Greatest Names

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