The Beautiful Names of Allah (Asma-ul-Husna)

The Beautiful Names (Asma-ul-Husna) describe the beautiful attributes of Allah. It is known from the hadiths of Allah's Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), that Asma-ul-Husna and its virtues are of great importance.

WHAT DOES ASMA-UL-HUSNA MEAN?
"Asma-ul-Husna" is a phrase formed by the plural of "name" (asma) and "the most beautiful" (husna), meaning "the most beautiful names." It is a term used for all the names of Almighty Allah. As expressed in the Quran: "Allah—there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the most beautiful names." (Taha 20:8); and "... To Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth exalts Him, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise." (Al-Hashr 59:24). The most beautiful names belong exclusively to Allah because He is the possessor of all perfection and excellence. His names are sacred attributes that express the highest and absolute superiority.

Allah the Almighty has many names mentioned in the Quran and authentic hadiths. By learning these names, a servant comes to know Allah, loves Him, and becomes a true servant. In the Quran, it is commanded: "And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them..." (Al-A'raf 7:180), instructing that supplications and prayers should be made using Asma-ul-Husna. The multiplicity of Asma-ul-Husna does not imply multiplicity in the Being they refer to; all names point to that single Divine Being: "Say, 'Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever [name] you call—to Him belong the best names.'" (Al-Isra 17:110)

VIRTUES OF ASMA-UL-HUSNA
The importance of knowing the meanings of the 99 names of Allah—the sole sovereign of everything, from whom everyone comes and to whom everyone will return—is emphasized in both the Quran and hadiths. Every believing servant must constantly remember Allah's names and engage in His remembrance. Those who recite, memorize, and live by Asma-ul-Husna are promised Paradise in the Hereafter. In the Quran, Allah instructs every believer to supplicate to Him using Asma-ul-Husna.

THE 99 NAMES OF ALLAH AND THEIR MEANINGS