This is a reference companion to The Names of God (Allah), which explains what the al-asma al-husna ("most beautiful names") are. Here we look at the traditional list of ninety-nine.567
What is authentic
The Quran teaches that God has the most beautiful names and should be called upon by them:
"And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them."
— Quran 7:180 (Saheeh International)1
"He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names."
— Quran 59:24 (Saheeh International)2
The number ninety-nine comes from an authentic hadith:
"Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred minus one; whoever enumerates them will enter Paradise."
— Sahih al-Bukhari 27363
An important note on the list
The hadith above is authentic, but it does not itself list the ninety-nine names. The famous enumerated list most people know is found in a separate narration of Jami` at-Tirmidhi (3507) — and the specific enumeration in that narration is graded weak (Da'if); al-Tirmidhi himself called it a "strange" report.4
For that reason, scholars treat the particular list below as a respected traditional compilation rather than a precisely fixed, divinely-given inventory. Its great strength is that almost every name in it is drawn directly from the Quran. Minor variations between versions of the list exist. The transliterations and English meanings here are approximate aids to understanding.
The traditional ninety-nine names
| # | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ar-Rahman | The Most Compassionate |
| 2 | Ar-Rahim | The Most Merciful |
| 3 | Al-Malik | The King, the Sovereign |
| 4 | Al-Quddus | The Most Holy |
| 5 | As-Salam | The Source of Peace |
| 6 | Al-Mu'min | The Granter of Security |
| 7 | Al-Muhaymin | The Guardian, the Overseer |
| 8 | Al-Aziz | The Almighty |
| 9 | Al-Jabbar | The Compeller, the Restorer |
| 10 | Al-Mutakabbir | The Supreme in Greatness |
| 11 | Al-Khaliq | The Creator |
| 12 | Al-Bari' | The Maker, the Originator |
| 13 | Al-Musawwir | The Fashioner of Forms |
| 14 | Al-Ghaffar | The Constant Forgiver |
| 15 | Al-Qahhar | The All-Subduer |
| 16 | Al-Wahhab | The Supreme Bestower |
| 17 | Ar-Razzaq | The Provider |
| 18 | Al-Fattah | The Supreme Opener, the Judge |
| 19 | Al-Alim | The All-Knowing |
| 20 | Al-Qabid | The Withholder |
| 21 | Al-Basit | The Extender |
| 22 | Al-Khafid | The Abaser |
| 23 | Ar-Rafi' | The Exalter |
| 24 | Al-Mu'izz | The Bestower of Honor |
| 25 | Al-Mudhill | The Humiliator |
| 26 | As-Sami' | The All-Hearing |
| 27 | Al-Basir | The All-Seeing |
| 28 | Al-Hakam | The Judge |
| 29 | Al-Adl | The Utterly Just |
| 30 | Al-Latif | The Subtle, the Gentle |
| 31 | Al-Khabir | The All-Aware |
| 32 | Al-Halim | The Forbearing |
| 33 | Al-Azim | The Magnificent |
| 34 | Al-Ghafur | The All-Forgiving |
| 35 | Ash-Shakur | The Most Appreciative |
| 36 | Al-Ali | The Most High |
| 37 | Al-Kabir | The Most Great |
| 38 | Al-Hafiz | The Preserver |
| 39 | Al-Muqit | The Sustainer, the Nourisher |
| 40 | Al-Hasib | The Reckoner |
| 41 | Al-Jalil | The Majestic |
| 42 | Al-Karim | The Most Generous |
| 43 | Ar-Raqib | The Watchful |
| 44 | Al-Mujib | The Responsive |
| 45 | Al-Wasi' | The All-Encompassing |
| 46 | Al-Hakim | The All-Wise |
| 47 | Al-Wadud | The Most Loving |
| 48 | Al-Majid | The Most Glorious |
| 49 | Al-Ba'ith | The Resurrector |
| 50 | Ash-Shahid | The Witness |
| 51 | Al-Haqq | The Truth |
| 52 | Al-Wakil | The Trustee, the Disposer of Affairs |
| 53 | Al-Qawiyy | The All-Strong |
| 54 | Al-Matin | The Firm, the Steadfast |
| 55 | Al-Waliyy | The Protecting Friend |
| 56 | Al-Hamid | The Praiseworthy |
| 57 | Al-Muhsi | The All-Enumerating |
| 58 | Al-Mubdi' | The Originator |
| 59 | Al-Mu'id | The Restorer |
| 60 | Al-Muhyi | The Giver of Life |
| 61 | Al-Mumit | The Bringer of Death |
| 62 | Al-Hayy | The Ever-Living |
| 63 | Al-Qayyum | The Self-Subsisting Sustainer |
| 64 | Al-Wajid | The Perceiver, the Finder |
| 65 | Al-Majid | The Noble, the Illustrious |
| 66 | Al-Wahid | The One |
| 67 | Al-Ahad | The Unique, the Indivisible |
| 68 | As-Samad | The Eternal, Self-Sufficient |
| 69 | Al-Qadir | The All-Capable |
| 70 | Al-Muqtadir | The All-Determining |
| 71 | Al-Muqaddim | The Expediter |
| 72 | Al-Mu'akhkhir | The Delayer |
| 73 | Al-Awwal | The First |
| 74 | Al-Akhir | The Last |
| 75 | Az-Zahir | The Manifest |
| 76 | Al-Batin | The Hidden |
| 77 | Al-Wali | The Patron, the Governor |
| 78 | Al-Muta'ali | The Most Exalted |
| 79 | Al-Barr | The Source of All Goodness |
| 80 | At-Tawwab | The Ever-Accepting of Repentance |
| 81 | Al-Muntaqim | The Avenger |
| 82 | Al-Afuww | The Pardoner |
| 83 | Ar-Ra'uf | The Most Kind |
| 84 | Malik-ul-Mulk | Master of the Kingdom |
| 85 | Dhul-Jalali wal-Ikram | Lord of Majesty and Honor |
| 86 | Al-Muqsit | The Equitable |
| 87 | Al-Jami' | The Gatherer |
| 88 | Al-Ghaniyy | The Self-Sufficient |
| 89 | Al-Mughni | The Enricher |
| 90 | Al-Mani' | The Preventer of Harm |
| 91 | Ad-Darr | The Creator of Harm |
| 92 | An-Nafi' | The Bestower of Benefit |
| 93 | An-Nur | The Light |
| 94 | Al-Hadi | The Guide |
| 95 | Al-Badi' | The Incomparable Originator |
| 96 | Al-Baqi | The Everlasting |
| 97 | Al-Warith | The Inheritor of All |
| 98 | Ar-Rashid | The Guide to the Right Path |
| 99 | As-Sabur | The Most Patient |
In short
Muslims cherish the ninety-nine names of God as a way to know and remember Him. The number is firmly established in authentic tradition; the precise list above is a beloved traditional compilation whose names are rooted in the Quran — best used with that understanding.