We should strive to learn all the 99 names of Allah so we can better understand the attributes of Allah and can use His names and attributes to ask Him for everything we need. This will not only make our relationship with Allah stronger but also our certainty and faith in Him will increase.
“…I am invoking You [Allah] by all the names that You call Yourself, that You have taught to anyone in Your creation, that You have mentioned in Your Book, or that You have kept unknown. Let the Qur’an be Springtime of my heart, the light of my chest, the remover of my sadness and the pacifier of my worries.” – Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
- Al-Mujeeb (The Responsive)
Allah SWT is the One who responds to the prayers of all those who call upon him wherever they are and in whatever situation they are in. This should strengthen out faith when we ask Him SWT. Since Allah is the One who responds to all our prayers, we should never lose hope in His mercy. How can we loose hope in the mercy of Allah when He is the Creator of EVERYTHING that exists!?
In surat Ghafir, Allah SWT says, “And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.’….” 40:60
It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no Muslim who calls upon Allaah with words in which there is no sin or severing of family ties but Allaah will give him one of three things: either He will answer his prayer soon, or He will store it up for him in the Hereafter, or He will remove something bad from him that is equivalent to what he is asking for.” They said, “Then we should make a great amount of du’aa’.” He said, “Allaah is greater.”
- Al Hayy (The Ever Living)
Al-Hayy – This name of Allah comprises the perfection of Attributes. A man’s life is imperfect. Our hearing, sight, actions are all imperfect. Allah SWT has existed before everything and will exist after everything ceases to exist. Human beings can potentially help another human being only while they are alive and able. Once they die, they cannot benefit us or harm us. Their existence has ended. As Muslim, it thus makes total sense for us to put our trust in Allah who is Ever Living and who does not die. He is the One who can take care of our families, our loved ones after we die.
And put your trust and reliance upon the One who is Ever Living, who does not die. [Qur’aan, Soorat Al-Furqaan (25:58)].
- Al-Qayyoum (Self-subsisting One, by Whom all things subsist)
Al-Qayyoum – This name means the One who is established on His Own, Self-subsisting, by Whom all things subsist. Allah SWT is free from any need. He provides for all his creation without needing anything in return from them for His existence or His sustenance. Allah oversees all things. In our worship, we ask Allah SWT to feed us, help us and guide us. He is established in perfection by Himself. We need Him.
- An-Nur (The Light)
This is one of Allah’s Names as well as one of His Attribute.
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ – Allahis the Light (Nur) of the heavens and the earth.
And the earth will shine with the Light of its Rabb (Allaah–when He will come on the Day of Resurrection to judge among men) … [Az-Zumar 39: 69].
Scholars have said if the earth will shine with His light, then He SWT is a Nur (Light) as our Prophet ﷺ has informed us as well.
‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’oud (radhi Allaahu anhu) said: “The light of the heavens and the earth is from the Light of His Face.”
In Surat An-Nur, Allah says “The parable of His Light is as (if there were) a niche and within it is a lamp, and the lamp is in glass, the glass as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east [#9] nor of the west [#10], whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself), though no fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allaah guides to His Light whom he wills. And Allaah sets parables for mankind, and Allaah is the All-Knower of everything.” [An-Nur (24): 35]
In general, light dispels the darkness and shows us our way. If there was no light, then we would be lost. Similarly, we need His light which guides us. As humans we all have fitrah that acknowledges the truth. When we hear the words of Allah (light of revelation), it strengthens our imaan.
We should ask Allah (Al-Mujeeb) to enlighten our hearts and to make Qur’an the light of our chests so that we always remain guided.
- Al-‘Aleem (the All-Knowing)
Allah SWT knows everything. He knows whatever was, whatever is and whatever will be before it occurs. Since he is All-Knowing, he also knows what we may be going through in life, our difficult circumstances or any other challenges/obstacles that even the people close to us do not know. He SWT knows the state of our hearts. He knows what we are hiding. He knows what happened to us in the past, what is happening to us at this moment (even our thoughts) and what will happen to us in the future.
Sometimes we hear people say “I wish someone knew exactly the pain I am in” or something similar in nature. We should then be reminded of this beautiful name of Allah and remember that He SWT knows. He can heal, he can cure. We should use this name to beseech Allah as he is fully aware of what we are going through.
- Al-Qahhar (the Overwhelming Subduer Who is never overcome)
Allah is the One who has the power to subdue the whole of the creation. Everyone and everything submit to Him. We are living in a world where there are tyrants everywhere. We can ask Allah by this name to subdue the tyrants with his punishment and to hasten the punishment for them. May Allah put an end to all tyrants in this world who are taking innocent lives for their gains.
- Ash-Shaheed (the Witness)
Allah is the One who witnesses everything that is going on. He knows what is apparent and what is hidden from others. If we remember that Allah is Witnessing everything we do – our transaction, our deeds, our actions in physical realm, our actions in the digital world, etc then we will develop the taqwa to stay away from the bad things that harm us and displease Allah SWT. We will be more honest in our transactions.
- Ar-Razzaq (the Great provider)
Allah SWT is the One who provides for the entire creation with whatever they need for their physical and spiritual sustenance. He is provider of food, water, rain, beneficial knowledge (to those who deserve), eemaan and more. People need to have faith that it is Allah that provides and everything and everyone else is just a means that Allah creates. We pray to Allah SWT he provides us with means to earn halal rizq to consume and stay away from all forms of haram.
- Al-Haafidh (the Protector)
Allah SWT is the one guards and protects the heavens and the earth and whatever is in it. He protects his servants from evil and destruction. Allah SWT can provide us protection from anything and everything that His creation may seek protection from.
- As-Samee’ (the All-Hearing)
He is the All-Hearing, the One who has the ability to hear Perfectly unlike any other creation or “gods”. He SWT hears all the secrets. May Allah SWT give us the ability to hear to things beneficial so that we may benefit from it. May He enable us to speak things that are beneficial so that others hear good from our mouth.
Follow me on social media:
subhanallah!!