An Explanation of the Perfect Names and Attributes
of Allah
"He is Allah, the
Creator, the Originator, The Fashioner, to Him belong the most beautiful
names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, do declare His praises and
glory. And He is the Exalted in Might, The Wise. (Quran 59:24)
"The most
beautiful names belong to God: so call on Him by them;..." (7:180)
It is not possible to
perfectly translate the names and attributes of Allah from their original
Arabic into English. However, here are some fairly close explanations.
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Arabic
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English Translation
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1
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Allah (الله)
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The Greatest Name
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2
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Ar-Rahman (الرحمن)
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The All-Compassionate
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3
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Ar-Rahim (الرحيم)
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The All-Merciful
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4
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Al-Malik (الملك)
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The Absolute Ruler
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5
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Al-Quddus (القدوس)
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The Pure One
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6
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As-Salam (السلام)
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The Source of Peace
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7
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Al-Mu'min (المؤمن)
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The Inspirer of Faith
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8
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Al-Muhaymin (المهيمن)
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The Guardian
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9
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Al-Aziz (العزيز)
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The Victorious
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10
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Al-Jabbar (الجبار)
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The Compeller
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11
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Al-Mutakabbir (المتكبر)
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The Greatest
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12
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Al-Khaliq (الخالق)
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The Creator
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13
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Al-Bari' (البارئ)
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The Maker of Order
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14
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Al-Musawwir (المصور)
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The Shaper of Beauty
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15
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Al-Ghaffar (الغفار)
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The Forgiving
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16
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Al-Qahhar (القهار)
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The Subduer
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17
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Al-Wahhab (الوهاب)
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The Giver of All
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18
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Ar-Razzaq (الرزاق)
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The Sustainer
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19
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Al-Fattah (الفتاح)
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The Opener
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20
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Al-`Alim (العليم)
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The Knower of All
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21
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Al-Qabid (القابض)
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The Constrictor
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22
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Al-Basit (الباسط)
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The Reliever
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23
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Al-Khafid (الخافض)
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The Abaser
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24
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Ar-Rafi (الرافع)
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The Exalter
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25
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Al-Mu'izz (المعز)
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The Bestower of Honors
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26
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Al-Mudhill (المذل)
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The Humiliator
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27
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As-Sami (السميع)
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The Hearer of All
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28
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Al-Basir (البصير)
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The Seer of All
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29
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Al-Hakam (الحكم)
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The Judge
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30
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Al-`Adl (العدل)
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The Just
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31
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Al-Latif (اللطيف)
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The Subtle One
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32
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Al-Khabir (الخبير)
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The All-Aware
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33
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Al-Halim (الحليم)
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The Forebearing
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34
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Al-Azim (العظيم)
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The Magnificent
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35
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Al-Ghafur (الغفور)
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The Forgiver and Hider of Faults
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36
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Ash-Shakur (الشكور)
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The Rewarder of Thankfulness
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37
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Al-Ali (العلى)
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The Highest
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38
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Al-Kabir (الكبير)
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The Greatest
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39
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Al-Hafiz (الحفيظ)
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The Preserver
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40
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Al-Muqit (المقيت)
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The Nourisher
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41
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Al-Hasib (الحسيب)
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The Accounter
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42
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Al-Jalil (الجليل)
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The Mighty
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43
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Al-Karim (الكريم)
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The Generous
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44
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Ar-Raqib (الرقيب)
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The Watchful One
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45
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Al-Mujib (المجيب)
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The Responder to Prayer
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46
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Al-Wasi (الواسع)
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The All-Comprehending
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47
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Al-Hakim (الحكيم)
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The Perfectly Wise
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48
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Al-Wadud (الودود)
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The Loving One
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49
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Al-Majid (المجيد)
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The Majestic One
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50
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Al-Ba'ith (الباعث)
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The Resurrector
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51
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Ash-Shahid (الشهيد)
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The Witness
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52
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Al-Haqq (الحق)
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The Truth
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53
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Al-Wakil (الوكيل)
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The Trustee
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54
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Al-Qawiyy (القوى)
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The Possessor of All Strength
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55
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Al-Matin (المتين)
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The Forceful One
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56
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Al-Waliyy (الولى)
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The Governor
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57
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Al-Hamid (الحميد)
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The Praised One
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58
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Al-Muhsi (المحصى)
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The Appraiser
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59
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Al-Mubdi' (المبدئ)
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The Originator
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60
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Al-Mu'id (المعيد)
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The Restorer
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61
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Al-Muhyi (المحيى)
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The Giver of Life
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62
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Al-Mumit (المميت)
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The Taker of Life
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63
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Al-Hayy (الحي)
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The Ever Living One
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64
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Al-Qayyum (القيوم)
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The Self-Existing One
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65
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Al-Wajid (الواجد)
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The Finder
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66
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Al-Majid (الماجد)
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The Glorious
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67
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Al-Wahid (الواحد)
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The One, the All Inclusive, The Indivisible
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68
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As-Samad (الصمد)
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The Satisfier of All Needs
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69
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Al-Qadir (القادر)
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The All Powerful
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70
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Al-Muqtadir (المقتدر)
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The Creator of All Power
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71
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Al-Muqaddim (المقدم)
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The Expediter
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72
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Al-Mu'akhkhir (المؤخر)
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The Delayer
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73
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Al-Awwal (الأول)
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The First
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74
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Al-Akhir (الأخر)
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The Last
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75
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Az-Zahir (الظاهر)
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The Manifest One
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76
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Al-Batin (الباطن)
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The Hidden One
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77
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Al-Wali (الوالي)
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The Protecting Friend
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78
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Al-Muta'ali (المتعالي)
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The Supreme One
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79
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Al-Barr (البر)
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The Doer of Good
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80
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At-Tawwab (التواب)
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The Guide to Repentance
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81
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Al-Muntaqim (المنتقم)
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The Avenger
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82
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Al-'Afuww (العفو)
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The Forgiver
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83
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Ar-Ra'uf (الرؤوف)
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The Clement
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84
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Malik-al-Mulk (مالك الملك)
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The Owner of All
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85
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Dhu-al-Jalal wa-al-Ikram (ذو الجلال و الإكرام)
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The Lord of Majesty and Bounty
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86
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Al-Muqsit (المقسط)
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The Equitable One
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87
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Al-Jami' (الجامع)
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The Gatherer
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88
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Al-Ghani (الغنى)
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The Rich One
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89
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Al-Mughni (المغنى)
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The Enricher
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90
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Al-Mani'(المانع)
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The Preventer of Harm
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91
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Ad-Darr (الضار)
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The Creator of The Harmful
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92
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An-Nafi' (النافع)
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The Creator of Good
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93
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An-Nur (النور)
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The Light
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94
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Al-Hadi (الهادي)
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The Guide
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95
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Al-Badi (البديع)
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The Originator
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96
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Al-Baqi (الباقي)
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The Everlasting One
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97
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Al-Warith (الوارث)
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The Inheritor of All
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98
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Ar-Rashid (الرشيد)
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The Righteous Teacher
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99
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As-Sabur (الصبور)
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The Patient One
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"...There is
nothing whatever like unto Him, and He is the One that hears and sees (all
things). Qur'an [42:11]
(Arabic transliteration: Laysa Kamithlihi Shayun Wa Huwa
As-Sami' ul-Basir)
NOTE:
I found many different versions of the 99 names. The above 99 are on a
poster I have. Another list includes Al-Mu'tiy - The Bestower, The
Giver and does not have Al-Ahad - The One. Another list did not have
Al-Razzaaq -The Sustainer, The Provider but did have Al-Maajid
The Noble, The One who is Majid.
Allah (subhanahu wa
ta`ala)'s names are not limited to 99, which is a common misconception.
There are a couple of evidences, one is the du`aa where one calls upon Allah
by the names He (subhanahu wa ta`ala) has kept to Himself (obviously not
taking these names since Allah has not revealed them to us); another is the
fact that in the narrations of the famous ninety nine names hadith that do
contain 99 names, the names are not consistent between narrations (for
example, imam al-bayhaqi reports two versions of this hadith, with different
99 names in each). It is suggested by one commentator that the names were
not explicitly stated by the rasul (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam).
Courtesy: Jannah Organization