Misplaced Pages

Names of God in Islam: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 12:51, 17 October 2006 edit83.5.70.139 (talk) 100th Name of God← Previous edit Revision as of 15:10, 17 October 2006 edit undo83.5.70.139 (talk) 100th Name of GodNext edit →
Line 236: Line 236:
:"Verily, there are ninety-nine names of God, one hundred minus one. He who enumerates them would get into Paradise." :"Verily, there are ninety-nine names of God, one hundred minus one. He who enumerates them would get into Paradise."
:: (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 4, p. 1410) :: (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 4, p. 1410)

===Arab Christianity===
In ], the idea of the 100th name is based on trinitarian idea. Thus 100th name of Allāh for ] is Al Thalouth Al Moqaddas, that means Holy Trinity, because whole Allāh is consisted from Abu-Father, Bin-Son, and Ruh-Spirit.


===Sufism=== ===Sufism===
Line 251: Line 248:
The ] has claimed to fulfill the prophecy of the ], and the 100th name was revealed as "]" (an Arabic word بهاء meaning "glory, splendor" etc.), and is the root word for ] and Bahá'í. The ] wrote a noted pentagram ] with 360 derivatives of the word "Bahá'" used in it. While the Bahá'í Faith has roots in Islam, it is an independent religion, and its followers are not considered Muslims. The ] has claimed to fulfill the prophecy of the ], and the 100th name was revealed as "]" (an Arabic word بهاء meaning "glory, splendor" etc.), and is the root word for ] and Bahá'í. The ] wrote a noted pentagram ] with 360 derivatives of the word "Bahá'" used in it. While the Bahá'í Faith has roots in Islam, it is an independent religion, and its followers are not considered Muslims.


===Other Traditions=== ===Arab Folklore===
] says that the ] knows the 100th name of God but will tell no one. That is why he solemnly holds his head high and plods defiantly across the desert, holding the secret to himself. ] says that the ] knows the 100th name of God but will tell no one. That is why he solemnly holds his head high and plods defiantly across the desert, holding the secret to himself.


Some people claim that the 99 names are adjectives of God and do not tell us the true entity of God. The 100th name may be the one that really is the name of God. Some people claim that the 99 names are adjectives of God and do not tell us the true entity of God. The 100th name may be the one that really is the name of God.

===Arab Christianity===
In ], the idea of the 100th name is based on trinitarian idea. Thus 100th name of Allāh for ] is Al Thalouth Al Moqaddas, that means Holy Trinity, because whole Allāh is consisted from Abu-Father, Bin-Son, and Ruh-Spirit.


==Personal Names== ==Personal Names==

Revision as of 15:10, 17 October 2006

The 99 Names of God, also known as The 99 attributes of Allah (Template:ArB Template:ArTranslit), are the names of God revealed to man in the Qur'an; even though His names (as adjectives, word constructs, or otherwise) exceed ninety-nine in the Qur'an.

Origin

In one Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad used to call God by all his names:

"Allahumma inni ad`uka bi asma'ika al-husna kulliha"
"اللهم اني ادعوك باسمائك الحسنى كلها"
"O God, I invoke you with all of your beautiful names."
(Narrated by Ibn Maja, book of Du`a; and by Imam Malik in his Muwatta', Kitab al-Shi`r)

The Prophet is also reported to have said in a famous Hadith:

"Verily, there are ninety-nine names of God, one hundred minus one. He who enumerates them would get into Paradise."
(Sahih Muslim, Vol. 4, p. 1410)

This caused people to search them out in the Qur'an, and a list was compiled. Over time it became custom to recite the list in its entirety. While most muslims believe that this list is mentioned by the prophet himself, the specialist muslim scholars argue that the list was just compiled by a muslim scholar, (Al Waaleed ibn Muslim). If it was only an attempt of a scholar, they are not necessarily the names proper, and other attempts may still be made. A recent scholar, Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Razek, made an attempt of this kind and explained in detail why he differs in opinion with Al Waleed about enlisting some of the names. However, reciting the traditional names has developed into a ritual by some muslims (a bit like a Catholic litany of Saints) as an attempt to enumerate them, while some other muslims believe that the "enumeation" is not just the act of recitation, but applying the attributes that the names suggest.

As one Muslim puts it:

"...by reciting and contemplating the names, and by embodying them as far as possible in his actions, the devout Muslim strives to remember God and draws near to Him, and with God's grace makes them part of his own being."

Palm of the Hand

What could be interpreted as the number 99 written in Arabic is imprinted on human hands. If one looks at his or her palms, thumbs facing upward, the lines in the hands appear as "١٨ ٨١", which are the arabic numerals of 81 and 18, which sum to 99.

For Muslims this is a reference to the names of God. It should be noted that this has no Islamic or Qu'ranic basis supporting it, and is more likely a novelty that has developed in Muslim culture.

List of Names

The 99 Names of God according to the tradition of Islam are:

# Transliteration Translation
1 Allah (الله) (The) God
2 Ar-Rahman (الرحمن) The All Beneficent
3 Ar-Rahim (الرحيم) The Most Merciful
4 Al-Malik (الملك) The King, The Sovereign
5 Al-Quddus (القدوس) The Most Holy
6 As-Salam (السلام) The Peace and Blessing
7 Al-Mu'min (المؤمن) The Guarantor
8 Al-Muhaymin (المهيمن) The Guardian, The Preserver
9 Al-Aziz (العزيز) The Almighty, The Self Sufficient
10 Al-Jabbar (الجبار) The Powerful, The Irresistible
11 Al-Mutakabbir (المتكبر) The Tremendous
12 Al-Khaliq (الخالق) The Creator
13 Al-Bari' (البارئ) The Maker
14 Al-Musawwir (المصور) The Fashioner of Forms
15 Al-Ghaffar (الغفار) The Ever Forgiving
16 Al-Qahhar (القهار) The All Compelling Subduer
17 Al-Wahhab (الوهاب) The Bestower
18 Ar-Razzaq (الرزاق) The Ever Providing
19 Al-Fattah (الفتاح) The Opener, Tthe Victory Giver
20 Al-`Alim (العليم) The All Knowing, The Omniscient
21 Al-Qabid (القابض) The Restrainer, The Straightener
22 Al-Basit (الباسط) The Expander, The Munificent
23 Al-Khafid (الخافض) The Abaser
24 Ar-Rafi (الرافع) The Exalter
25 Al-Mu'izz (المعز) The Giver of Honour
26 Al-Mudhill (المذل) The Giver of Dishonour
27 As-Sami (السميع) The All Hearing
28 Al-Basir (البصير) The All Seeing
29 Al-Hakam (الحكم) The Judge, The Arbitrator
30 Al-`Adl (العدل) The Utterly Just
31 Al-Latif (اللطيف) The Subtly Kind
32 Al-Khabir (الخبير) The All Aware
33 Al-Halim (الحليم) The Forbearing, The Indulgent
34 Al-Azim (العظيم) The Magnificent, The Infinite
35 Al-Ghafur (الغفور) The All Forgiving
36 Ash-Shakur (الشكور) The Grateful
37 Al-Ali (العلى) The Sublimely Exalted
38 Al-Kabir (الكبير) The Great
39 Al-Hafiz (الحفيظ) The Preserver
40 Al-Muqit (المقيت) The Nourisher
41 Al-Hasib (الحسيب) The Reckoner
42 Al-Jalil (الجليل) The Majestic
43 Al-Karim (الكريم) The Bountiful, The Generous
44 Ar-Raqib (الرقيب) The Watchful
45 Al-Mujib (المجيب) The Responsive, The Answerer
46 Al-Wasi (الواسع) The Vast, The All Encompassing
47 Al-Hakim (الحكيم) The Wise
48 Al-Wadud (الودود) The Loving, The Kind One
49 Al-Majid (المجيد) The All Glorious
50 Al-Ba'ith (الباعث) The Raiser of The Dead
51 Ash-Shahid (الشهيد) The Witness
52 Al-Haqq (الحق) The Truth, The Real
53 Al-Wakil (الوكيل) The Trustee, The Dependable
54 Al-Qawiyy (القوى) The Strong
55 Al-Matin (المتين) The Firm, The Steadfast
56 Al-Waliyy (الولى) The Protecting Friend, Patron and Helper
57 Al-Hamid (الحميد) The All Praiseworthy
58 Al-Muhsi (المحصى) The Accounter, The Numberer of All
59 Al-Mubdi' (المبدئ) The Producer, Originator, and Initiator of all
60 Al-Mu'id (المعيد) The Reinstater Who Brings Back All
61 Al-Muhyi (المحيى) The Giver of Life
62 Al-Mumit (المميت) The Bringer of Death, The Destroyer
63 Al-Hayy (الحي) The Ever Living
64 Al-Qayyum (القيوم) The Self Subsisting Sustainer of All
65 Al-Wajid (الواجد) The Perceiver, The Finder, The Unfailing
66 Al-Majid (الماجد) The Illustrious, The Magnificent
67 Al-Wahid (الواحد) The One, the All Inclusive, The Indivisible
68 As-Samad (الصمد) The Self Sufficient, The Impregnable, The Eternally Besought of All, The Everlasting
69 Al-Qadir (القادر) The All Able
70 Al-Muqtadir (المقتدر) The All Determiner, The Dominant
71 Al-Muqaddim (المقدم) The Expediter, He Who Brings Forward
72 Al-Mu'akhkhir (المؤخر) The Delayer, He Who Puts Far Away
73 Al-Awwal (الأول) The First
74 Al-Akhir (الأخر) The Last
75 Az-Zahir (الظاهر) The Manifest, The All Victorious
76 Al-Batin (الباطن) The Hidden, The All Encompassing
77 Al-Wali (الوالي) The Patron
78 Al-Muta'ali (المتعالي) The Self Exalted
79 Al-Barr (البر) The Most Kind and Righteous
80 At-Tawwab (التواب) The Ever Returning, Ever Relenting
81 Al-Muntaqim (المنتقم) The Avenger
82 Al-'Afuww (العفو) The Pardoner, The Effacer of Sins
83 Ar-Ra'uf (الرؤوف) The Compassionate, The All Pitying
84 Malik-al-Mulk (مالك الملك) The Owner of All Sovereignty
85 Dhu-al-Jalal wa-al-Ikram (ذو الجلال و الإكرام) The Lord of Majesty and Generosity
86 Al-Muqsit (المقسط) The Equitable, The Requiter
87 Al-Jami' (الجامع) The Gatherer, The Unifier
88 Al-Ghani (الغنى) The All Rich, The Independent
89 Al-Mughni (المغنى) The Enricher, The Emancipator
90 Al-Mani'(المانع) The Withholder, The Shielder, the Defender
91 Ad-Darr (الضار) The Distressor, The Harmer (This attribute can only be found in hadith)
92 An-Nafi' (النافع) The Propitious, The Benefactor
93 An-Nur (النور) The Light
94 Al-Hadi (الهادي) The Guide
95 Al-Badi (البديع) The Incomparable, The Originator
96 Al-Baqi (الباقي) The Ever Enduring and Immutable
97 Al-Warith (الوارث) The Heir, The Inheritor of All
98 Ar-Rashid (الرشيد) The Guide, Infallible Teacher and Knower
99 As-Sabur (الصبور) The Patient, The Timeless

Another epithet found in the Qur'an is Dhul Fazl al Azim (ذو الفضل العظيم) "The Lord of Infinite Grace" (2.105, 3.74, 8.29, 57.21, 57.29, 62.4), but it is not part of the traditional list of the 99 names of Allah.

100th Name of God

Muslims teach that there are 99 names for God and that the 100th name is hidden. The idea has become a kind of mystery with little references to what it means. (Mellis)

Once again, the Hadith about the names of God says:

"Verily, there are ninety-nine names of God, one hundred minus one. He who enumerates them would get into Paradise."
(Sahih Muslim, Vol. 4, p. 1410)

Sufism

In Sufism, the idea of the 100th name is most prominent. It has become the elusive object of mystic devotion, the symbol of God's transcendent being.

Sufis often describe their discipline as the quest to know the one-hundredth name of God and thus to merge their consciousness with the divine reality.

Mahdi

Other such Hadiths, which vary according to different Shi'a sects of Islam, suggest that the 100th Name will be revealed by the Mahdi on the day of resurrection, known as the day of Qiyamah.

Bahá'í

The Bahá'í Faith has claimed to fulfill the prophecy of the Mahdi, and the 100th name was revealed as "Bahá’" (an Arabic word بهاء meaning "glory, splendor" etc.), and is the root word for Bahá'u'lláh and Bahá'í. The Báb wrote a noted pentagram tablet with 360 derivatives of the word "Bahá'" used in it. While the Bahá'í Faith has roots in Islam, it is an independent religion, and its followers are not considered Muslims.

Arab Folklore

Arab folklore says that the camel knows the 100th name of God but will tell no one. That is why he solemnly holds his head high and plods defiantly across the desert, holding the secret to himself.

Some people claim that the 99 names are adjectives of God and do not tell us the true entity of God. The 100th name may be the one that really is the name of God.

Arab Christianity

In Arab Christianity, the idea of the 100th name is based on trinitarian idea. Thus 100th name of Allāh for Arab Christians is Al Thalouth Al Moqaddas, that means Holy Trinity, because whole Allāh is consisted from Abu-Father, Bin-Son, and Ruh-Spirit.

Personal Names

According to Islamic tradition, a Muslim may not be given any of the 99 names of God in the exact same form- for example, nobody may be named Al Malik (The King), but may be named Malik 'King'. Similarly, Allah Baksh and so on. An exception may be made in some cases — for example, the son of Khattab ibn Nufayl is named "Umar ibn Khattab", but since his father was famous, he is called Umar ibn al-Khattab. This implies "Umar, the son of the Khattab" and not "Umar, the son of the Khattab". In the same manner, there are people named "x ibn al-y".

However the names/attributes of God can be combined with the word "‘Abd -" which means servant (i.e. - of God) and are commonly used as personal names among Muslims. For example ‘Abd ar-Rahman ("servant of the Most Compassionate God").

Some notable people having names resembling those 99 (but without the article "The" which is only used to denote God) are:

  • Muhammad (The one who is praised) resembles al-Hamid (The All Praiseworthy).
  • Ali (High) resembles al-Ali (The High).
  • Khadija as-Salami resembles as-Salam (The God of Peace and blessing).

See also

Notes

  1. Fleming, Marrianne (2004). Religious Studies for AQA; Thinking About God and Morality. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Publishers. ISBN 0435307134. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

References

  • Mellis, J.K., Abu Sharif: Mystery of the 100th Name

External links

Template:Link FA

Categories: