INFORMATION ABOUT 99 EXCELLENT NAMES OF ALLAH
"99 Names of Allah" (in Arabic: "Asma-ul Husnaa" = The Excellent
Names) are the epithets of Allah`s attributes mentioned through the
The Holy Koran and
Hadiths
(sayings of
The Last Prophet Muhammad
{peace of Allah be upon him}).
Indeed, the names and attributes referring to Allah in the Koran and sayings
of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is more than a hundred. The phrase "Asma-ul
Husnaa" contains the whole of this names and attributes in general meaning.
However it is a special term for the 99 Names of Allah in Islamic literature.
"Asma-ul Husnaa" have a very special significance in Islamic belief. Because firstly
in the Koran, Allah says: "Allah`s are the excellent names, therefore
invoke him by them. (7:180)". Secondly, as the teacher and explainer of the
Koran, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "There are 99 names of Allah; he who
commits them to memory (in the narration of Ibn `Umar this part of
sentence is: "he who enumerates them") would get into Paradise.
Allah is Odd (i.e. he is One and 99 is an odd number) and He
loves odd number: ...(Than the reporter Abu Huraira enumerates the 99 Names)..."
Because of this significance, hundreds of "Asma-ul Husna explanation books" have
been written [and is being written, even on the web ;-)] by Muslims.
Many leading Muslim writers and scholars in the Islamic history had wanted
to add their book series also an "Asma-ul Husna explanation" book. There is even books
that only examining the books written about "Asma-ul Husna".
There is absolutely an "Asma-ul Husna" collection in the works of a Muslim
calligrapher. Many Muslim teachers and parents ask their students and
children to memorize "Asma-ul Husna" by promising them some gifts. Many
good Muslims enumerate "Asma-ul Husna" every day especially after the
day`s first praying expecting the spiritual advancement and to get into
Paradise as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) heralded.
One may ask: "How come only enumerating or memorizing these names can result
the spiritual advancement and getting into Paradise ?"
" The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) again and again instructed and advised
his companions to keep their hearts always illuminated with the remembrance
of Allah. "
In the Koran Allah says: "...and certainly the remembrance of
Allah is the greatest, and Allah knows what you do." (29:45),
"Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of
Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find
satisfaction." (13:28) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "... Beware!
There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the
whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt
and that is the heart."(Sahih Bukhari / Belief (Al-Eman), Volume 1, Book 2, Number 49)
"According to him, the heart is the source of good and bad thoughts and deeds. If there is a
slackness on the part of a believer in the remembrance of Allah, bad ideas
and thoughts occur in it. At the end they result in sins or vices. When
the remembrance of Allah is in abundance, bad thoughts and ideas are suppressed
and good ones occur which lead to good deeds. "
If we keep in view the verse of Koran mentioned above (29:45) we can realize
the relationship between remembrance of Allah and the deeds it resulted:
After mentioning about remembering Him, Allah says: "and Allah knows
WHAT YOU DO."
So, memorizing or enumerating the Excellent Names of Allah, will result in
remembering him; remembering him will result in the illumination and goodness
of the heart; this good heart will result in the good deeds; and the good
deeds will take the person into Paradise by the permission of the Lord Of
the worlds Allah.
The name of the Owner and Creator of everything is: Allah, the One. Allah,
the eternally Besought of all. He begotten not nor was begotten. And there is
non comparable unto him. (Koran 112 : 1-4)
" We can call Him by other sacred names also which are attributive or qualitative
with great benefits and blessings. Nevertheless, He must be remembered, or
called upon only with one of the names by which the last Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
is known to have remembered or called on Him. The reason for this is
simple: Allah Almighty is beyond human comprehension and, therefore, to
call on Him by names out of one`s own imagination may be unbecoming to His
Omnipotence. "
So, here are the names we can call Allah at ease. Because they were taught
the mankind by the Book and the Prophet He sent.
In the tables of "Asma-ul Husnaa" that is written by the calligraphers mostly
a form is used: At the beginning of the table the phrase
"Besmillaahirrahmaanerraheem"
(In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful) is written. Than the
verse and the hadith about "Asma-ul Husnaa" is written. Than "Asma-ul Husnaa"
is written in the order that was enumerated in the related hadith.
After each name a respect statement for Allah "Jella Jelaeluh"
(His majesty exalted) said and it is written to the left of the names.
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