearts generously.
Al-Khafid
The Abaser
The Humbler, lowers the arrogant and those who oppose His will.
Ar-Rafi
The Exalter
The Elevator, raises in rank those who humble themselves before Him.
Al-Mu'izz
The Honourer
The Bestower of Honour, grants dignity and strength to whom He wills.
Al-Mudhill
The Humiliator
The Dishonourer, humiliates those who persist in arrogance and oppression.
As-Sami
The All-Hearing
The Listener, hears all sounds, whispers, prayers, and thoughts.
Al-Basir
The All-Seeing
The All-Seeing, sees everything, nothing is hidden from His sight.
Al-Hakam
The Judge
The Arbiter, the final judge in all matters of dispute.
Al-Adl
The Just
The Utterly Just, never wrongs anyone, even by an atom's weight.
Al-Latif
The Subtle
The Gentle and Subtle, perceives all subtleties and is kind in unfathomable ways.
Al-Khabir
The All-Aware
The Fully Aware, knows the innermost secrets and hidden realities.
Al-Haleem
The Forbearing
The Most Patient, delays punishment, giving time for repentance.
Al-Azeem
The Magnificent
The Tremendous, greater in every attribute than anything creation can conceive.
Al-Ghafur
The Most Forgiving
The Concealer of Faults, covers sins and forgives generously.
Ash-Shakur
The Appreciative
The Most Grateful, richly rewards even the smallest good deed.
Al-Ali
The Most High
The Exalted, above all creation in status and attributes.
Al-Kabir
The Greatest
The Most Great, greater than everything in existence.
Al-Hafiz
The Preserver
The Protector, preserves and guards all of creation.
Al-Muqit
The Sustainer
The Nourisher, maintains and sustains all things in existence.
Al-Hasib
The Reckoner
The Accountant, takes account of every deed, large and small.
Al-Jalil
The Majestic
The Sublime, possessing absolute majesty and grandeur.
Al-Karim
The Generous
The Most Generous, gives abundantly beyond what is asked or deserved.
Ar-Raqib
The Watchful
The Observer, watches over everything with complete attention.
Al-Mujib
The Responsive
The Answerer of Prayers, responds to those who call upon Him.
Al-Wasi
The All-Encompassing
The Vast, His mercy, knowledge, and provision encompass all things.
Al-Hakim
The All-Wise
The Perfectly Wise, every decree, law, and creation reflects perfect wisdom.
Al-Wadud
The Most Loving
The Loving One, loves His righteous servants and inspires love between them.
Al-Majid
The Glorious
The Most Glorious, possessing perfect honour and limitless nobility.
Al-Ba'ith
The Resurrector
The Raiser of the Dead, will resurrect all creation on the Day of Judgement.
Ash-Shahid
The Witness
The Witness to All, nothing in creation occurs without His knowledge.
Al-Haqq
The Truth
The Absolute Truth, His existence and words are the ultimate reality.
Al-Wakil
The Trustee
The Dependable, the one you can rely on completely for all affairs.
Al-Qawiyy
The Strong
The Possessor of All Strength, infinite power that never diminishes.
Al-Matin
The Firm
The Steadfast, possessing absolute firmness that nothing can shake.
Al-Waliyy
The Protecting Friend
The Ally, the supporting friend and guardian of the believers.
Al-Hamid
The Praiseworthy
The Praised One, worthy of all praise in every circumstance.
Al-Muhsi
The Accounter
The All-Enumerating, counts and records everything in creation.
Al-Mubdi
The Initiator
The Originator, began creation from absolute nothing.
Al-Mu'id
The Restorer
The Reinstater, will restore creation after death for the reckoning.
Al-Muhyi
The Giver of Life
The Life-Giver, brings life to the lifeless, both physically and spiritually.
Al-Mumit
The Bringer of Death
The Taker of Life, decrees the end of every living thing.
Al-Hayy
The Ever-Living
The Living, eternally alive, with no beginning and no end.
Al-Qayyum
The Self-Sustaining
The Self-Existing, sustains all creation while needing nothing Himself.
Al-Wajid
The Finder
The Perceiver, finds everything He seeks, nothing eludes Him.
Al-Majid
The Noble
The Illustrious, noble and generous beyond measure.
Al-Wahid
The One
The Unique, absolutely one, with no partner or equal.
As-Samad
The Eternal Refuge
The Self-Sufficient, all creation depends on Him, He depends on nothing.
Al-Qadir
The Able
The All-Capable, has power over all things without limitation.
Al-Muqtadir
The Powerful
The Prevailing, exercises His power with absolute authority.
Al-Muqaddim
The Expediter
The Promoter, brings forward whom He wills in time or rank.
Al-Mu'akhkhir
The Delayer
The Postponer, delays what He wills with perfect wisdom.
Al-Awwal
The First
The First, exists before everything, with no beginning.
Al-Akhir
The Last
The Last, will exist after everything, with no end.
Az-Zahir
The Manifest
The Apparent, His existence is evident from all signs in creation.
Al-Batin
The Hidden
The Inner, hidden from physical sight yet closer than your jugular vein.
Al-Wali
The Governor
The Sole Governor, manages all affairs of creation.
Al-Muta'ali
The Most Exalted
The Supreme, exalted above every description creation attributes to Him.
Al-Barr
The Source of Goodness
The Benign, His kindness extends to all, even those who deny Him.
At-Tawwab
The Acceptor of Repentance
The Ever-Returning, always turns to those who turn to Him in repentance.
Al-Muntaqim
The Avenger
The Retaliator, justly punishes persistent wrongdoers and oppressors.
Al-Afuww
The Pardoner
The Effacer of Sins, not only forgives but erases sins completely.
Ar-Ra'uf
The Most Kind
The Compassionate, gentle tenderness toward His creation.
Malik al-Mulk
Owner of All Sovereignty
The Lord of Dominion, owns all kingdoms and grants authority to whom He wills.
Dhul-Jalali wal-Ikram
Lord of Majesty and Generosity
The Lord of Glory and Bounty, combines perfect majesty with perfect generosity.
Al-Muqsit
The Equitable
The Just Balancer, establishes absolute fairness in all things.
Al-Jami
The Gatherer
The Assembler, will gather all of creation for the Day of Judgement.
Al-Ghaniyy
The Self-Sufficient
The Rich Beyond Need, free of all needs, all creation needs Him.
Al-Mughni
The Enricher
The Bestower of Sufficiency, enriches whom He wills with material and spiritual wealth.
Al-Mani
The Withholder
The Preventer, withholds harm and prevents what is not decreed.
Ad-Darr
The Distresser
The Afflictor, allows hardship as a test and purification.
An-Nafi
The Benefactor
The Creator of Good, all benefit ultimately comes from Him alone.
An-Nur
The Light
The Light, illuminates hearts with faith and the universe with light.
Al-Hadi
The Guide
The Guide to Truth, leads creation to the straight path.
Al-Badi
The Originator
The Incomparable Inventor, creates unprecedented, wondrous things from nothing.
Al-Baqi
The Everlasting
The Eternal, remains after all creation perishes.
Al-Warith
The Inheritor
The Supreme Heir, inherits the earth when all creation has passed.
Ar-Rashid
The Guide to the Right Path
The Rightly Guiding, directs all affairs with perfect wisdom.
As-Sabur
The Patient
The Most Patient, endlessly patient with His creation's shortcomings.
What Are the 99 Names of Allah?
Think of someone you know well, your mother, perhaps. You might describe her as kind, patient, strong, wise, and generous. Each word captures a real quality, but no single word captures the whole person. Now imagine trying to describe the Creator of the universe. That's what the Asma ul Husna attempt.
The 99 Names of Allah aren't 99 different gods or 99 random labels. They're 99 windows into the nature of the one God, each name revealing an attribute that's perfect, unlimited, and eternal. Ar-Rahman tells you His mercy is vast enough to cover everything that exists. Al-Aleem tells you His knowledge extends to every atom, every thought, every future that will or won't unfold.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred minus one. Whoever memorises them will enter Paradise" (Sahih Bukhari 7392). Scholars across all four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence agree this hadith doesn't mean mere memorisation. It means learning them, understanding them, and living by them. When you truly understand that Allah is Al-Wadud (the Most Loving), it changes how you relate to Him. When you truly grasp that He is Al-Basir (the All-Seeing), it changes how you behave when nobody's watching.
Muslims in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and across the world encounter these names daily, in the call to prayer, in the opening of every Quran chapter, in the phrases woven into everyday speech. Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem. Alhamdulillah. Allahu Akbar. These aren't just words. They're invocations of the divine names you'll find on this page.
How Scholars Organise the Names
There's no single "official" categorisation, the Quran and hadith don't sort them into buckets. But scholars throughout Islamic history have grouped them by theme to aid understanding. The categories on this page follow a common scholarly approach:
Mercy & Compassion
13 names
Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem, Al-Ghaffar, Al-Wadud... The largest group, reflecting that mercy is Allah's defining quality.
Power & Sovereignty
13 names
Al-Malik, Al-Aziz, Al-Jabbar, Al-Qawiyy... Names expressing absolute authority and irresistible might.
Knowledge & Wisdom
11 names
Al-Aleem, Al-Khabir, Al-Hakim, As-Sami... His knowledge is total, every leaf that falls, every thought you have.
Majesty & Greatness
16 names
Al-Azeem, Al-Kabir, Al-Ali, Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum... The largest expression of His transcendence and eternal nature.
Justice & Truth
9 names
Al-Hakam, Al-Adl, Al-Haqq, Al-Muqsit... Perfect fairness, He never wrongs anyone, even by an atom's weight.
Creation & Origination
7 names
Al-Khaliq, Al-Bari, Al-Musawwir, Al-Badi... He creates from nothing, uniquely shapes every creation.
Provision & Care
8 names
Ar-Razzaq, Al-Wahhab, Al-Karim, Al-Muqit... He feeds, sustains, and enriches, no creature is forgotten.
Guidance & Protection
8 names
Al-Hadi, Al-Waliyy, Al-Hafiz, Al-Wakil... He guides to truth and guards those who trust in Him.
Beauty & Perfection
5 names
Al-Quddus, As-Salam, An-Nur, Al-Hamid... Pure, perfect, luminous, the source of all beauty.
Notice that mercy dominates. Scholars point out this isn't accidental, the Quran opens with Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem, and a hadith qudsi says: "My mercy prevails over My wrath." If you remember nothing else about the 99 Names, remember that.
Which Names to Use in Dua (Supplication)
The Quran says: "And to Allah belong the most beautiful names, so invoke Him by them" (7:180). Using the right name in your dua isn't a formula, it's about connecting your need with the attribute of Allah that answers it. Here are practical groupings:
🤲 When seeking forgiveness
Call upon these names when repenting or asking Allah to forgive your shortcomings.
Al-Ghaffar, The Ever-Forgiving
When you've sinned and seek repeated forgiveness
Al-Ghafur, The Most Forgiving
When asking for sins to be concealed and forgiven
At-Tawwab, The Acceptor of Repentance
When turning back to Allah after straying
Al-Afuww, The Pardoner
When asking for sins to be erased entirely, the dua of Laylat al-Qadr
🌾 When seeking provision
Invoke these names when asking for sustenance, wealth, or opportunities.
Ar-Razzaq, The Provider
When seeking halal income or sustenance for your family
Al-Wahhab, The Bestower
When asking for a gift, children, health, knowledge
Al-Fattah, The Opener
When doors seem closed and you need a breakthrough
Al-Karim, The Generous
When hoping for more than you dared to ask for
🛡️ When seeking protection
These names are especially powerful when feeling vulnerable, afraid, or in danger.
Al-Hafiz, The Preserver
When travelling, during illness, or protecting family
Al-Muhaymin, The Guardian
When asking for watchful protection over your affairs
Al-Wakil, The Trustee
When delegating your worries to Allah, HasbunAllahu wa ni'mal Wakil
Al-Waliyy, The Protecting Friend
When feeling alone or in need of an ally
🧭 When seeking guidance
Call upon these names when making decisions, feeling lost, or seeking clarity.
Al-Hadi, The Guide
When performing Istikhara or at a crossroads
Al-Hakim, The All-Wise
When you can't see the wisdom in what's happening
An-Nur, The Light
When seeking clarity in confusion or darkness
Ar-Rashid, The Guide to the Right Path
When asking to be steered toward what's best
💚 When seeking healing
These names are traditionally invoked when ill or making dua for someone's recovery.
Ash-Shafi, The Healer
When ill or making dua for recovery, from the hadith, not the traditional 99
As-Salam, The Source of Peace
When seeking peace of mind or emotional healing
Al-Muhyi, The Giver of Life
When praying for renewed health and energy
Al-Barr, The Source of Goodness
When asking for His all-encompassing kindness
Key Quran Verses Containing the Names
Many of the 99 Names appear clustered in specific Quran verses. These are some of the most important passages for studying the divine attributes:
"He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Granter of Security, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior."
Surah Al-Hashr 59:23
Names mentioned: Al-Malik, Al-Quddus, As-Salam, Al-Mu'min, Al-Muhaymin, Al-Aziz, Al-Jabbar, Al-Mutakabbir
"He is Allah, the Creator, the Originator, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names."
Surah Al-Hashr 59:24
Names mentioned: Al-Khaliq, Al-Bari, Al-Musawwir
"Allah, there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining."
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255 (Ayat al-Kursi)
Names mentioned: Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum
"Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4
Names mentioned: Al-Ahad, As-Samad
"He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He has knowledge of all things."
Surah Al-Hadid 57:3
Names mentioned: Al-Awwal, Al-Akhir, Az-Zahir, Al-Batin
"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth."
Surah An-Nur 24:35
Names mentioned: An-Nur
Surah Al-Hashr (59:22-24) is particularly rich, it contains more than a dozen divine names in just three verses. Many Muslims recite these verses after Fajr prayer as part of their morning adhkar. Ayat al-Kursi (2:255) is considered the greatest verse in the Quran and contains Al-Hayy (the Ever-Living) and Al-Qayyum (the Self-Sustaining).
How to Memorise the 99 Names
The hadith promises Paradise for whoever memorises them. But most people stall after the first twenty. Here's what actually works, based on how memory and learning research aligns with Islamic tradition:
Learn in groups of 10
Break the 99 names into groups of ten. Master one group before moving to the next. At that pace, you'll know all 99 in about ten weeks, and the grouping mirrors traditional nasheed arrangements.
Understand before memorising
A name you understand sticks. Before memorising 'Al-Latif', read what it means: the Subtle, Gentle one who perceives details invisible to everyone else and is kind in ways you only realise later. That image is far harder to forget than a word.
Use them in your daily dua
When you're struggling financially, call upon Ar-Razzaq (the Provider). When you've made a mistake, call upon Al-Ghaffar (the Ever-Forgiving). Practical use beats rote repetition every time.
Listen to Asma ul Husna nasheeds
There are beautiful recitations set to melody, by Mishary Rashid Alafasy, Sami Yusuf, and others. The melody creates a memory hook that makes recall effortless. Play it during your commute.
Write them out by hand
Research consistently shows handwriting improves retention. Write each name in Arabic and English once a day. Keep a dedicated notebook, the physical act of writing engages different memory pathways than reading alone.
Teach someone else
Explain three names to your child, spouse, or friend each week. Teaching forces you to articulate the meaning clearly, which deepens your own understanding. This is one of the most effective learning techniques across every field.
The Names in Daily Muslim Life
You don't need a prayer mat to engage with the 99 Names. Muslims use them constantly, often without realising:
| Phrase | Names Used | When Used |
|---|---|---|
| Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem | Allah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem | Before eating, travelling, starting any task |
| Alhamdulillah | Allah (implied: Al-Hamid) | After eating, sneezing, receiving good news |
| Allahu Akbar | Allah, Al-Kabir (implied) | Prayer, call to prayer, expressing awe |
| SubhanAllah | Al-Quddus (implied) | Expressing wonder, post-prayer dhikr |
| Astaghfirullah | Al-Ghaffar, Al-Ghafur (implied) | Seeking forgiveness, after mistakes |
| La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah | Al-Qawiyy, Al-Aziz (implied) | When overwhelmed, feeling powerless |
| HasbunAllahu wa ni'mal Wakil | Allah, Al-Wakil | When facing hardship, the dua of Ibrahim in the fire |
| Ya Allah / Ya Rabb | Allah, Ar-Rabb | Beginning any dua or supplication |
Personal names are another daily encounter. Abdullah (servant of Allah), Abdulrahman (servant of the Most Merciful), Abdulaziz (servant of the Almighty), across the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, millions of Muslims carry names that invoke a divine attribute every time someone calls them.
Why Different Lists Exist
If you compare lists of the 99 Names from different scholars, you'll notice they don't always agree. This isn't a flaw, it reflects how Islamic scholarship works.
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim mentions the number ninety-nine but doesn't list them all. So scholars like Ibn Hazm (d. 1064 CE), al-Bayhaqi (d. 1066 CE), and Ibn al-Arabi (d. 1148 CE) compiled their own lists by collecting names from the Quran and authenticated hadith. They agreed on most names, Ar-Rahman, Al-Malik, Al-Quddus, and the vast majority are identical across every list. The variation sits in a small handful where scholars debate whether a particular name qualifies as one of the ninety-nine or is a general attribute.
Some names, like Ash-Shafi (the Healer), appear in hadith but aren't in the traditional list of 99. They're still valid divine names that Muslims can invoke. The 99 are the specifically numbered set promised in the hadith, not the totality of Allah's names. A hadith in Musnad Ahmad mentions names "kept in the knowledge of the unseen", implying there are names we don't even know.
The list on this page follows the most widely accepted compilation, drawing from the Tirmidhi narration as understood by the majority of Sunni scholars. All four major schools, Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali, recognise this core set.
Common Misconceptions
You must recite them in a specific order
There's no prescribed order. The Quran and hadith don't mandate a sequence, learn them however helps you best.
Repeating a name X times cures specific ailments
Some traditions prescribe specific counts for specific names. While dhikr is always beneficial, specific 'prescriptions' with guaranteed outcomes aren't from the Quran or authenticated hadith. Consult a scholar.
The 99 Names are the ONLY names of Allah
The hadith says ninety-nine names are special, not that they're the only ones. Scholars agree Allah has more names, some known only to Him.
You can name your child 'Al-Rahman' or 'Al-Quddus'
These are Allah's exclusive attributes. The correct form for a child's name is 'Abd-' (servant of) before the name: Abdulrahman, Abdulquddus.
Learning the names is only for scholars
The hadith is addressed to all Muslims. Children, new converts, lifelong practitioners, everyone benefits from knowing who their Creator is.
The names contradict each other
Al-Mu'izz (the Honourer) and Al-Mudhill (the Humiliator) seem opposite, but they're complementary. He honours the humble and humiliates the arrogant. Context determines which attribute applies.
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Sources
- Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 7392, "Allah has ninety-nine names"
- Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2677, "Whoever memorises them will enter Paradise"
- Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3507, Listing of the 99 names
- Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 3712, Names known only to Allah
- Ibn Hazm, Al-Muhalla, Compilation of divine names from Quran and Sunnah
- Al-Bayhaqi, Al-Asma wal-Sifat, Comprehensive study of divine attributes
- Ibn al-Qayyim, Bada'i al-Fawa'id, Analysis of the meaning of "memorising" the names
How to use this tool
Browse or search the 99 Names of Allah by number, transliteration, or meaning
Filter by category (Mercy, Power, Knowledge, etc.) to explore related attributes
Click copy to save any name with its Arabic text and meaning for reference or dhikr
Common uses
- Learning and memorising the 99 Names for spiritual reward
- Finding the right name to invoke in dua (supplication)
- Studying the divine attributes of Allah
- Teaching children about Islamic theology
- Daily dhikr and tasbih practice
- Understanding Quran references to Allah's names
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