Names of Allah

01 · Allah

اَللّٰه

Allāh According to many scholars, ‘Allah’ is the Greatest Name of Allah, and is the most frequently mentioned Name in the Qur’ān, appearing over 2,500 times. ‘Allah’ refers to the One who is adored and worshipped.

02 · The All-Merciful

الرَّحْمَـٰنُ

Al-Raḥmān Both al-Raḥmān and al-Raḥīm – originate from the word raḥimah. Raḥimah can be understood as mercy, compassion and tenderness. Al-Raḥmān is a Name which encompasses the mercy Allah shows to all of His creation. However, al-Raḥīm is a specific attribute that is exclusive to the believers, both in this world and in the hereafter. The form of raḥmah He extends to the believers – particularly to His friends (awliyā’) – differs from His general mercy which He extends to all of His creation. Al-Raḥmān can also mean the one who is extremely merciful, whereas al-Raḥim is the one who is permanently merciful. Together, these Names describe Allah (ʿazza wa jall) as extremely merciful, all the time. Although the scholars have also mentioned other differences, it is important to remember that both Names encompass all aspects and dimensions of mercy. The mercy of Allah knows no bounds. He said, “My mercy encompasses everything” (7:156). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that Allah said, “Indeed My mercy has preceded My anger”(Muslim). Every blessing we have stems from His mercy. We were created through His mercy; the Messengers and the Books were sent down to guide us towards the truth through His mercy and Paradise was created through His mercy. It is because of His mercy that we are invited to stand before Him in salah, humbling ourselves, pleading with Him, praising Him and talking to Him. It is because of His mercy that – through worshipping him – we become more aware of and closer to Him. Allah (ʿazza wa jall) sustains us, but He does not do so because He needs us; rather, He sustains us out of His mercy. His Lordship is characterised by mercy and justice, and not oppression. Even His punishment arises from pure justice. If we want to be recipients of Allah’s mercy, we must be merciful to His creation, as the Prophet ﷺ said, “Have mercy on those who are on the earth, and the One who is in the Heaven will have mercy on you” (Tirmidhī). Just as Allah (ʿazza wa jall) nourishes us with love and mercy, we should nurture ourselves and those under our care with love and mercy.

03 · The Very Merciful

اَلرَّحِيْمُ

Al-Raḥīm Both al-Raḥmān and al-Raḥīm – originate from the word raḥimah. Raḥimah can be understood as mercy, compassion and tenderness. Al-Raḥmān is a Name which encompasses the mercy Allah shows to all of His creation. However, al-Raḥīm is a specific attribute that is exclusive to the believers, both in this world and in the hereafter. The form of raḥmah He extends to the believers – particularly to His friends (awliyā’) – differs from His general mercy which He extends to all of His creation. Al-Raḥmān can also mean the one who is extremely merciful, whereas al-Raḥim is the one who is permanently merciful. Together, these Names describe Allah (ʿazza wa jall) as extremely merciful, all the time. Although the scholars have also mentioned other differences, it is important to remember that both Names encompass all aspects and dimensions of mercy. The mercy of Allah knows no bounds. He said, “My mercy encompasses everything” (7:156). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that Allah said, “Indeed My mercy has preceded My anger”(Muslim). Every blessing we have stems from His mercy. We were created through His mercy; the Messengers and the Books were sent down to guide us towards the truth through His mercy and Paradise was created through His mercy. It is because of His mercy that we are invited to stand before Him in salah, humbling ourselves, pleading with Him, praising Him and talking to Him. It is because of His mercy that – through worshipping him – we become more aware of and closer to Him. Allah (ʿazza wa jall) sustains us, but He does not do so because He needs us; rather, He sustains us out of His mercy. His Lordship is characterised by mercy and justice, and not oppression. Even His punishment arises from pure justice. If we want to be recipients of Allah’s mercy, we must be merciful to His creation, as the Prophet ﷺ said, “Have mercy on those who are on the earth, and the One who is in the Heaven will have mercy on you” (Tirmidhī). Just as Allah (ʿazza wa jall) nourishes us with love and mercy, we should nurture ourselves and those under our care with love and mercy.

04 · The Single

اَلْأَحَدُ

Al-Aḥad

Allah is One, with no partner, child or parent. He is Unique and there is none like Him. He is Unique in His perfection, knowledge, greatness, power & wisdom. He is the Only One who gives life & death, creates & provides, sustains and manages the universe. He is the Only One who deserves to be worshipped. Connect to al- Ahad 1. Make Allah THE ONE in your life. Give Him priority over everything and everyone else. 2. Worship only Him. Fear none but Him and love none as much as Him. Depend only on Him, seek protection only from Him and make du'a to Him Alone. Bow & prostrate only to Him, and turn to Him Alone for judgement. 3. Remove traces of shirk from your life and heart. 4. Spend time alone worshipping Him (secret ibādah).

05 · The Self-Sufficient Master

اَلصَّمَدُ

Aṣ-Ṣamad Aṣ-Ṣamad is the Perfect Master, the One who the whole creation turns to for the fulfilment of their needs. He needs no one, but everyone needs Him, and are fully dependent on Him. He is Perfect in His knowledge, mercy, wisdom, power, honour and glory. Since He is perfect, He doesn’t need anyone, as nothing they can do can benefit or harm Him. He does not feel hunger nor thirst. He is the Everlasting who will never perish. To Him and Him alone are all prayers and supplications addressed. He and only He decides everything independently, and no one shares His authority.

06 · The Lord

اَلرَّبُّ

Ar-Rabb

07 · The First

اَلْأَوَّلُ

Al-Awwal

08 · The Last

اَلْآخِرُ

Al-Ākhir

09 · The Most High

اَلظَّاهِرُ

Aẓ-Ẓāhir

10 · The Most Close

اَلْبَاطِنُ

Al-Bāṭin

11 · The Ever-Living

اَلْحَيُّ

Al-Ḥayy Allah is the “Ever Living (al-Ḥayy)”: The one who has all the attributes of life in the most complete form e.g. hearing, seeing, knowing, power etc. Al-Ḥayy is the one who will never die, and nor is He touched by even the ‘smaller death’ (sleep). His life is absolutely perfect, and He alone gives life.

12 · The All-Sustainer

اَلْقَيُّوْمُ

Al-Qayyūm Al-Qayyūm is the one who maintains all; but needs none to maintain Him. Everything within the heavens and the earth is dependent on Allah and needs Him to sustain and manage their existence. He, however, is completely Self-Sustaining, and independent of any of His creation.

13 · The Bestower

اَلْمَنَّانُ

Al-Mannān

14 · The Lord of Majesty & Honour

ذُوْ الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ

Dhul Jalāli wa-l-Ikrām

15 · The Vigilant

اَلْمُهَيْمِنُ

Al-Muhaymin

16 · The Witness

اَلشَّهِيْدُ

As-Shahīd

17 · The All-Knowing

اَلْعَلِيْمُ

Al-ʿAlīm

18 · The All-Aware

اَلْخَبِيْرُ

Al-Khabīr

19 · The All-Hearing

اَلسَّمِيْعُ

As-Samīʿ

20 · The All-Seeing

اَلْبَصِيْرُ

Al-Baṣīr

21 · The Ever Watchful

اَلرَّقِيْبُ

Ar-Raqīb

22 · The Most Generous

اَلْجَوَادُ

Al-Jawād

23 · The Giver

اَلْمُعْطِيْ

Al-Muʿṭī

24 · The Supreme Opener

اَلْفَتَّاحُ

Al-Fattāḥ

25 · The Supreme Provider

اَلرَّزَّاقُ

Ar-Razzāq

26 · The Ever-Giving

اَلْوَهَّابُ

Al-Wahhāb

27 · The All-Comprehending

اَلْوَاسِعُ

Al-Wāsiʿ

28 · The Doer of Good

اَلْمُحْسِنُ

Al-Muḥsin

29 · The Grateful

اَلشَّاكِرُ

As-Shākir

30 · The Most Appreciative

اَلشَّكُوْرُ

As-Shakūr

The Grateful, The Most Appreciative Allah accepts from us the smallest of good deeds & rewards us generously for them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "A man walking alongside a path came across a thorny twig, so he removed it (to prevent it harming others). Allah appreciated this from him and forgave him" (Bukhāri) Connect with Al-Shakur 1. Constantly thank Allah. Thank Him with your heart, tongue & actions. 2. Don't belittle any good deed. 3. Thank people who have done good to you, especially your parents. 4. At the end of your salāh, say: اللهم أعني على ذكرك وشكرك وحسن عبادتك O Allah, help me in remembering You, in being grateful to You, and in worshipping You in an excellent manner. (Abū Dāwūd)

31 · The Curer

اَلشَّافِيْ

As-Shāfī

32 · The Guide

اَلْهَادِيْ

Al-Hādī

33 · The Light

اَلنُّوْرُ

An-Nūr

34 · The Independent

اَلْغَنِيُّ

Al-Ganiyy

35 · The All-Wise

اَلْحَكِيْمُ

Al-Ḥakim

36 · The Master

اَلْمَوْلَىٰ

Al-Mawlā

37 · The Protective Friend

اَلْوَلِيُّ

Al-Waliyy

38 · The Helper

اَلنَّصِيْرُ

An-Naṣīr

39 · The Protector

اَلْحَافِظُ

Al-Ḥāfiz

40 · The Guardian

اَلْحَفِيْظُ

Al-Ḥafīz

41 · The Sufficient, The Reckoner

اَلْحَسِيْبُ

Al-Ḥasīb

42 · The All-Sufficient

اَلْكَافِيْ

Al-Kāfī

43 · The Powerful, The Nourisher

اَلْمُقِيْتُ

Al-Muqīt

44 · The Guarantor

اَلْكَفِيْلُ

Al-Kafīl

45 · The Disposer of Affairs

اَلْوَكِيْلُ

Al-Wakīl

The Trustee, The Guardian, The Protector Allah is the Only One to whom all matters are entrusted. Allah manages the affairs of His creation in accordance with His knowledge, power and wisdom. He takes special care of His friends, makes the good easy for them and protects them from evil. He suffices them in all their matters. Connect to Al-Wakil 1. Place your trust (tawakkul) in al-Wakīl. When you are conflicted in between choosing Him and the world, choose Him. If you give up something for Him, He will certainly replace it with something better. 2. Seek the means, but do not be dependent on them. Instead, attach your heart to al-Wakīl. 3. When you are going through any difficulty/feel scared, remember that Allah al-Wakil 'has your back’. Say: حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل as lbrāhīm (alayhi salam) did when he was thrown into the fire.

46 · The Ever-Near

اَلْقَرِيْبُ

Al-Qarīb

47 · The Responder

اَلْمُجِيْبُ

Al-Mujīb

48 · The Owner

اَلْمَالِكُ

Al-Mālik

49 · The King

اَلْمَلِكُ

Al-Malik

50 · The Sovereign

اَلْمَلِيْكُ

Al-Malīk

51 · The Mighty

اَلْعَزِيْزُ

Al-ʿAzīz

52 · The Compeller, The Restorer

اَلْجَبَّارُ

Al-Jabbār

Al-Jabbār has multiple meanings: (1) The Compeller: No matter what happens, Allah's decree is always executed & can never be resisted. (2) The Most Sublime: There is no one greater than Allah. (3) The Restorer: Allah 'fixes' situations, heals us when we turn to Him, and restores what is broken. Connect to Al-Jabbar 1. Ask Allah to restore your broken state and fix your deficiencies. In between the two prostrations, ask Allah: اللهم اغفر لي وارحمني واجبرني واهدني وارزقني 2. Put your trust in Allah, as no one can repel His decree. 3. Find comfort in that Allah al-Jabbār will seize and punish the worldly tyrants (jabābirah). 4. Try to restore and heal people around you who are experiencing difficulties.

53 · The Irresistible

اَلْقَاهِرُ

Al-Qāhir

54 · The All-Dominant

اَلْقَهَّارُ

Al-Qahhār

55 · The Powerful

اَلْقَادِرُ

Al-Qādir

56 · The All-Powerful

اَلْقَدِيْرُ

Al-Qadīr

57 · The All-Able

اَلْمُقْتَدِرُ

Al-Muqtadir

58 · The Strong

اَلْقَوِيُّ

Al-Qawiyy

59 · The Powerful

اَلْمَتِيْنُ

Al-Matīn

60 · The Magnificent

اَلْعَظِيْمُ

Al-ʿAzīm We often feel overwhelmed by the pressures and difficulties of our lives; work issues, relationship problems, financial stress, chronic illnesses. And looking beyond our own immediate lives, we may feel despondent at the weak state of our ummah: genocides, illegal imprisonment, starvation, tyranny…and the list goes on. Sometimes these feelings of despondency can lead to apathy, developing an inferiority complex, or questioning the decree of Allah, or even in extreme circumstances, rejecting Allah Himself. Similarly, we struggle with fighting temptations, and give in to Shayṭān’s whispers. Often, this is the case because we fail to recognise who Allah is. We are oblivious to how great and mighty Allah is, and thus, we don’t revere Him as He deserves to be revered. Amongst the most perfect Names of Allah are: **al-Kabīr**, The Most Great, and al-Aẓīm, The Magnificent. Both of these Names denote the greatness, majesty and grandeur of Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā). Allah is Greater than anything we can imagine, and His greatness encompasses all things: He is Great in His Essence, His Names, His Attributes and His Actions. Allah is Supreme and Perfect: free from every limitation and deficiency that is inherent in created beings. Allah is Great in His power, wisdom, knowledge and authority. There was nothing before Him, and there is nothing after Him. Everyone will perish except Him. None can overpower or defeat Him. How to Appreciate Allah’s Greatness Our limited minds are unable to fully comprehend the greatness of Allah. However, we can attempt to appreciate His Greatness by pondering over: (1) His creation, (2) and His words (the Qur’ān). Allah (ʿazza wa jall) reminds us: مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ وَقَارًا “What is the matter with you that you are not in awe of the Majesty of Allah?” (71:13). In the subsequent verses, He says, “When He truly created you in stages (of development). Do you not see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other, placing the moon within them as a light, and the sun as a lamp?” (71:14-16). Thus, to be in awe of His greatness, we should reflect on our own creation, and the creation of the universe. Reflecting on the beauty, harmony and the vastness of the earth, solar system and the heavens will help us appreciate Allah’s greatness. Our awe of Him will further increase when we reflect on the fact that on the Day of Judgement, the whole earth will be in a single grip of Allah’s Hand, and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhu ʿanhumā) said, “The seven skies and earths are not in the Hand of The Most Merciful, except like a mustard seed in one of your hands.” While I was on my way to ḥajj, we were worried that the desert Bedouins might attack us. We therefore took the route through Khaybar, upon which I saw huge mountains and natural pathways that blew my mind, and increased my appreciation of Allah’s greatness in my heart. I sensed Allah’s greatness here more than any other place. So, I rebuked myself: ‘Woe to you! (If this amazes you then) go to the sea and contemplate its greatness. You will see greater wonders than this. Then go out and contemplate on the universe, and you will realise that the universe, the skies and the planets are just like a tiny particle in a desert. Then roam around the higher regions, and walk around the Throne and behold what is in the heavens and hell. Then detach yourself from everything and direct your attention to Him! You will see that all of that is within the grasp of the Almighty whose ability has no limits.’ – Ibn al-Jawzī (raḥimahullāh) **The Greatest Creation** When we ponder on the greatness of Allah’s creation, such as the heavens, the earth, His Kursī and His Majestic Throne, and then realise our own inability to comprehend them due to their greatness, we should arrive at the most important realisation: how Great must their Creator be! To understand His greatness, it helps to reflect on His greatest creation: His Throne (the ʿArsh of Allah). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The seven heavens in comparison to the Kursī is nothing but like a ring thrown in a desert; and the excellence of the Throne of Allāh over the Kursī is like the excellence of that desert over that ring.” (Bayhaqī) Imagine the Sahara Desert. The entire desert is the Kursī of Allah (ʿazza wa jall), while the size of the heavens and the earth in proportion is equivalent to a ring thrown in this desert. Now close your eyes, and let your mind ascend. Wander around this desert, which is now the Throne of Allah (ʿazza wa jall), and remember that the Kursī in proportion is the size of a ring. Can you even imagine the size of the Throne of Allah? It is mind-boggling. If we cannot comprehend this, how can we then comprehend the greatness of Allah? **Mighty Angels** From amongst the creation of Allah that recognise His greatness, and revere Him as He deserves to be revered, are His angels. Despite being given immense strength and being huge in size, angels constantly praise Allah (ʿazza wa jall) and worship Him, and they never disobey Him. Yet, on the Day of Judgement, they will look at Allah and say, “How Perfect are You! We did not worship You as You deserved to be worshipped.” Reflecting on how great the angels are will help us appreciate how great Allah, their Creator, is. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ informed us about an angel who is so great that his feet are in the lowest earth and his neck is under the Throne of Allah. Realising the greatness of Allah, he constantly repeats, “How Perfect are You! How Magnificent are You, Our Lord!” (Ṭabarānī). Similarly, the best of angels, Jibrīl (ʿalayhis-salām) was tasked with the most prestigious responsibility of transmitting the word of Allah (ʿazza wa jall). He has 600 wings. If he was to unroll a pair of them, it would fill the space between the sky and the earth. Despite his physical and spiritual greatness, the Prophet ﷺ saw him on the Night of Miʿrāj (ascension) looking like “a worn-out piece of cloth due to the fear of Allah” (Ṭabarānī). Jibrīl’s knowledge of Allah’s majesty and greatness reduced him to this state. **Connect to Al-Kabir & Al-Azim** The following are some ways in which we can call upon and worship Allah with His Names al-Kabīr (The Most Great) and al-Aẓīm (The Magnificent): *1. Humble yourself to His greatness, by affirming His Oneness, obeying Him, and fearing Him.* Let us fill our hearts with utmost respect and reverence for Allah. Let us feel awe in our hearts for Him, and feel shy of disobeying Him. Let us humble our hearts to the truth and submit to the commands of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, even if they appear ‘irrational’ to us. *2. Glorify Him by constantly reflecting on His creation.* Every day we repeat ‘اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ’(Allah is greater…!) and ‘سُبْحَانَ رَبِّـيَ الْعَظِيْمِ (How perfect is my Lord, The Magnificent!) over a hundred times in ṣalāh. Due to the repetition, we may say it mindlessly. Let us constantly think of how great He is, and magnify Him with our tongues and our hearts simultaneously. Go outside in nature and praise Allah with your tongue and heart. It will help you marvel at His greatness. [Tip: Perform your morning and evening adhkār outside, especially on days when the skies are clear and you can appreciate the beauty of Allah’s creation.] **3. Deem great what Allah has deemed ‘great’.** Let us magnify and revere Allah by honouring what He has honoured: occasions (e.g. Dhul Ḥijjah, Ramaḍān), places (e.g. al-Masjid al-Ḥarām), actions (e.g. ṣalāh, qurbānī/uḍḥiyah) & speech (e.g. recitation of the Qur’ān). Instead of allowing society and our social media feeds to dictate to us how we should live and what we should aspire to be, let us live by the standards that Allah has set for us. This will save us from misery, anxiety and depression, as the only standards that can guarantee us success and peace are the ones Allah, our Creator, has set for us. The ones set by humans are more often than not unrealistic, egotistic, flawed, harmful, and constantly changing. **4. Humble yourself in your dealings with people.** There are some qualities of Allah that we should try to emulate in our dealings with others (e.g. love, kindness, forgiveness). But there are others which are exclusive to Him such as majesty, pride and grandeur. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Allah – Exalted and Mighty is He- said, ‘Grandeur (kibriyā) is My cloak and Magnificence (ʿaẓamah) is My lower garment. Whoever competes with Me in regards to either of them, I shall cast him into the Hell-fire’” (Abū Dāwūd). Internalising that Allah is the Greatest, not us, should make us humble. When we make a mistake or hurt someone, we should acknowledge it, apologise and make amends. Arrogance is thinking we are better than others because of something we possess. When we think like this, we begin competing with Allah’s grandeur, not realising that the blessings we possess are from Allah alone. **5. Ask Allah through His Names and be comforted.** Our beloved Prophet ﷺ would recite the following duʿā’ when he encountered a difficulty: لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ الْعَظِيْمُ الْحَلِيْمُ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيْمِ There is no god worthy of worship but Allah, the Magnificent, The Forbearing. There is no god worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no god worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, Lord of the Noble Throne. (Bukhārī) Let us calm and soothe our hearts by reminding ourselves of how great Allah is, and by asking Him through His Oneness in this beautiful duʿā’. Relying on Al-Aẓīm (The Magnificent) means any ‘big’ problem or enemy we encounter can be overcome, and feel ‘small’. We ask Allah, The Magnificent, The Great, to allow us to appreciate and glorify Him as He deserves to be appreciated and glorified. We ask Allah, The Supreme to cause our awe of Him to enable us to live by His commands.

The Magnificent Allah is the Most Magnificent. He is Greater than everything: none can overpower or defeat Him. Although we cannot comprehend His Greatness, we can reflect upon it by reflecting on His creation and His Words. Connect to Al-Azim 1. Magnify and venerate (ta'zim) Allah by honouring what He has honoured: occasions (e.g. Ramadān). places (e.g. al-Masjid al-Harām), actions (e.g Salāh) & speech (e.g. recitation of the Qurān). 2. Don't let society dictate to you how to be 'great' (wealth, fame & power). Instead, strive to be great in the sight of Allah, al-Azim. 3. Humble yourself to His Greatness, especially by prolonging your rukū, and mean it when you say: سبحان ربي العظيم (How Perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent!)

61 · The Most Great

اَلْكَبِيْرُ

Al-Kabīr We often feel overwhelmed by the pressures and difficulties of our lives; work issues, relationship problems, financial stress, chronic illnesses. And looking beyond our own immediate lives, we may feel despondent at the weak state of our ummah: genocides, illegal imprisonment, starvation, tyranny…and the list goes on. Sometimes these feelings of despondency can lead to apathy, developing an inferiority complex, or questioning the decree of Allah, or even in extreme circumstances, rejecting Allah Himself. Similarly, we struggle with fighting temptations, and give in to Shayṭān’s whispers. Often, this is the case because we fail to recognise who Allah is. We are oblivious to how great and mighty Allah is, and thus, we don’t revere Him as He deserves to be revered. Amongst the most perfect Names of Allah are: **al-Kabīr**, The Most Great, and al-Aẓīm, The Magnificent. Both of these Names denote the greatness, majesty and grandeur of Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā). Allah is Greater than anything we can imagine, and His greatness encompasses all things: He is Great in His Essence, His Names, His Attributes and His Actions. Allah is Supreme and Perfect: free from every limitation and deficiency that is inherent in created beings. Allah is Great in His power, wisdom, knowledge and authority. There was nothing before Him, and there is nothing after Him. Everyone will perish except Him. None can overpower or defeat Him. How to Appreciate Allah’s Greatness Our limited minds are unable to fully comprehend the greatness of Allah. However, we can attempt to appreciate His Greatness by pondering over: (1) His creation, (2) and His words (the Qur’ān). Allah (ʿazza wa jall) reminds us: مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُوْنَ لِلّٰهِ وَقَارًا “What is the matter with you that you are not in awe of the Majesty of Allah?” (71:13). In the subsequent verses, He says, “When He truly created you in stages (of development). Do you not see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other, placing the moon within them as a light, and the sun as a lamp?” (71:14-16). Thus, to be in awe of His greatness, we should reflect on our own creation, and the creation of the universe. Reflecting on the beauty, harmony and the vastness of the earth, solar system and the heavens will help us appreciate Allah’s greatness. Our awe of Him will further increase when we reflect on the fact that on the Day of Judgement, the whole earth will be in a single grip of Allah’s Hand, and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhu ʿanhumā) said, “The seven skies and earths are not in the Hand of The Most Merciful, except like a mustard seed in one of your hands.” While I was on my way to ḥajj, we were worried that the desert Bedouins might attack us. We therefore took the route through Khaybar, upon which I saw huge mountains and natural pathways that blew my mind, and increased my appreciation of Allah’s greatness in my heart. I sensed Allah’s greatness here more than any other place. So, I rebuked myself: ‘Woe to you! (If this amazes you then) go to the sea and contemplate its greatness. You will see greater wonders than this. Then go out and contemplate on the universe, and you will realise that the universe, the skies and the planets are just like a tiny particle in a desert. Then roam around the higher regions, and walk around the Throne and behold what is in the heavens and hell. Then detach yourself from everything and direct your attention to Him! You will see that all of that is within the grasp of the Almighty whose ability has no limits.’ – Ibn al-Jawzī (raḥimahullāh) **The Greatest Creation** When we ponder on the greatness of Allah’s creation, such as the heavens, the earth, His Kursī and His Majestic Throne, and then realise our own inability to comprehend them due to their greatness, we should arrive at the most important realisation: how Great must their Creator be! To understand His greatness, it helps to reflect on His greatest creation: His Throne (the ʿArsh of Allah). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The seven heavens in comparison to the Kursī is nothing but like a ring thrown in a desert; and the excellence of the Throne of Allāh over the Kursī is like the excellence of that desert over that ring.” (Bayhaqī) Imagine the Sahara Desert. The entire desert is the Kursī of Allah (ʿazza wa jall), while the size of the heavens and the earth in proportion is equivalent to a ring thrown in this desert. Now close your eyes, and let your mind ascend. Wander around this desert, which is now the Throne of Allah (ʿazza wa jall), and remember that the Kursī in proportion is the size of a ring. Can you even imagine the size of the Throne of Allah? It is mind-boggling. If we cannot comprehend this, how can we then comprehend the greatness of Allah? **Mighty Angels** From amongst the creation of Allah that recognise His greatness, and revere Him as He deserves to be revered, are His angels. Despite being given immense strength and being huge in size, angels constantly praise Allah (ʿazza wa jall) and worship Him, and they never disobey Him. Yet, on the Day of Judgement, they will look at Allah and say, “How Perfect are You! We did not worship You as You deserved to be worshipped.” Reflecting on how great the angels are will help us appreciate how great Allah, their Creator, is. Our beloved Prophet ﷺ informed us about an angel who is so great that his feet are in the lowest earth and his neck is under the Throne of Allah. Realising the greatness of Allah, he constantly repeats, “How Perfect are You! How Magnificent are You, Our Lord!” (Ṭabarānī). Similarly, the best of angels, Jibrīl (ʿalayhis-salām) was tasked with the most prestigious responsibility of transmitting the word of Allah (ʿazza wa jall). He has 600 wings. If he was to unroll a pair of them, it would fill the space between the sky and the earth. Despite his physical and spiritual greatness, the Prophet ﷺ saw him on the Night of Miʿrāj (ascension) looking like “a worn-out piece of cloth due to the fear of Allah” (Ṭabarānī). Jibrīl’s knowledge of Allah’s majesty and greatness reduced him to this state. **Connect to Al-Kabir & Al-Azim** The following are some ways in which we can call upon and worship Allah with His Names al-Kabīr (The Most Great) and al-Aẓīm (The Magnificent): *1. Humble yourself to His greatness, by affirming His Oneness, obeying Him, and fearing Him.* Let us fill our hearts with utmost respect and reverence for Allah. Let us feel awe in our hearts for Him, and feel shy of disobeying Him. Let us humble our hearts to the truth and submit to the commands of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, even if they appear ‘irrational’ to us. *2. Glorify Him by constantly reflecting on His creation.* Every day we repeat ‘اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ’(Allah is greater…!) and ‘سُبْحَانَ رَبِّـيَ الْعَظِيْمِ (How perfect is my Lord, The Magnificent!) over a hundred times in ṣalāh. Due to the repetition, we may say it mindlessly. Let us constantly think of how great He is, and magnify Him with our tongues and our hearts simultaneously. Go outside in nature and praise Allah with your tongue and heart. It will help you marvel at His greatness. [Tip: Perform your morning and evening adhkār outside, especially on days when the skies are clear and you can appreciate the beauty of Allah’s creation.] *3. Deem great what Allah has deemed ‘great’.* Let us magnify and revere Allah by honouring what He has honoured: occasions (e.g. Dhul Ḥijjah, Ramaḍān), places (e.g. al-Masjid al-Ḥarām), actions (e.g. ṣalāh, qurbānī/uḍḥiyah) & speech (e.g. recitation of the Qur’ān). Instead of allowing society and our social media feeds to dictate to us how we should live and what we should aspire to be, let us live by the standards that Allah has set for us. This will save us from misery, anxiety and depression, as the only standards that can guarantee us success and peace are the ones Allah, our Creator, has set for us. The ones set by humans are more often than not unrealistic, egotistic, flawed, harmful, and constantly changing. *4. Humble yourself in your dealings with people.* There are some qualities of Allah that we should try to emulate in our dealings with others (e.g. love, kindness, forgiveness). But there are others which are exclusive to Him such as majesty, pride and grandeur. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Allah – Exalted and Mighty is He- said, ‘Grandeur (kibriyā) is My cloak and Magnificence (ʿaẓamah) is My lower garment. Whoever competes with Me in regards to either of them, I shall cast him into the Hell-fire’” (Abū Dāwūd). Internalising that Allah is the Greatest, not us, should make us humble. When we make a mistake or hurt someone, we should acknowledge it, apologise and make amends. Arrogance is thinking we are better than others because of something we possess. When we think like this, we begin competing with Allah’s grandeur, not realising that the blessings we possess are from Allah alone. *5. Ask Allah through His Names and be comforted.* Our beloved Prophet ﷺ would recite the following duʿā’ when he encountered a difficulty: لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ الْعَظِيْمُ الْحَلِيْمُ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيْمِ There is no god worthy of worship but Allah, the Magnificent, The Forbearing. There is no god worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no god worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, Lord of the Noble Throne. (Bukhārī) Let us calm and soothe our hearts by reminding ourselves of how great Allah is, and by asking Him through His Oneness in this beautiful duʿā’. Relying on Al-Aẓīm (The Magnificent) means any ‘big’ problem or enemy we encounter can be overcome, and feel ‘small’. We ask Allah, The Magnificent, The Great, to allow us to appreciate and glorify Him as He deserves to be appreciated and glorified. We ask Allah, The Supreme to cause our awe of Him to enable us to live by His commands.

62 · The Supremely Proud

اَلْمُتَكَبِّرُ

Al-Mutakabbir

Allah is the All-Majestic, the Supreme, and the Greatest. He is High above the attributes of His creation, and from any negative trait or deficiency. This Name is exclusive for Allah. Connect to al-Mutakabbir 1. Humble yourself to Him. Allah is Great and you are insignificant, weak & desperately in need of Him. 2. Humble yourself to the truth. Submit fully to the words of Allah & His Messenger ﷺ, even if they appear 'irrational' to you. 3. Humble yourself in your dealings with people. Acknowledge your mistakes, apologise and try to make amends. 4. Praise Allah & ask Him through His Greatness. Say in your rukū' & sujūd: سُبْحَانَ ذِي الْجَبَرُوْتِ ، والْمَلَكُوْتِ ، والْكِبْرِيَاءِ ، والْعَظَمَةِ (How perfect is the Owner of might, dominion, grandeur and greatness!)

63 · The One

اَلْوَاحِدُ

Al-Wāḥid

64 · The One Who has no Equal

اَلْوِتْرُ

Al-Witr

65 · The High

اَلْعَلِيُّ

Al-ʿAliyy

66 · The Highest

اَلْأَعْلَٰى

Al-Aʿlā

67 · The Exalted

اَلْمُتَعَالِيْ

Al-Mutʿālī

68 · The Absolutely Pure

اَلْقُدُّوْسُ

The One who is pure from all deficiencies & faults. He is far and above anything which does not befit Him. Allah is free from having any partner, spouse or child. He does not sleep and does not die. He is free from forgetfulness, error and injustice. There is no one like Him. Allah (ʿazza wa jall) is Pure from all defects and evil. He is Pure in His (ʿazza wa jall) Essence and in all of His actions. He is Free from what our imaginations perceive about Him; He transcends what we think of as ‘perfection’. He purifies the hearts of His believing slaves, and is glorified by them and the angels. Connect to Al-Quddūs 1. Ask & praise Him by this Name. Say in rukū' and sujūd: سُبُّوْحٌ قُدُّوْسٌ، رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوْحِ (The Supremely Perfect, The Most Pure, The Lord of the Angels and the Spirit (Jibrīl).) 2. Sanctify Him in your heart. Accord Him the status He deserves. 3. Ask al-Quddūs to purify your heart, tongue and actions.

Al-Quddūs

69 · The Source of Peace

اَلسَّلَامُ

As-Salām

70 · The Giver of Security

اَلْمُؤْمِنُ

Al-Mu'min

71 · The Judge

اَلْحَكَمُ

Al-Ḥakam

72 · The Just

اَلْعَدْلُ

Al-ʿAdl

73 · The Supreme Judge

اَلدَّيَّانُ

Ad-Dayyān

74 · The Truth

اَلْحَقُّ

Al-Ḥaqq

75 · The Evident

اَلْمُبِيْنُ

Al-Mubīn

76 · The Inheritor

اَلْوَارِثُ

Al-Wārith

77 · The Most Glorious

اَلْمَجِيْدُ

Al-Mājīd مَجِيْدٌ [The Most Glorious]: His glory and greatness know no ends. He is the Most Generous and bestows endless favours. He is Noble and Exalted. The glory of Allah (ʿazza wa jall) refers to His beautiful actions combined with nobility.

78 · The All-Encompassing

اَلْمُحِيْطُ

Al-Muḥīṭ

79 · The Supremely Glorified

اَلسُّبُّوْحُ

As-Subbūḥ

80 · The Forgiving

اَلْغَفُوْرُ

Al-Gafūr

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Allah, Exalted is He, said: 'Son of Adam, as long as you call upon me and hope in Me, I will forgive you despite what you do, and I do not care. Son of Adam, even if your sins were to reach to the clouds of the sky, then you seek forgiveness from Me, I will forgive you. Son of Adam, even if you were to come to Me with nearly an earth full of sins, and then you meet me, not having associated anything with me, then l will surely bring you as much as the earth in forgiveness." (Hadīth Qudsī, Tirmidhī)

81 · The Most Forgiving

اَلْغَفَّارُ

Al-Gaffār

82 · The Ever-Pardoning

اَلْعَفُوُّ

Al-ʿAfuww Al-ʿAfuww is the one who wipes away sins and forgives our shortcomings. Whilst Allah’s Name ‘al-Ghafūr’ also means The Forgiving, al-ʿAfuww is more than that. Al-ʿAfuww is the one who completely removes all traces and consequences of our sins. He wipes them away from the records of the angels: He will not hold us to account for them on the Day of Judgement, nor will He remind us of them to make us feel guilty.

83 · The Most Compassionate

اَلرَّؤُوْفُ

Ar-Ra'ūf

84 · The Acceptor of Repentance

اَلتَّوَّابُ

At-Tawwāb

85 · The Most Kind/Subtle

اَللَّطِيْفُ

Al-Laṭīf

86 · The Forbearing

اَلْحَلِيْمُ

Al-Ḥalīm When we hurt someone, we hope for forgiveness, forbearance and another chance. Humans can be forbearing, but their forbearance may be because they feel they have no choice, feel weak or want to avoid confrontation. Our Lord, on the other hand, who is free of need and upon whom all the creation relies, nobly describes Himself as al-Ḥalīm: The Most Forbearing. Forbearance isn’t merely about restraining your anger. It’s about staying calm with those who anger you despite being able to dominate and exact revenge. Forbearance is, therefore, an attribute of the strong, not the weak, and this is why Allah attributes the quality to Himself. **Allah al-Halim** Imām al-Ghazālī (raḥimahullāh) defined Allah’s Name al-Ḥalīm as the One “who observes the disobedience of the rebellious and notices the opposition to the command, yet anger does not incite Him nor wrath seize Him, nor do haste and recklessness move Him to rush to take revenge, although He is utterly capable of doing that.” Take a moment to visualize the world. Observe the array of people living on its surface from the east to the west, and reflect on the innumerable sins that are being committed every minute. Consider all the injustice, murders, fraud, and theft that continues to occur around the world. Compound this image in your mind with all the kufr (disbelief in Allah) that occurs across the earth. Now imagine a world where we instantly faced the consequences of our actions. Who amongst us would survive a terrible fate? Who amongst us would not be ruined? From that image, we get a glimpse of how forbearing Allah is towards us, out of His mercy. Allah (ʿazza wa jall) says: وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللّٰهُ ٱلنَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِمْ مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ دَآبَّةٍ وَلَٰكِنْ يُّؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى “If Allah were to punish people (immediately) for their wrongdoing, He would not have left a single living being on earth. But He gives them respite for an appointed term” (16:61). Allah giving us respite is one of His greatest blessings upon us. He does not punish us immediately, but rather gives us time so that we turn back to Him with sincere repentance, and perform good deeds. Allah not only delays punishment but sends us subtle reminders so that we turn back to Him. Similarly, the heavens and the earth seek permission to destroy the inhabitants of the earth due to the magnitude of their sins. However, Allah does not allow them to do so, out of His forbearance: إِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ أَنْ تَزُوْلَا ۚ وَلَئِنْ زَالَتَآ إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيْمًا غَفُوْرًا Indeed, Allah keeps the heavens and the earth from falling apart. If they were to fall apart, none but Him could hold them up. He is truly Most Forbearing, All-Forgiving (35:41). Allah’s forbearance (ḥilm) extends to not just delaying punishment, but also to delaying the recording of our sins. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The scribe (angel) on the left delays registering the sin of a Muslim for six hours. If he repents (within these six hours), and seeks Allah’s forgiveness, they drop it off. If he doesn’t, they write it down as a single sin” (Ṭabarānī). However, this does not mean that we can become complacent and think that because Allah is Forbearing and Merciful, we can continue sinning. Some of us may have experienced what we feel is a clear punishment from Allah for a sin we committed. This does not contradict the fact that Allah is al-Ḥalīm. This is because Allah’s forbearance is always purposeful and merciful. What may seem as ‘punishments’ in this world are actually blessings in disguise, as He, the Most Wise, wants to alert us that we are on the wrong path and we need to return back to Him. **Constant Reflection on Allah’s Forbearance** We should reflect on the extent of Allah’s forbearance in our lives; and to all of His creation, especially by reflecting on the Qur’ān. We all recite the Qur’ān, but how often does one āyah lead us to deepening our understanding of who Allah is? Qatādah (raḥimahullāh) recited the āyah: اِذْهَبَآ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُۥ طَغَىٰ . فَقُوْلَا لَهُۥ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُۥ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ “Go, both of you (Mūsā & Hārūn), to Pharaoh, for he has truly transgressed all bounds. Speak to him gently so that he may take heed or he may fear Allah” (20:43-44) He then remarked, “How Perfect You are My Lord! How Forbearing You are! How Magnificent You are! If this is Your forbearance with Pharaoh who said: ‘I am your supreme lord!’, then how will Your forbearance be with a slave who says: ‘How Perfect is my Supreme Lord!” **The Forbearance of the Prophets and Righteous** Forbearance (ḥilm) is a character trait embodied by the Prophets (ʿalayhimu-salām) and the righteous. When our beloved Prophet ﷺ was assaulted by the people of Makkah, out of his beautiful character, love and wisdom, he chose to endure it with forbearance, patience and forgiveness. He never considered revenge, despite having the option to do so, and instead asked Allah to forgive and have mercy on those who harmed him. We see a beautiful display of his forbearance when he ﷺ travelled to the city of Ṭā’if to call people to Allah. Along with rejecting and mocking him, some people instructed their children to pelt him with stones. The Prophet ﷺ was so badly injured that he fell unconscious. When he re-gained consciousness, Allah sent to him the angel of the mountains who said, “O Muḥammad…If you wish, I will make al-Akhshabayn (two huge mountains located at the outskirts of Makkah) fall on them.” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Rather, I hope that Allah will bring forth from their descendants who will worship Him Alone, and they will not associate any partners with Him” (Bukhārī). Forbearance is dearly loved by Allah. Allah praises Ibrāhīm (ʿalayhis-salām) in the Qur’ān twice, by describing him as ‘forbearing (ḥalīm)’. And when Ibrāhīm (ʿalayhis-salām) made duʿā’ that Allah grants him children, Allah responded to his duʿā’: “So We gave him good news of a forbearing son” (37:101). Similarly, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said to Al-Ashajj ʿAbd al-Qays, “Indeed you have two qualities which Allah loves: forbearance and patience” (Muslim). **Connect to al-Halim** *1. Love Allah al-Ḥalīm* Reflecting on the forbearance of Allah should make our hearts melt out of love for Him. No one knows the extent of our sins as much as He does. No one is more capable than Him in punishing us, and yet no one is more forbearing and forgiving with us than Him. Allāhu Akbar! *2. Always turn to Him in repentance* Through reflecting on our daily lives, we realise that Allah is aware of our many sins and shortcomings, yet we still receive His forbearance and His kindness. Recognizing the forbearance of Allah should alert us to the fact that we need to change, and not take His forbearance for granted. It is the attribute of Allah’s forbearance that provides us the chance to even be able to change. Thus, we should constantly turn to Him and repent before it is too late. *3. Thank and praise al-Ḥalīm for His forbearance* Allah al-Ḥalīm manifests His forbearance upon us when we sin and are heedless. Even without our gratitude and acknowledgement, we are already subject to the mercy and forbearance of Allah. Imagine the blessings that await us if we expressed gratitude and praised Him for His ḥilm! *4. Be forbearing and patient with others* If we want to be recipients of Allah’s forbearance, we should embody this same trait in our dealings with His creation. A forbearing person is calm, collected, and undisturbed with others’ mistakes. He makes excuses for others’ shortcoming, forgives easily, smiles at those who frown, joins family ties, and withholds insults and the urge to retaliate, despite having the ability and right to retaliate. He is gentle and has a big heart. A point of caveat: we must exercise forbearance with wisdom and for the greater good. It should not be used as an excuse to allow abuses to continue, or avoid having difficult conversations, or abandoning moral boundaries, or neglecting the pursuit of justice. Defending oneself, and the Ummah, from abuse and tyranny is in fact an obligation; and even retaliating when it is likely to have a beneficial outcome is recommended. Forbearance and self-restraint can be learned and cultivated through practice, even if by nature we may be quick to react. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Knowledge comes through learning and forbearance comes through practicing forbearance” (Ṭabarānī). *5. Ask al-Ḥalīm to forgive you* We should ask Allah through His Name ‘al-Ḥalīm’ to forgive us, conceal our faults and protect us from punishment. Similarly, we can supplicate with the duʿā’ our beloved Prophet ﷺ would recite when he encountered a difficulty: لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ الْعَظِيْمُ الْحَلِيْمُ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيْمِ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ السَّمٰـوٰتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيْمِ There is no god worthy of worship but Allah, the Magnificent, The Forbearing. There is no god worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no god worthy of worship but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, Lord of the Noble Throne. (Bukhārī) We ask Allah, al-Ḥalīm to extend His forbearance to us so that it increases us in faith, gratitude, and obedience. We ask al-Ḥalīm to grant us the quality of forbearance, seeking His pleasure alone and becoming people of mercy.

87 · The Kind

اَلْبَرُّ

Al-Barr

88 · The Modest

اَلْحَيِيُّ

Al-Hayyiy

89 · The Concealer of Sins

اَلسِّتِّيْرُ

As-Sittīr

90 · The Generous

اَلْكَرِيْمُ

Al-Karīm

91 · The Most Bountiful

اَلْأَكْرَمُ

Al-Akram

92 · The Originator

اَلْبَدِيْعُ

Al-Bādīʿ

93 · The Creator

اَلْخَالِقُ

Al-Khāliq

94 · The Supreme Creator

اَلْخَلَّاقُ

Al-Khallāq

95 · The Inventor

اَلْبَارِئُ

Al-Bāri'

96 · The Fashioner

اَلْمُصَوِّرُ

Al-Musawwir

97 · The Most Gentle

اَلرَّفِيْقُ

Ar-Rafīq

98 · The Praised

اَلْحَمِيْدُ

Al-Ḥamīd Allah (ʿazza wa jall) is worthy of all praise in His Essence, His Attributes and His Actions. He also praises His praiseworthy slaves. One of His greatest blessings is that He allowed His creation to praise Him.

99 · The Beautiful

اَلْجَمِيْلُ

Al-Jamīl

100 · The Pure

اَلطَّيِّبُ

At-Tayyib

101 · The Most Loving

اَلْوَدُوْدُ

Al-Wadūd

Allah showers His love to those who have imān and do righteous deeds. Al-Wadūd is: 1. The one who loves His servants. 2. The one who is loved by His servants. Allah constantly bestows His love, mercy and favours to His creation, and receives the love of His servants when they worship & thank Him. Connect to al-Wadūd 1. Love Allah more than everything else. 2. Ask Allah for His love. Say: ‎اَللّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ ، وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُّحِبُّكَ ، وَحُبَّ عَمَلٍ يُّقَرِّبُنِيْ إِلَى حُبِّكَ ( I ask You for Your love, the love of those whom You love, and the love of deeds which will bring me closer to Your love.) 3. Do what will make you the recipient of Allah's love, especially following the example of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. 4. Love your fellow believers. Purify your heart from hatred & envy. Give preference to them over yourself.