09. Ar-Rahmaan (The Most Beneficent)
10. Ar-Raheem (the Most Merciful)
11. Al-Barr (The Generous)
12. Al-Kareem (the Kind)
13. Al-Jawwaad (The Bestower of Good)
14. Ar-Ra`oof (the Kind)
15. Al-Wahhaab (The Bestower)
All of these Names are close in meaning and all of them point to describing the Lord with Mercy, Generosity, Kindness, and to the great expanse of His Mercy and Generosity that encompasses all that is existence being granted in accordance to what His Wisdom dictates. 
The believers have been specifically singled out for this and they are granted a goodly and the best portion of this as Allah said, "My Mercy encompasses all things and I shall decree it for those who have taqwaa." (7:156) So the blessings and the good are all from the effects of His Mercy, Generosity and Kindness just as all the goodness in this world and in the Hereafter is from the effects of His Mercy.
"'Verily, we used to invoke Him Alone before. Verily He is the Generous, the Most Merciful." (52:28)
"O man! What has made you careless concerning your Lord, the Kind." (82:6)
"And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, (Allah would have hastened the Punishment). And that Allah is the Kind, the Most Merciful." (24:20)
"(They say): Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us Mercy from You. Truly you are the Bestower." (3:8)
16. Al-Hameed (the One Who is praised)
In His Essence, Names, Attributes and Actions. He possesses the best of names and the most perfect of attributes and the best and most complete actions for indeed the Actions of Allah are based upon Grace and Justice.
"Alif Laam Raa. A Book which We have revealed to you that you might lead mankind out of darkness into the light by the leave of their Lord, the Mighty, the One Who is praised." (14:1)
"And indeed We bestowed upon Luqmaan wisdom saying: 'Give thanks to Allah,' and whosoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for (the good) of his own self. And whoever is ungrateful then verily Allah is All-Rich, Worthy of All praise." (31:12)
O you mankind, you are needy of Allah and Allah is the Most Wealthy, the Most Praiseworthy. [Fatir (35):15]
Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned that Allah is praiseworthy from two aspects:
The first of them is that all of the creation pronounces His praise. Thus, every praise occurs from the inhabitants of the heavens and earth, the first of them and the last of them; and every praise that occurs from them in this life and the hereafter; and every praise that has not occurred from them, but was decreed and destined throughout the continuation of time and the connecting of all eras; then it is praise that fills all the existence. It fills the existence of the uppermost world, the lower world and the parallel existences without any counting or calculating. For verily Allah deserves this praises from many different aspects. From these is that Allah is the one who created them and sustains them, He bestows upon them apparent and hidden bounties, religious and worldly bounties. He averts from them vengeance and adversities. Whatever bounty that the servant may have, then it is from Allah. None wards off evils except He. Therefore, he deserves from them that they praise Him at all times and that they laud Him and thank Him at every moment.
The second aspect is that He is praised for what He possesses of the Most Excellent names and the Most Lofty and Perfect Attributes, His are the praise, exaltations and descriptions that are magnificent and beautiful. Unto Him belongs every perfect characteristic and from these characteristics, His are the most perfect and the most great. Thus, every attribute of His Attributes deserves the most perfect praise and exaltation. Therefore, how about all of His Holy Attributes combined? So unto Him belongs the praise due to his self, His attributes and His actions. This is because His actions rotate between actions of blessing and goodness, and action of justice and wisdom, which due to them He deserves the most perfect praise. To Him belongs praise because of His creating, His legislation and the laws of recompense in the beginning (this life) and the end (the hereafter). The classifying of His praise and that which He is praised cannot be encompassed by the intellects, or calculated by the pens.
[Al-Haqq Al-Waadhih Al-Mubeen, pg. 39-40, and Sharh Al-Qaseedah An Nooniyyah by Al-Harraas (2/75)]. And Tawdheeh Al-Maqaasid was Tasheeh Al-Qawaaid 2/215]
17. Al-Afuww (the Forgiving)
18. Al-Ghafoor (the Forgiving)
19. Al-Ghaffaar (the All-Forgiving)
The One Who was and is known with the Attribute of Forgiveness. The One Who is described as having Forgiveness and Compassion. Everyone is in dire need of His forgiveness just as they are in dire need of His Mercy and Kindness. Allah has promised forgiveness to the one who fulfils its conditions.
He said, "And indeed I am All-Forgiving to him who repents, believes, associates none in worship with Me, does righteous deeds and then remains constant in doing them." (20:82)
"Whether you disclose a good deed, or conceal it, or pardon an evil verily Allah is the Forgiving, Most Merciful." (4:152)
"And indeed I am the All-Forgiving to him who repents, believes and does righteous deeds and then remains constant in doing them." (20:82)
20. At-Tawwaab (the Oft-Returning)
The One Who is continuously turning (in forgiveness) to those that turn to Him (in repentance), Who forgives the sins of the penitent. Everyone who turns to Allah sincerely, Allah turns to them by firstly granting them the ability to repent and turning their hearts towards Him, and after this He turns to them by accepting their repentance and forgiving their errors.
"Know they not that Allah accepts the repentance from His slaves and takes the charity and that Allah is the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful?" (9:104)
"O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it! Fear Allah, indeed Allah is the oft-Returning, Most Merciful." (49:12)
21. Al-Quddoos (the Holy)
22. As-Salaam (the Peace)
The One Who is far greater and far removed from any imperfection, or that He resemble any of His creation. Hence he is far removed from any defect just as He is far removed from anything resembling Him or coming close to resembling Him in any of His Attributes of Perfection.
"There is nothing like Him"(42:11)
"There is no one equal to or comparable to Him"(112:3)
"Do you know of any who is similar to Him?" (19:65)
"Then do not set up rivals to Allah." (2:22)
Al-Quddoos is similar in meaning to as-Salaam in that they both negate any form of imperfection while at the same time including unlimited perfection in every way. This because when deficiency has been removed then all that remains is perfection.
"Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah - the King, the Holy, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (62:1)
23. Al-Alee (the High)
24. al-A`laa (the Highest)
25. Al-Mutaaal (The Exalted)
To Him belongs highness in all of its aspects, Highness of His Essence, Highness of His Attributes and esteem, Highness of Strength and Power. He is the One Who has risen over His Throne and the One Who Has encompassed the dominion. He is the One in Whom all the attributes of greatness, grandness, magnificence and beauty find perfection and fulfillment.
"To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth, and He is the High, the Great." (42:4)
"Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High" (87:1)
“And He feels no Fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” [Al-Baqarah(2):225].
“He, the Exalted said, “All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Most Great, the Most High (Or Exalted).” [Ar-Ra’d (13):9].
This shows all of the meanings of highness that are affirmed for Allah in every aspect. He is lofty in His essence because He is above all creation. He has ascended over the throne, which means that He rose and elevated (over it). He has loftiness in His ability. This refers to His Exalted attributes and their greatness. The attributes of the creation cannot compare to Him. The creatures all together could not encompass even some of the meaning of one attribute of His attributes! He, the Exalted said; “They cannot encompass anything of His knowledge.” [Taa Haa (20): 110] by this it is known that nothing is similar to Him in any of His characteristics. He also has loftiness in His subjugation. Verily He is the One, the Irresistible, who compels all of the creation with His might and exaltedness. The forelocks of the creatures are in His hand. Whatever He wills will be, and there is none who can resist Him in that. Whatever He does not will, it will not be. If all the creation gathers together to bring about what Allah does not will, they would not be able to do so. Also, if they gathered together to prevent what has been determined by His will, they could not prevent it. This is due to the perfection of His Might, the authority of His will, and the severity of all the creations need of Him in every aspect. (2) [Al-Haqq ul-Wadhih ul-Mubeen, pg. 26, and Sharh Un-Nooniyyah, by Al-Harraas 2/68.]
26. Al-Mannaan (The Bestower)
Al-Mannaan is one of the Excellent Names of Allah mentioned by the Prophet (peace be upon him). In a hadeeth from Anas Ibn Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) heard a man saying: “Oh Allah I ask and beseech you because for You is the praise and there is nothing worthy of worship besides You [You are Alone and without partner] Al-Mannaan, Oh Badee’us samaawaati wal-ard (Originator of the heavens and the Earth), Oh Dhul Jalaali wal ikraam (Possessor of Majesty and Honor), Oh Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyoom (Ever-Living and Self-Subsistent), I beg You for Al-Jannah and seek Your refuge from An-Naar.” So the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, This man has beseeched Allah with His Greatest Name by which if one asks by it he is given and if he supplicates by it he will be answered. [Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibaan, Ahmed, Al-Haakim, An-Nasaa’i]
Al-Mannaan is: The One Who bestows grace and Who gives from Himself and gives freely and profusely. It is He who gave life, the ability to think, speak and shape to the creation. He bestows provision, health, security and internal and external favors and most importantly He bestowed guidance to Islam and eemaan
27. Al-Jabbaar (the Compeller)
This includes the meaning of Al-Alee and Al-A`laa, the meaning of Al-Qahhaar, and the meaning of Ar-Ra`oof. The One Who is Compelling over dejected hearts, to the one who is weak and impotent, to the one who resorts to Him and seeks refuge with him.
"He is Allah, other than whom none has the right to be worshipped. The King, the Holy, The One free from defects, the Giver of Security, the Ever-Watcher, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) Above all that they associate as partners with Him." (59:23)
28. Al-Mutakabbir (the Supreme)
The One Who is above any evil, defect and deficiency due to His greatness and grandeur.
"He is Allah, other than whom none has the right to be worshipped. The King, the Holy, The One free from defects, the Giver of Security, the Ever-Watcher, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) Above all that they associate as partners with Him." (59:23)
29. Al-Khaaliq (the Creator)
30. Al-Baari (the Originator)
31. Al-Musawwir (the Shaper)
The One Who created all that is in existence, Who made everything correct and in its place in accordance to His Wisdom, Who Shaped it in accordance to His praise and Wisdom. He is continuously doing so.
"He is Allah, the Creator, the Originator, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (59:24)
32. Al-Mumin (The Giver of Security)
The One Who Has praised Himself with Perfect Attributes and with perfection of magnificence and beauty. The One Who sent His Messengers and revealed His Books containing signs and clear proofs. Who testified to the truth of His Messengers by giving them every sign and proof that would prove the truth of what they came with.
"He is Allah, other than whom none has the right to be worshipped. The King, the Holy, The One free from defects, the Giver of Security, the Ever-Watcher, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) Above all that they associate as partners with Him." (59:23)
33. Noorus-Samaawaati Wal-Ardh (Light of the Heavens and the Earth)
Allah says:
"Allah is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth. the parable of His light is as if therewere a niche and within it a lamp; the lamp is in a glass, the glass as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow forth of itself, though no fire touched it. Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allah sets forth parables for mankind, and Allah is All-Knower of everything." [An-Noor 24:35]
The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:
Oh Allah for You is the praise and You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth and all therein... [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
This is a great Attribute since it describes the One Possessing Majesty and Honor and deserving of glorification and praise and Who if He were to remove the veil from His Noble Countenance all that would be exposed to it in the creation would be disintegrated and His Light would illuminate all the creation and it is the Light from his Countenance that brings light to all darkness and that lights up the Arsh, the Kursi and the seven levels of heaven, indeed all the universe.
His Light is of two types:
- That which is perceived (hissee) such as the light that emanates from the universe and that would not exist without His light.
- The spiritual (ma'nawee) which reaches the hearts and the hearing and the vision and that constitutes the light for the slaves in this life and the next.
"Allah guides with His Light whom He wills". And just as Allah has mentioned, He is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth, He has also called His Book and His Messenger and the Revelation light. - As-Sadee
What must be avoided are the excesses of the Sufis who went too far and did not distinguish between Light as a description of the self and the light of faith and knowledge. Due to worshipping and deifying without complete knowledge some among them perceived the light that comes to the heart from the sincere worship of Allah meant that the person themselves became a part of Allah or had a part of Allah the Most Holy in them so much incorrect and ugly speech emanated from them due to delusion and ignorance in this regard and Allah is Most High and free from what they wrongly attributed to Him.
The people of knowledge however distinguished between the Light that is a part of Allah and His Attribute and the light given to the creation both perceived and spiritual. The believer who perfects his faith is given light in his heart from Allah so that he sees the reality of things and he can clearly distinguish between falsehood and truth until it becomes a part of his life and his power toward good in knowledge and action. He is cleared of doubts and confusion and gets knowledge and clarity and is freed from lusts and negligence and darkness. His speech and actions are characterized as light and he is surrounded by it, while the disbeliever or the hypocrite, the rebellious and unmindful wander about confused and in darkness and all this is due to what they have themselves done.
34. Al-Muhaymin (the Ever-Watching)
The One Who sees all the hidden matters, all that the hearts keep concealed, the One Whose Knowledge encompasses everything.
"He is Allah, other than whom none has the right to be worshipped. The King, the Holy, The One free from defects, the Giver of Security, the Ever-Watcher, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) Above all that they associate as partners with Him." (59:23)
35. Al-Qadeer (All-Powerful, the Able)
The One Who has complete and perfect power and ability, by His Power He brought everything into existence, by it He arranges all the affairs, by it He fashioned and perfected the creation, by it He brings to life and causes to die, by it He will resurrect the servants for their recompense - rewarding the one who did good with His good and the one who worked evil with His Hellfire. The One Who, when He wills a thing to be he merely says 'Be!' and it is. By His power and ability he turns the hearts and directs them to whatsoever He Wills and Desires.
"For every nation there is a direction which they face, so hasten towards all that is good. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you together, Allah is Able to do all things." (2:148)
"(What is the matter with you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: From where does this come to us? Say: It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds). And Allah is the All-Powerful." (3:165)
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99 Names of Allah
