What are the 99 names of Allah, and how do we call upon Him by them?

Allah has described Himself throughout the Quran with names and attributes reflecting His perfection — al-Rahman (the Most Merciful), al-Alim (the All-Knowing), al-Qadir (the All-Capable), and many more. The Quran instructs, 'And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them' (7:180), making it a form of worship to actually call on Allah using the name most relevant to what you're asking for — saying ya Ghafur when seeking forgiveness, ya Razzaq when asking for provision, ya Shafi when praying for healing. The Prophet said, 'Allah has ninety-nine names — one hundred minus one — whoever preserves them will enter Paradise' (Sahih al-Bukhari 2736). Scholars explain that 'preserving' the names means more than memorising a list; it means recognising their meaning in daily life and letting them shape how you turn to Allah — trusting His mercy when you sin, His wisdom when you don't understand a trial, His provision when worried about sustenance. Learning the names deepens both knowledge of Allah and the specificity and sincerity of one's dua.

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