The Glorified Names Of ALLAH by Benammi Are the Names of Allah Limited to 99 Names Only? It is a frequent occasion where one hears the recitation of the Asmaul Husna being recited in the halls of mosques as well as religious schools. They would recite the collection of Names that is popular in the general public. Do we know that there are various versions and collections of the Asmaul Husna? Our scholars have also debated and discussed on which are the correct group of 99 Names. Hope this note would clarify certain matters. - Hadith on Asmaul Husna It was narrated by Abu Hurairah ra that the Prophet pbuh said:For Allah is 99 names, 100 except 1, a person do not memorize it except he enters paradise (ie. whoever memorizes it will enter paradise), and He ( Allah ) is One and He loves odd numbers.( Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim ) - Meaning of the Hadith Whoever memorized means those who pondered over its meanings and act upon the lessons embedded in those Names, glorify the sanctity of worship towards Allah, as well as praising the Glory of Allah. Whoever memorized the names but did not act upon the requirements, or did not place their servitude towards those Names would not benefit from this hadith. - Allah has more than 99 Names The hadith did not limit the Names of Allah SWT but rather states the virtue of those who managed to memorize the 99 Names. Allah SWT the Great Sovereign and Lord of all the Worlds have many uncountable names which befits his Glory and Honor. His names are infinite which is known only to Him alone. There are hadith which indicate that Allah SWT has more than 99 Names. - Hadith which proves that Allah has more than 99 Names It was narrated by Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud that the Prophet pbuh said: Whoever is ever afflicted by such as depression and sadness and then recites: O Allah, verily I am your servant and the son of your servant, the son of your amah (female servant), my life is in your hands, it passes in Your law, implimented as You willed, I ask of You with all the Names which is Yours, which You have named Yourself or taught anyone of your creations,or brought down in Your books, or which You have hidden by Your side in the unseen world. ( This hadith was narrated by Ibn Hibban in his Sahih, Iman Ahmad in his Musnad, Al Haithami in Majma' Az Zawaid, Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, Ibn Abi Syaibah in his Musnad, Abu Ya'la Al Musili in his Musnad, Tabarani in Al Kabir, Baihaqi in Qadha' and Qadar, Albani in his Sahihah and he grades this hadith as Sahih. It was narrated by Musnad Al Bazzar and Sheikh Shu'aib Ar Nououd grades this hadith as Sahih.) - This hadith was a supplication taught by the Prophet pbuh for those who want to remove and rid themselves of depression and sadness. It also shows that there are no limit to the numbers in the Names of Allah SWT. Allah the All Powerful and the Most Great hides many of His names from the knowledge of His creations. It was due to the weakness and the incompetencies of human to fully comprehend the greatness and the bountiful numbers of these Great Names. This is the general principle accepted and agreed upon by the majority of the scholars from the creed of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah. - - Conclusion Our scholars also state that it could not be possible that the 99 Names mentioned are the only names of Allah. There are various names mentioned in the Quran as well as in the hadith which are not amongst the 99 Names mentioned. Ar Rabb which is clearly one of the Names of Allah was not mentioned. This Name has been mentioned and used by many prophets when they make their supplication to Allah SWT. The same goes with Al Jamil, At Tayyib, Al Witr, Al Mannan, As Subbuh, Asy Shafi, Al Musta'an, Al Kafeel, Al Waafi, Al Waaqi, Al Munsyi', and many more which have not been mentioned amongst the 99 Names. These Names only prove to us that Allah have more than the 99 names and the exact number is unknown by any of His creations. And Allah Knows Best. by Ustaz Kamal Mokhtar

• published: 01 Sep 2014
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