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AN EXPLANATION OF THE PERFECT NAMES AND ATTRIBUTES OF ALLAH

"He is Allah, the Creator, the Originator, The Fashioner, to Him belong the most beautiful names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, do declare His praises and glory. And He is the Exalted in Might, The Wise. (Quran 59:24)

"The most beautiful names belong to God: so call on Him by them;..." (7:180)

It is not possible to perfectly translate the names and attributes of Allah from their original Arabic into English. However, here are some fairly close explanations.

^= letter ain of arabic '= letter hamza of arabic

Allah
bulletAllah, He who has the Godhood which is the power to create the entities.
Ar-Rahmaan
bulletThe Compassionate, The Beneficient, The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers and the blasphemers in this world and especially for the believers in the hereafter.
Ar-Raheem
bulletThe Merciful, The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers.
Al-Malik
bulletThe King, The Sovereign Lord, The One with the complete Dominion, the One Whose Dominion is clear from imperfection.
Al-Quddoos
bulletThe Holy, The One who is pure from any imperfection and clear from children and adversaries.
As-Salaam
bulletThe Source of Peace, The One who is free from every imperfection.
Al-Mu'min
bulletGuardian of Faith, The One who witnessed for Himself that no one is God but Him. And He witnessed for His believers that they are truthful in their belief that no one is God but Him.
Al-Muhaimin
bulletThe Protector, The One who witnesses the saying and deeds of His creatures.
Al-^Azeez
bulletThe Mighty, The Strong, The Defeater who is not defeated.
Al-Jabbaar
bulletThe Compeller, The One that nothing happens in His Dominion except that which He willed.
Al-Mutakabbir
bulletThe Majestic, The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures and from resembling them.
Al-Khaaliq
bulletThe Creator, The One who brings everything from non-existence to existence.
Al-Bari'
bulletThe Evolver, The Maker, The Creator who has the Power to turn the entities.
Al-Musawwir
bulletThe Fashioner, The One who forms His creatures in different pictures.
Al-Ghaffaar
bulletThe Great Forgiver, The Forgiver, The One who forgives the sins of His slaves time and time again.
Al-Qahhaar
bulletThe Subduer, The Dominant, The One who has the perfect Power and is not unable over anything.
Al-Wahhaab
bulletThe Bestower, The One who is Generous in giving plenty without any return. He is everything that benefits whether Halal or Haram.
Al-Razzaaq
bulletThe Sustainer, The Provider.
Al-Fattaah
bulletThe Opener, The Reliever, The Judge, The One who opens for His slaves the closed worldy and religious matters.
Al-^Aleem
bulletThe All-knowing, The Knowledgeable; The One nothing is absent from His knowledge.
Al-Qaabid
bulletThe Constricter, The Retainer, The Withholder, The One who constricts the sustenance by His wisdomand expands and widens it with His Generosity and Mercy.
Al-Baasit
bulletThe Expander, The Englarger, The One who constricts the sustenance by His wisdomand expands and widens it with His Generosity and Mercy.
Al-Khaafid
bulletThe Abaser, The One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction and raises whoever He willed by His Endowment.
Ar-Raafi^
bulletThe Exalter, The Elevator, The One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction and raises whoever He willed by His Endowment.
Al-Mu^iz
bulletThe Honorer, He gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him; And He degrades whoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem.
Al-Muthil
bulletThe Dishonorer, The Humiliator, He gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him; And He degrades whoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem.
As-Samee^
bulletThe All-Hearing, The Hearer, The One who Hears all things that are heard by His Eternal Hearing without an ear, instrument or organ.
Al-Baseer
bulletThe All-Seeing, The One who Sees all things that are seen by His Eternal Seeing without a pupil or any other instrument.
Al-Hakam
bulletThe Judge, He is the Ruler and His judgment is His Word.
Al-^Adl
bulletThe Just, The One who is entitled to do what He does.
Al-Lateef
bulletThe Subtle One, The Gracious, The One who is kind to His slaves and endows upon them.
Al-Khabeer
bulletThe Aware, The One who knows the truth of things.
Al-Haleem
bulletThe Forebearing, The Clement, The One who delays the punishment for those who deserve it and then He might forgive them.
Al-^Azeem
bulletThe Great One, The Mighty, The One deserving the attributes of Exaltment, Glory, Extolement,and Purity from all imperfection.
Al-Ghafoor
bulletThe All-Forgiving, The Forgiving, The One who forgives a lot.
Ash-Shakoor
bulletThe Grateful, The Appreciative, The One who gives a lot of reward for a little obedience.
Al-^Aliyy
bulletThe Most High, The Sublime, The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures.
Al-Kabeer
bulletThe Most Great, The Great, The One who is greater than everything in status.
Al-Hafeez
bulletThe Preserver, The Protector, The One who protects whatever and whoever He willed to protect.
Al-Muqeet
bulletThe Maintainer, The Guardian, The Feeder, The Sustainer, The One who has the Power.
Al-Haseeb
bulletThe Reckoner, The One who gives the satisfaction.
Aj-Jaleel
bulletThe Sublime One, The Beneficent, The One who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status.
Al-Kareem
bulletThe Generous One, The Bountiful, The Gracious, The One who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status.
Ar-Raqeeb
bulletThe Watcher, The Watchful, The One that nothing is absent from Him. Hence it's meaning is related to the attribute of Knowledge.
Al-Mujeeb
bulletThe Responsive, The Hearkener, The One who answers the one in need if he asks Him and rescues the yearner if he calls upon Him.
Al-Wasi^
bulletThe Vast, The All-Embracing, The Knowledgeable.
Al-Hakeem
bulletThe Wise, The Judge of Judges, The One who is correct in His doings.
Al-Wadood
bulletThe Loving, The One who loves His believing slaves and His believing slaves love Him. His love to His slaves is His Will to be merciful to them and praise them:Hence it's meaning is related to the attributes of the Will and Kalam (His attribute with which He orders and forbids and spoke to Muhammad and Musa -peace be upon them- . It is not a sound nor a language nor a letter.).
Al-Majeed
bulletThe Most Glorious One, The Glorious, The One who is with perfect Power, High Status, Compassion, Generosity and Kindness.
Al-Ba^ith
bulletThe Reserrector, The Raiser (from death), The One who resurrects His slaves after death for reward and/or punishment.
Ash-Shaheed
bulletThe Witness, The One who nothing is absent from Him.
Al-Haqq
bulletThe Truth, The True, The One who truly exists.
Al-Wakeel
bulletThe Trustee, The One who gives the satisfaction and is relied upon.
Al-Qawiyy
bulletThe Most Strong, The Strong, The One with the complete Power.
Al-Mateen
bulletThe Firm One, The One with extreme Power which is un-interrupted and He does not get tired.
Al-Waliyy
bulletThe Protecting Friend, The Supporter.
Al-Hameed
bulletThe Praiseworthy, The praised One who deserves to be praised.
Al-Muhsee
bulletThe Counter, The Reckoner, The One who the count of things are known to him.
Al-Mubdi'
bulletThe Originator, The One who started the human being. That is, He created him.
Al-Mu^eed
bulletThe Reproducer, The One who brings back the creatures after death.
Al-Muhyi
bulletThe Restorer, The Giver of Life, The One who took out a living human from semen that does not have a soul. He gives life by giving the souls back to the worn out bodies on the resurrection day and He makes the hearts alive by the light of knowledge.
Al-Mumeet
bulletThe Creator of Death, The Destroyer, The One who renders the living dead.
Al-Hayy
bulletThe Alive, The One attributed with a life that is unlike our life and is not that of a combination of soul, flesh or blood.
Al-Qayyoom
bulletThe Self-Subsisting, The One who remains and does not end.
Al-Waajid
bulletThe Perceiver, The Finder, The Rich who is never poor. Al-Wajd is Richness.
Al-Waahid
bulletThe Unique, The One, The One without a partner.
Al-Ahad
bulletThe One.
As-Samad
bulletThe Eternal, The Independent, The Master who is relied upon in matters and reverted to in ones needs.
Al-Qaadir
bulletThe Able, The Capable, The One attributed with Power.
Al-Muqtadir
bulletThe Powerful, The Dominant, The One with the perfect Power that nothing is withheld from Him.
Al-Muqaddim
bulletThe Expediter, The Promoter, The One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.
Al-Mu'akh-khir
bulletThe Delayer, the Retarder, The One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.
Al-'Awwal
bulletThe First, The One whose Existence is without a beginning.
Al-'Akhir
bulletThe Last, The One whose Existence is without an end.
Az-Zaahir
bulletThe Manifest, The One that nothing is above Him and nothing is underneath Him, hence He exists without a place. He, The Exalted, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.
Al-Baatin
bulletThe Hidden, The One that nothing is above Him and nothing is underneath Him, hence He exists without a place. He, The Exalted, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.
Al-Walee
bulletThe Governor, The One who owns things and manages them.
Al-Muta^ali
bulletThe Most Exalted, The High Exalted, The One who is clear from the attributes of the creation.
Al-Barr
bulletThe Source of All Goodness, The Righteous, The One who is kind to His creatures, who covered them with His sustenance and specified whoever He willed among them by His support, protection, and special mercy.
At-Tawwaab
bulletThe Acceptor of Repentance, The Relenting, The One who grants repentance to whoever He willed among His creatures and accepts his repentance.
Al-Muntaqim
bulletThe Avenger, The One who victoriously prevails over His enemies and punishes them for their sins. It may mean the One who destroys them.
Al-^Afuww
bulletThe Pardoner, The Forgiver, The One with wide forgiveness.
Ar-Ra'uf
bulletThe Compassionate, The One with extreme Mercy. The Mercy of Allah is His will to endow upon whoever He willed among His creatures.
Malik Al-Mulk
bulletThe Eternal Owner of Sovereignty, The One who controls the Dominion and gives dominion to whoever He willed.
Thul-Jalali wal-Ikram
bulletThe Lord of Majesty and Bounty, The One who deserves to be Exalted and not denied.
Al-Muqsit
bulletThe Equitable, The One who is Just in His judgment.
Aj-Jaami^
bulletThe Gatherer, The One who gathers the creatures on a day that there is no doubt about, that is the Day of Judgment.
Al-Ghaniyy
bulletThe Self-Sufficient, The One who does not need the creation.
Al-Mughni
bulletThe Enricher, The One who satisfies the necessities of the creatures.
Al-Maani^
bulletThe Preventer, The Withholder.
Ad-Daarr
bulletThe Distresser, The One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed and benefit to whoever He willed.
An-Nafi^
bulletThe Propitious, The One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed and benefit to whoever He willed.
An-Noor
bulletThe Light, The One who guides.
Al-Haadi
bulletThe Guide, The One whom with His Guidance His belivers were guided, and with His Guidance the living beings have been guided to what is beneficial for them and protected from what is harmful to them.
Al-Badi^
bulletThe Incomparable, The One who created the creation and formed it without any preceding example.
Al-Baaqi
bulletThe Everlasting, The One that the state of non-existence is impossible for Him.
Al-Waarith
bulletThe Supreme Inheritor, The Heir, The One whose Existence remains.
Ar-Rasheed
bulletThe Guide to the Right Path, The One who guides.
As-Saboor
bulletThe Patient, The One who does not quickly punish the sinners.


 

"...There is nothing whatever like unto Him, and He is the One that hears and sees (all things). Qur'an [42:11]
(Arabic transliteration: Laysa Kamithlihi Shayun Wa Huwa As-Sami' ul-Basir)

NOTE:
I found many different versions of the 99 names. The above 99 are on a poster I have. Another list includes Al-Mu'tiy - The Bestower, The Giver and does not have Al-Ahad - The One. Another list did not have Al-Razzaaq -The Sustainer, The Provider but did have Al-Maajid The Noble, The One who is Majid.

Allah (subhanahu wa ta`ala)'s names are not limited to 99, which is a common misconception. There are a couple of evidences, one is the du`aa where one calls upon Allah by the names He (subhanahu wa ta`ala) has kept to Himself (obviously not taking these names since Allah has not revealed them to us); another is the fact that in the narrations of the famous ninety nine names hadith that do contain 99 names, the names are not consistent between narrations (for example, imam al-bayhaqi reports two versions of this hadith, with different 99 names in each). It is suggested by one commentator that the names were not explicitly stated by the rasul (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam).

 

Acknowledgement: This article is taken from www.jannah.org