The 99 Names of Allah: Arabic, Transliteration and Meaning
Allah describes Himself in the Quran with many names: the Most Merciful, the All-Knowing, the Forgiving, the Provider. Together they are called al-asmāʾ al-ḥusnā, "the most beautiful names". Knowing them is how we come to know who we worship.
This article gives the well-known list of 99 names in Arabic, with transliteration and meaning. It also explains the hadith about them, what it means to "count" them, and what scholars have said about the list itself.
The most beautiful names in the Quran
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ فَٱدۡعُوهُ بِهَاۖ وَذَرُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلۡحِدُونَ فِيٓ أَسۡمَٰٓئِهِۦۚ سَيُجۡزَوۡنَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ
And to Allāh belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing. (7:180)
"So invoke Him by them": the names are not only for learning; they are for dua. When you need forgiveness, call on al-Ghaffār; when you need provision, on ar-Razzāq; when you need healing or relief, on ar-Raḥmān, ar-Raḥīm.
The end of Surah Al-Hashr gathers many of them in three verses:
هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ عَٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱلۡقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَٰمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُ ٱلۡمُهَيۡمِنُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡجَبَّارُ ٱلۡمُتَكَبِّرُۚ سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ
He is Allāh, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. He is Allāh, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Grantor of Security, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allāh above whatever they associate with Him. He is Allāh, the Creator, the Producer, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (59:22-24)
Whoever counts them will enter Paradise
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred less one. Whoever counts them (aḥṣāhā) will enter Paradise" (Sahih al-Bukhari 7392; Sahih Muslim 2677).
What does aḥṣāhā, "counts them", mean? The scholars explained it on several levels:
- Learning them by heart and counting them out, as al-Bukhari's own explanation says.
- Understanding their meanings, not only saying the words.
- Calling on Allah by them, as 7:180 commands.
- Living by them: someone who knows Allah is ar-Raqīb, the Watchful, guards their actions; someone who knows He is at-Tawwāb keeps repenting.
Many scholars, including Ibn al-Qayyim, said the full reward comes with all of these together.
Is the famous list authentic?
The hadith in Bukhari and Muslim says Allah has ninety-nine names but doesn't list them. The list that most people know comes from a longer version in al-Tirmidhi (Jami' al-Tirmidhi 3507). Al-Tirmidhi himself called it gharīb. Many hadith scholars, including Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Hajar, said the list was most likely added by one of the narrators, compiled from the Quran, rather than spoken by the Prophet ﷺ; al-Albani graded the listing weak.
This doesn't make the names wrong: almost all of them are in the Quran or authentic hadith. But it means:
- The list isn't the only possible 99. Scholars like Ibn Hajar and Ibn ʿUthaymin compiled their own lists from the Quran and Sunnah, and they differ slightly.
- Allah has more than 99 names. In a dua recorded by Imam Ahmad, the Prophet ﷺ asked Allah "by every name that is Yours, which You named Yourself, or revealed in Your Book, or taught to any of Your creation, or kept with Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen". Names like ar-Rabb (the Lord) and al-Akram (the Most Generous) are in the Quran but not in the famous list.
The list below follows the text of al-Tirmidhi's narration, which begins "He is Allah, other than whom there is no god" and then lists 98 more names, so "Allah" is counted first. Many popular lists instead start from ar-Raḥmān and add al-Aḥad (the One) after al-Wāḥid; both versions are found in copies of the hadith.
The 99 names
| # | Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | اللَّهُ | Allāh | The name of God, the One worthy of worship |
| 2 | الرَّحْمَنُ | Ar-Raḥmān | The Entirely Merciful |
| 3 | الرَّحِيمُ | Ar-Raḥīm | The Especially Merciful |
| 4 | الْمَلِكُ | Al-Malik | The King |
| 5 | الْقُدُّوسُ | Al-Quddūs | The Most Pure |
| 6 | السَّلاَمُ | As-Salām | The Source of Peace, Free from all flaws |
| 7 | الْمُؤْمِنُ | Al-Muʾmin | The Granter of Security, The Faithful |
| 8 | الْمُهَيْمِنُ | Al-Muhaymin | The Overseer, The Guardian |
| 9 | الْعَزِيزُ | Al-ʿAzīz | The Almighty, Exalted in Might |
| 10 | الْجَبَّارُ | Al-Jabbār | The Compeller, The Restorer |
| 11 | الْمُتَكَبِّرُ | Al-Mutakabbir | The Supreme in Greatness |
| 12 | الْخَالِقُ | Al-Khāliq | The Creator |
| 13 | الْبَارِئُ | Al-Bāriʾ | The Maker, The Producer |
| 14 | الْمُصَوِّرُ | Al-Muṣawwir | The Fashioner of Forms |
| 15 | الْغَفَّارُ | Al-Ghaffār | The Ever-Forgiving |
| 16 | الْقَهَّارُ | Al-Qahhār | The Subduer, The Prevailing |
| 17 | الْوَهَّابُ | Al-Wahhāb | The Bestower of Gifts |
| 18 | الرَّزَّاقُ | Ar-Razzāq | The Provider |
| 19 | الْفَتَّاحُ | Al-Fattāḥ | The Opener, The Judge |
| 20 | الْعَلِيمُ | Al-ʿAlīm | The All-Knowing |
| 21 | الْقَابِضُ | Al-Qābiḍ | The Withholder |
| 22 | الْبَاسِطُ | Al-Bāsiṭ | The Extender |
| 23 | الْخَافِضُ | Al-Khāfiḍ | The Abaser |
| 24 | الرَّافِعُ | Ar-Rāfiʿ | The Exalter |
| 25 | الْمُعِزُّ | Al-Muʿizz | The Giver of Honour |
| 26 | الْمُذِلُّ | Al-Mudhill | The Giver of Humiliation |
| 27 | السَّمِيعُ | As-Samīʿ | The All-Hearing |
| 28 | الْبَصِيرُ | Al-Baṣīr | The All-Seeing |
| 29 | الْحَكَمُ | Al-Ḥakam | The Judge |
| 30 | الْعَدْلُ | Al-ʿAdl | The Just |
| 31 | اللَّطِيفُ | Al-Laṭīf | The Subtle, The Gentle |
| 32 | الْخَبِيرُ | Al-Khabīr | The All-Aware |
| 33 | الْحَلِيمُ | Al-Ḥalīm | The Forbearing |
| 34 | الْعَظِيمُ | Al-ʿAẓīm | The Magnificent |
| 35 | الْغَفُورُ | Al-Ghafūr | The All-Forgiving |
| 36 | الشَّكُورُ | Ash-Shakūr | The Appreciative, Rewarder of Thanks |
| 37 | الْعَلِيُّ | Al-ʿAliyy | The Most High |
| 38 | الْكَبِيرُ | Al-Kabīr | The Most Great |
| 39 | الْحَفِيظُ | Al-Ḥafīẓ | The Preserver |
| 40 | الْمُقِيتُ | Al-Muqīt | The Sustainer, The Nourisher |
| 41 | الْحَسِيبُ | Al-Ḥasīb | The Reckoner, The Sufficient |
| 42 | الْجَلِيلُ | Al-Jalīl | The Majestic |
| 43 | الْكَرِيمُ | Al-Karīm | The Most Generous |
| 44 | الرَّقِيبُ | Ar-Raqīb | The Watchful |
| 45 | الْمُجِيبُ | Al-Mujīb | The Responsive, Answerer of Prayers |
| 46 | الْوَاسِعُ | Al-Wāsiʿ | The All-Encompassing, The Vast |
| 47 | الْحَكِيمُ | Al-Ḥakīm | The All-Wise |
| 48 | الْوَدُودُ | Al-Wadūd | The Loving |
| 49 | الْمَجِيدُ | Al-Majīd | The Most Glorious |
| 50 | الْبَاعِثُ | Al-Bāʿith | The Resurrector |
| 51 | الشَّهِيدُ | Ash-Shahīd | The Witness |
| 52 | الْحَقُّ | Al-Ḥaqq | The Truth |
| 53 | الْوَكِيلُ | Al-Wakīl | The Trustee, Disposer of Affairs |
| 54 | الْقَوِيُّ | Al-Qawiyy | The All-Strong |
| 55 | الْمَتِينُ | Al-Matīn | The Firm |
| 56 | الْوَلِيُّ | Al-Waliyy | The Protecting Friend |
| 57 | الْحَمِيدُ | Al-Ḥamīd | The Praiseworthy |
| 58 | الْمُحْصِي | Al-Muḥṣī | The Counter, Who records all things |
| 59 | الْمُبْدِئُ | Al-Mubdiʾ | The Originator |
| 60 | الْمُعِيدُ | Al-Muʿīd | The Restorer, Who brings back |
| 61 | الْمُحْيِي | Al-Muḥyī | The Giver of Life |
| 62 | الْمُمِيتُ | Al-Mumīt | The Bringer of Death |
| 63 | الْحَيُّ | Al-Ḥayy | The Ever-Living |
| 64 | الْقَيُّومُ | Al-Qayyūm | The Self-Sustaining, Sustainer of all |
| 65 | الْوَاجِدُ | Al-Wājid | The Finder, Who lacks nothing |
| 66 | الْمَاجِدُ | Al-Mājid | The Noble, The Glorious |
| 67 | الْوَاحِدُ | Al-Wāḥid | The One |
| 68 | الصَّمَدُ | Aṣ-Ṣamad | The Eternal Refuge, Self-Sufficient |
| 69 | الْقَادِرُ | Al-Qādir | The Able |
| 70 | الْمُقْتَدِرُ | Al-Muqtadir | The All-Powerful |
| 71 | الْمُقَدِّمُ | Al-Muqaddim | The Expediter, Who brings forward |
| 72 | الْمُؤَخِّرُ | Al-Muʾakhkhir | The Delayer, Who puts back |
| 73 | الأَوَّلُ | Al-Awwal | The First |
| 74 | الآخِرُ | Al-Ākhir | The Last |
| 75 | الظَّاهِرُ | Aẓ-Ẓāhir | The Manifest, The Uppermost |
| 76 | الْبَاطِنُ | Al-Bāṭin | The Hidden, The Innermost |
| 77 | الْوَالِي | Al-Wālī | The Governor, The Patron |
| 78 | الْمُتَعَالِي | Al-Mutaʿālī | The Supremely Exalted |
| 79 | الْبَرُّ | Al-Barr | The Source of Goodness, The Kind |
| 80 | التَّوَّابُ | At-Tawwāb | The Accepter of Repentance |
| 81 | الْمُنْتَقِمُ | Al-Muntaqim | The Avenger |
| 82 | الْعَفُوُّ | Al-ʿAfuww | The Pardoner |
| 83 | الرَّؤُوفُ | Ar-Raʾūf | The Most Kind, The Compassionate |
| 84 | مَالِكُ الْمُلْكِ | Mālik al-Mulk | Owner of All Sovereignty |
| 85 | ذُو الْجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ | Dhul-Jalāli wal-Ikrām | Possessor of Majesty and Honour |
| 86 | الْمُقْسِطُ | Al-Muqsiṭ | The Equitable |
| 87 | الْجَامِعُ | Al-Jāmiʿ | The Gatherer |
| 88 | الْغَنِيُّ | Al-Ghaniyy | The Self-Sufficient, The Rich |
| 89 | الْمُغْنِي | Al-Mughnī | The Enricher |
| 90 | الْمَانِعُ | Al-Māniʿ | The Preventer, The Withholder |
| 91 | الضَّارُّ | Aḍ-Ḍārr | The One who allows harm |
| 92 | النَّافِعُ | An-Nāfiʿ | The Giver of Benefit |
| 93 | النُّورُ | An-Nūr | The Light |
| 94 | الْهَادِي | Al-Hādī | The Guide |
| 95 | الْبَدِيعُ | Al-Badīʿ | The Incomparable Originator |
| 96 | الْبَاقِي | Al-Bāqī | The Everlasting |
| 97 | الْوَارِثُ | Al-Wārith | The Inheritor |
| 98 | الرَّشِيدُ | Ar-Rashīd | The Guide to the Right Path |
| 99 | الصَّبُورُ | Aṣ-Ṣabūr | The Patient |
A few names only make sense in pairs, and scholars advised mentioning them together: al-Qābiḍ and al-Bāsiṭ (who withholds and who extends), al-Khāfiḍ and ar-Rāfiʿ, al-Muʿizz and al-Mudhill, aḍ-Ḍārr and an-Nāfiʿ. Allah withholds in wisdom and gives in mercy; harm happens only by His permission, and benefit comes only from Him.
How to learn the names
- A few at a time. Learn five names a week, with their meaning, and you will have all of them in about five months.
- Start with the ones you meet in the Quran. Many verses end with a pair of names, such as al-ʿAzīz al-Ḥakīm or al-Ghafūr ar-Raḥīm. Notice how the pair fits what the verse said.
- Use them in dua. Match the name to the request: Yā Razzāq for provision, Yā Ghaffār for forgiveness, Yā Shāfī for healing.
- Think about what each one asks of you. If He is al-Ḥalīm, the Forbearing, be patient with people. If He is al-Karīm, be generous.
- Read the surahs built on them. Ayatul Kursi and Surah Al-Ikhlas are both about who Allah is, and Surah Ar-Rahman is named after one of His names.
You can read the Quran with translation on Quran Surfer and look out for the names as you read.