The Islam Compass

Knowing Your Creator

The Names and Attributes of Allah.

Allah

The Qur'an invites people to call upon God by His own names.

وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا

And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them.
Qur'an — Surah Al-A'raf 7:180Translation: Saheeh International

A well-known hadith records that Allah has ninety-nine names, "whoever memorises them will enter Paradise." The list circulated in popular posters is not itself part of that narration in every version, and scholars differ over which enumeration is intended.

For that reason this page publishes only names that appear plainly in the Qur'an or authentic Sunnah, each with its reference. The selection will grow as further names are checked one by one.

  • SunnahSahih al-Bukhari 2736 — the ninety-nine names
  • SunnahSahih Muslim 2677 — the ninety-nine names

A verified selection

  • ٱلرَّحْمَٰن

    Ar-Rahman

    The Entirely Merciful — mercy as an essential, all-encompassing quality.

    Qur'an 1:3; 55:1

  • ٱلرَّحِيم

    Ar-Rahim

    The Especially Merciful — mercy shown in act, particularly to the believers.

    Qur'an 1:3; 33:43

  • ٱلْخَٰلِق

    Al-Khaliq

    The Creator, who brings into being from nothing.

    Qur'an 59:24

  • ٱلْعَلِيم

    Al-'Alim

    The All-Knowing, from whom nothing is hidden.

    Qur'an 2:32; 6:59

  • ٱلسَّمِيع

    As-Sami'

    The All-Hearing, who hears every call.

    Qur'an 42:11; 2:127

  • ٱلْبَصِير

    Al-Basir

    The All-Seeing, from whom nothing is concealed.

    Qur'an 42:11; 17:1

  • ٱلْغَفُور

    Al-Ghafur

    The All-Forgiving, who covers and pardons sin.

    Qur'an 39:53; 2:173

  • ٱلْحَىّ

    Al-Hayy

    The Ever-Living, whose life is without beginning or end.

    Qur'an 2:255

  • ٱلْقَيُّوم

    Al-Qayyum

    The Sustainer of all existence, self-subsisting.

    Qur'an 2:255

  • ٱلْعَزِيز

    Al-'Aziz

    The Almighty, invincible in might.

    Qur'an 59:23

Mercy is presented as the dominant note.

“When Allah created the creation, He wrote in His Book — and it is with Him above the Throne — "Indeed, My mercy prevails over My wrath."”

Sahih al-Bukhari · 7404 (also Sahih Muslim 2751)

How Muslims speak about the attributes

Names such as Hearing and Seeing are affirmed as He revealed them, without asking how, and without imagining a human likeness — because "there is nothing like unto Him."

The purpose of learning them is not classification. It is that a person who knows their Creator is merciful, aware and forgiving relates to Him differently.

  • Qur'anQur'an 42:11
  • ScholarshipIbn Taymiyyah, al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah — on affirming the Names and Attributes without likening or denial

Sources & References

6 cited
    1. 1Sahih al-Bukhari 2736 — the ninety-nine names
    2. 2Sahih Muslim 2677 — the ninety-nine names
    3. 3Sahih al-Bukhari 7404; Sahih Muslim 2751 — "My mercy prevails over My wrath"
    1. 1Ibn Taymiyyah, al-'Aqidah al-Wasitiyyah — on affirming the Names and Attributes without likening or denial

Religious content here follows the Qur'an, the authentic Sunnah, and the established scholarship of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah. Qur'an citations link to the verse; hadith carry collection and number; Tafsir and historical claims name the work. Where something could not be verified, it is not published.

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