Qur’anic Foundation
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا
اور اللہ کے لیے سب سے اچھے نام ہیں، سو تم اُسے انہی ناموں سے پکارو۔
English: “And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them.” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:180)
also Surah Al-Isra (17:110): قُلِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ أَوِ ٱدْعُوا۟ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنَ — “Say: Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever you call – to Him belong the best names.”
Prophetic Hadiths
Hadith 1 (Bukhari & Muslim): Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ اسْمًا، مِائَةً إِلَّا وَاحِدًا، مَنْ أَحْصَاهَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
بیشک اللہ کے ننانوے نام ہیں، ایک سو میں سے ایک کم، جس نے انہیں شمار کیا (یاد کیا اور ان پر عمل کیا) وہ جنت میں داخل ہوگا۔
English: “Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine names – one hundred less one – whoever enumerates them (believes in them and acts upon them) will enter Paradise.”
Hadith 2 (Ibn Majah, Ahmad): The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah has ninety-nine names, whoever memorizes them will enter Paradise. He is odd (single) and loves odd numbers.”
Hadith 3 (Tirmidhi): Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred except one. He who enumerates (and believes in) them will enter Paradise. And He is Witr (odd) and loves the odd number.”
The 99 Names of Allah
Below is the complete list of the Asma-ul-Husna with Arabic, English transliteration, Urdu translation, and concise meanings.
May Allah bless us with understanding and practice.
Calling Upon Allah by His Names
وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا ۖ وَذَرُوا الَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِي أَسْمَائِهِ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
اور اللہ کے لیے سب سے اچھے نام ہیں، سو تم اُسے ان ہی (ناموں) سے پکارو اور ان لوگوں کو چھوڑ دو جو اس کے ناموں میں کج روی کرتے ہیں، وہ عنقریب اپنے کرتوتوں کا بدلہ پائیں گے۔
English: “And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave those who deviate concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they used to do.” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:180)
Imam Ibn Qayyim (رحمه الله) said: “The key to answered du’a is calling upon Allah with His names and attributes. Each name carries a specific meaning that corresponds to the supplication.”
Du’a with the Names
The Prophet ﷺ would often supplicate using the names of Allah. Among the most comprehensive du’as:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ
اے اللہ! میں تجھ سے ہر اس نام کے وسیلے سے مانگتا ہوں جو تیرا ہے، جو تو نے اپنے لیے رکھا ہے…
English: “O Allah, I ask You by every name that belongs to You, which You have named Yourself…” (Ahmad, Ibn Hibban – authentic)
Reflection & Practice
Memorizing the 99 names is not merely an intellectual exercise; it is a journey to knowing Allah (ma’rifah). Each name unveils an aspect of His majesty, mercy, and justice. Incorporating them into daily du’a, prayer, and contemplation transforms the heart and strengthens tawheed.
May Allah grant us the ability to know Him by His names and attributes, and to live by them. آمين.
