The Names and Attributes of Allah

Allah has described Himself in the Quran through His Names and Attributes. Muslims believe that studying these Names and Attributes is one of the most effective ways of strengthening one’s relationship with God. Each Name and Attribute nourishes a kind of consciousness and humility in man and their study leads one to constantly better their actions.






Muslims are asked to call upon God during their supplications by the most appropriate names that relate to what they are asking for. For example, if one is seeking forgiveness from God for a sin they have committed, they would call upon Him by His name “Al-Ghaffar,” meaning “The Ever Forgiving.” If one is asking for peace and tranquility in their life while experiencing a period of tension, they would call on God by His name “As-Salaam,” meaning “The Ultimate Source of Peace.”

The table below captures an approximate translation of Allah’s names. We have chosen to provide some commentary on His names relating to Mercy. However, each of the names listed could be the subject of its own article.
God’s Names Relating to Mercy

The primary Names of Allah specifically dealing with Mercy are Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim. These two names frequently occur together in the Qur’an. They are both derived from the same root word rahmah which means mercy and also has elements of sympathy, kindness, gentleness, compassion and love intertwined with it. As with all the Names of Allah, these are Names of majesty and perfection. Allah therefore manifests these qualities to the most perfect level with His Creation. Ar-Rahman signifies a flood of mercy that covers us and is endless.

The mercy we see in this world which Allah has put among His Creation is just a hundredth of all His Mercy. Examples of mercy that we see in His creation includes the love a mother has for her child (human and otherwise), the eyes with which we are able to see, the food which we are provided to consume, the generosity and kindness we show to others.

Can we image what life would be like if these things, that we often take for granted, did not exist? When we realize that this is only a small portion of His Mercy, we learn to better appreciate (although we cannot comprehend) the extent of His Mercy. The other 99 parts are for the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter, when God provides shade for the believers, makes their accounting easy, and admits them to Paradise.



God’s Mercy comes before and prevails over His Anger. We take refuge in His Mercy from His Wrath


“Say: O my servants who have acted extravagantly against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely Allah forgives the faults altogether; surely He is the Forgiving the Merciful” .
Allah’s name “Al-Ghaffar,” meaning “The Ever Forgiving,” is related to His Mercy. If one is sincere in asking for forgiveness from Allah, there is no sin that it too great for Him to forgive. When asking for forgiveness, a person would ask directly of God and there is no intermediary or religious cleric that would intervene. Islam has the principle that one has a direct relationship with God and one should learn to have dependence, faith and trust in Him for all their affairs. (Learn more: Concept of God in Islam)
People will enter Paradise by the Mercy of God

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is reported to have said that no man’s good deeds are alone enough to get him admitted into Paradise, but it is only by the Mercy of God that people will enter Paradise. Our deeds are a tool to get close to God to a place where we can be hopeful of His Mercy.
Some other Names of Allah that are related to His Mercy (with rough translations) are Al-Karim (the Generous), Al-Halim (the Forbearing), Al-Barr (the Generous), Al-Jawwad (the Bestower of Good), Ar-Rauf (the Kind) and Al-Wahhab (the Bestower).




Arabic Transliteration Translation (can vary based on context) 1 Ar-Rahman The All Beneficent, The Most Merciful in Essence, The Compassionate, The Most Gracious 2 Ar-Rahim The Most Merciful, The Most Merciful in Actions 3 Al-Malik The King, The Sovereign, The True and Ultimate King 4 Al-Quddus The Most Holy, The Most Pure, The Most Perfect 5 As-Salaam The Peace and Blessing, The Source of Peace and Safety, The Most Perfect 6 Al-Mu’min The Guarantor, The Self Affirming, The Granter of Security, The Affirmer of Truth 7 Al-Muhaymin The Guardian, The Preserver, The Overseeing Protector 8 Al-Aziz The Almighty, The Self Sufficient, The Most Honorable 9 Al-Jabbar The Powerful, The Irresistible, The Compeller, The Most Lofty, The Restorer/Improver of Affairs 10 Al-Mutakabbir The Tremendous 11 Al-Khaliq The Creator 12 Al-Bari’ The Rightful 13 Al-Musawwir The Fashioner of Forms 14 Al-Ghaffar The Ever Forgiving 15 Al-Qahhar The All Compelling Subduer 16 Al-Wahhab The Bestower 17 Ar-Razzaq The Ever Providing 18 Al-Fattah The Opener, The Victory Giver 19 Al-Alim The All Knowing, The Omniscient 20 Al-Qabid The Restrainer, The Straightener 21 Al-Basit The Expander, The Munificent 22 Al-Khafid The Abaser 23 Ar-Rafi‘e The Exalter 24 Al-Mu‘ezz The Giver of Honour 25 Al-Mudhell The Giver of Dishonour 26 As-Sami‘e The All Hearing 27 Al-Basir The All Seeing 28 Al-Hakam The Judge, The Arbitrator 29 Al-`Adl The Utterly Just 30 Al-Lateef The Subtly Kind 31 Al-Khabeer The All Aware 32 Al-Haleem The Forbearing, The Indulgent 33 Al-Azeem The Magnificent, The Infinite 34 Al-Ghafoor The All Forgiving 35 Ash-Shakoor The Grateful 36 Al-Aliyy The Sublimely Exalted 37 Al-Kabeer The Great 38 Al-Hafeez The Preserver 39 Al-Muqeet The Nourisher 40 Al-Hasib The Reckoner 41 Al-Jaleel The Majestic 42 Al-Karim The Bountiful, The Generous 43 Ar-Raqib The Watchful 44 Al-Mujib The Responsive, The Answerer 45 Al-Wasse‘e The Vast, The All Encompassing 46 Al-Hakeem The Wise 47 Al-Wadud The Loving, The Kind One 48 Al-Majeed The All Glorious 49 Al-Ba’ith The Raiser of The Dead 50 Ash-Shaheed The Witness 51 Al-Haqq The Truth, The Real 52 Al-Wakeel The Trustee, The Dependable 53 Al-Qawee The Strong 54 Al-Mateen The Firm, The Steadfast 55 Al-Walee The Protecting Friend, Patron and Helper 56 Al-Hamid The All Praiseworthy 57 Al-Muhsi The Accounter, The Numberer of All 58 Al-Mubdi’ The Producer, Originator, and Initiator of All 59 Al-Mu‘id The Reinstater Who Brings Back All 60 Al-Muhyi The Giver of Life 61 Al-Mumit The Bringer of Death, The Destroyer 62 Al-Hayy The Ever Living 63 Al-Qayyum The Self Subsisting Sustainer of All 64 Al-Wajid The Perceiver, The Finder, The Unfailing 65 Al-Majid The Illustrious, The Magnificent 66 Al-Wahid The One, The Unique, Manifestation of Unity 67 Al-Ahad The One, the All Inclusive, The Indivisible 68 As-Samad The Self Sufficient, The Impregnable,
The Eternally Besought of All, The Everlasting 69 Al-Qadir The All Able 70 Al-Muqtadir The All Determiner, The Dominant 71 Al-Muqaddim The Expediter, He Who Brings Forward 72 Al-Mu’akhir The Delayer, He Who Puts Far Away 73 Al-Awwal The First 74 Al-Akhir The Last 75 Az-Zahir The Manifest, The All Victorious 76 Al-Batin The Hidden, The All Encompassing 77 Al-Waali The Patron 78 Al-Muta’ali The Self Exalted 79 Al-Barr The Most Kind and Righteous 80 At-Tawwab The Ever Returning, Ever Relenting 81 Al-Muntaqim The Avenger 82 Al-‘Afuww The Pardoner, The Effacer of Sins 83 Ar-Ra’uf The Compassionate, The All Pitying 84 Malik-al-Mulk The Owner of All Sovereignty 85 Dhu-al-Jalaliwa-al-Ikram The Lord of Majesty and Generosity 86 Al-Muqsit The Equitable, The Requiter 87 Al-Jami‘e The Gatherer, The Unifier 88 Al-Ghani The All Rich, The Independent 89 Al-Mughni The Enricher, The Emancipator 90 Al-Mani’e The Withholder, The Shielder, the Defender 91 Ad-Darr The Distressor, The Harmer, The AfflictorThis attribute can only be found in hadith 92 An-Nafi‘e The Propitious, The Benefactor 93 An-Nur The Light 94 Al-Hadi The Guide 95 Al-Badi The Incomparable, The Originator 96 Al-Baqi The Ever Enduring and Immutable 97 Al-Warith The Heir, The Inheritor of All 98 Ar-Rashid The Guide, Infallible Teacher and Knower 99 As-Sabur The Patient, The Timeless.