Surely, the Muttaqun (the pious who fear Allah swt much) desire to be amongst the Mufarradun (those who remember Allah, subhana watala, much, and whose enemies are destroyed by Allah, t'ala, for their wrong deeds).

The Names of Allaah mentioned in the Qur'aan and Sunnah number over one hundred, as several scholars have agreed (see Al-Qawaa'id al-Muthlaa fi Sifaat Allaahi wa Asmaa'ihi by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn 'Uthaymeen). Among these names are 99 that will lead to paradise, insha'Allah.

There is a list of 99 specific Names of Allah that is found in hadith and is rejected as 'weak' by the following scholars: at-Tirmidhi, al-Baihaqi, ibn Hazm, al-Dawudi, ibn Taymiya, ibn Katheer, ibn Hajr, al-Juwaini, ibn Baz, al-Albani, ibn Uthaimin and Abdul Qadir al-Arnaut.  They consider the actual listing of the names as a later addition by one of the narrators of the hadith and that some narrators mistakenly included it as part of the hadith. This well-known or at least highly publicized list contains Names of Allah swt that cannot be found in authentic hadith or Quranic text. Meanwhile, modern day Sufi's exploit this list by offering mystical, unsupported advice for the use of each Name (i.e. "say this 100 times in a row over a glass of water, blow on it, and you are guaranteed success...").

The fact that there are 99 Names leading to paradise, is authenticated in the following hadith, although it does not list which Names those are:

• Hadith - Sahih Muslim and Bukhari 8:419, Narrated Abu Huraira : Allah has ninety-nine Names, i.e., one hundred minus one, and whoever 'ahsaha' [enumerates them, believes in them, ponders their meanings, worships Allah by them and supplicates with them, and acts by them according to one's belief in them] will enter Paradise; and Allah is Witr ("Odd", i.e. He is one, and it is an odd number) and loves 'the Witr' (i.e., odd numbers).

The Names of Allah swt should be memorized, understood, acted upon, and called upon.

The 99 Names listed on these pages are not necessarily the 99 that you should learn in order to attain paradise, but are merely provided as a starting point for learning and ultimate means to draw near your Lord.

Allâh! Lâ ilâhla illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! To Him belong the Best Names.

The Noble Qur'an Al-A'raf 7:180

And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allâh, so call on Him by them, and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names. They will be requited for what they used to do.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) made the following supplication, "[O Allah], I ask you of you by every name that You have named yourself or that You have revealed in Your book or that You have taught any of Your creation or that You have kept hidden, in the unseen knowledge, with Yourself." (Recorded by Ahmad, According to al-Albani, it is sahih.)

1.	ALLAH	God	Ta Ha v 14
2.	AL-'AZIZ	The Mighty One	Hashr v 23
3.	AL-'ALIM	The All-Knowing	Al-Baqarah v 115
4.	AL-'AZIM	The Great One	Al-Baqarah v 255
5.	AL-'ALIYY	The Sublime	Shura v 12
6.	AL-AHAD	The One	Ikhlas v 1
7.	AL-AWWAL	The First	Hadid v 3
8.	AL-AKHIR	The Last	Hadid v 3
9.	AL-'AFUW	The Pardoner	Nisa v 149
10.	AL-AKRAM	The Most Bounteous	'Alq v 3
11.	AL-A'LA	The Most High	A'la v 7
12.	AL-'ALLAM	The Omniscient	Ma'ida v 112
13.	AL-BARI'	The Maker	Hashr v 24
14.	AL-BASIR	The All-Seeing One	Al-'Imran v 15
15.	AL-BATIN	The Hidden	Hadid v 3
16.	AL-BARR	The Source of All Goodness	Tur v 28
17.	AL-BADI'	The Originator	Al-Baqarah v 117
18.	AL-BA'ITH	The Awakener	Hajj v 7
19.	AL-BAQI	The Everlasting One	Rahman v 27
20.	AL-FATTAH	The Judge	Al-Saba v 26
21.	AL-FATIR	The Creator	Shura v 11
22.	AL-GHAFFAR	The Great Forgiver	Nuh v 10
23.	AL-GHAFUR	The All-Forgiving	Mala'ikah v 28
24.	AL-GHANI	The Self-Sufficient	Mala'ikah v 15
25.	AL-GHAFIR	The Forgiver	Mu'min v 3
26.	GHALIB	The Predominant	Yusuf v 21
27.	AL-HALIM	The Clement	Banu Isra'il v 44
28.	AL-HAFIIZ	The Preserver	Hud v 57
29.	AL-HASIB	The Reckoner	Nisa v 6
30.	AL-HAKIM	The Wise	Al-Baqarah v 129
31.	AL-HAQQ	The Truth	Hajj v 6
32.	AL-HAMEED	The Praiseworthy	Hajj v 64
33.	AL-HAYY	The Alive	Al-Imran v 2
34.	AL-HADI	The Guide	Furqan v 31
35.	AL-HAAFIZ	The Protector	Yusuf v 64
36.	AL-HAFIYY	The Gracious	Maryam v 47
37.	AL-ILAH	God	Ambiya v 108
38.	AL-JABBAR	The Compeller	Hashr v 23
39.	AL-JAME'	The Gatherer	Al-Imran v 9
40.	AL-JALEEL	The Glorious	Rahman v 78
41.	AL-KHALIQ	The Creator	Hashr v 24
42.	AL-KHABIR	The Aware	Al-Saba' v 1
43.	AL-KABIR	The Most Great	Al-Saba' v 23
44.	AL-KAFIL	The Surety	Nahl v 91
45.	AL-KHALLAQ	The Creator	Hijr v 86
46.	AL-KAFI	The Sufficient One	Zumar v 36
47.	AL-LATIF	The Subtle One	Al-An'am v 104
48.	AL-MALIK	The Sovereign	Ta Ha v 114
49.	AL-MU'MIN	The Giver of Peace	Hashr v 23
50.	AL-MUHAIMIN	The Protector	Hashr v 23
51.	AL-MUTAKABBIR	The Majestic	Hashr v 23
52.	AL-MUSAWWIR	The Fashioner	Hashr v 24
53.	AL-MUQIT	The Maintainer, The Protector, The Guardian, The Feeder, The Sustainer	Nisa v 85
54.	AL-MUJIB	The Responsive	Hud v 61
55.	AL-MAJID	The Most Glorious One	Hud v 73
56.	AL-MATIN	The Firm One	Zariyat v 58
57.	AL-MUQTADIR	The Powerful	Qamar v 42
58.	AL-MUTA'ALI	The Most Exalted	Ra'd v 11
59.	AL-MUBIN	The Manifest	Nur v 25
60.	AL-MAULA	The Patron	Anfal v 40
61.	AL-MALIIK	The King, The Sovereign	Qamar v 55
62.	AL-MUHIT	All-Pervading	Fussliat v 54
63.	AL-MUSTA'AN	One Who is called upon for help	Ambiya v 112
64.	AL-MANNAN	The Gracious	Al-Imran v 164
65.	AL-MUHYI	The Giver of Life	Rum v 50
66.	AL-MUMIT	The Giver of Death	A'raf v 28
67.	AN-NUR	The Light	Nur v 35
68.	AL-NASIR	The Helper	Nisa v 45
69.	AL-QUDDUS	The Holy	Hashr v 23
70.	AL-QAHHAR	The Dominant	Ra'd v 16
71.	AL-QARIB	The Nigh	Hud v 61
72.	AL-QAWI	The Most Strong	Hajj v 74
73.	AL-QAYYUM	The Self-Subsisting	Al-Imran v 2
74.	AL-QAADIR	The Able	An'am v 65
75.	AL-QADIIR	The Mighty	Nahl v 70
76.	AL-QAHIR	The Omnipotent	An'am v 18
77.	AR-RAHMAN	The Compassionate	Al-Baqarah v 163
78.	AR-RAHIM	The Merciful	Fatiha v 1-2
79.	AR-RAZZAQ	The Provider	Zariyat v 58
80.	AR-RAQEEB	The Watchful, The Observer	Nisa v 7
81.	AR-RA'UF	The Compassionate	Nur v 20
82.	AR-RABB	The Sustainer	Al-Imran v 51
83.	AR-RAFI'	The Sublime	Mu'min v 15
84.	AS-SALAM	The Author of Safety, THe Provider of Peace	Hashr v 23
85.	AS-SAMI'	The All-Hearing	Al-Imran v 38
86.	ASH-SHAKUR	The Appreciative	Mala'ikah v 34
87.	ASH-SHAHID	The Witness	Nisa v 79
88.	AS-SAMAD	The Eternal	Ikhlas v 2
89.	ASH-SHAAKIR	The Appreciative	Al-Baqarah v 158
90.	AT-TAWWAB	The Acceptor of Repentance	Mu'min v 3
91.	AL-WAHHAB	The Bestower	Al-Imran v 18
92.	AL-WASI	The All-Embracing	Al-Baqarah v 247
93.	AL-WADUD	The Loving	Hud v 90
94.	AL-WAKIL	The Trustee	Nisa v 81
95.	AL-WALI	The Protecting Friend	Al-Baqarah v 257
96.	AL-WAAHID	The One	Mu'min v 16
97.	AL-WAALI	The Governor	Ra'd v 11
98.	AL-WAARITH	The Inheritor	Hijr v 23
99.	AZ-ZAHIR	The Manifest	Hadid v 3

Yahyâ ibn Mu‘âdh (rahimahullâh) said,

"Renew your hearts with the remembrance of Allâh because it rushes into forgetfulness."

Action Items for the uttaqun:

• Memorize the Names/Attributes of Allah, subhana watala

• Do dhikr (remembrance of Allah)

  • For example, say "ya" ("Oh") before any of the above Names of Allah, swt, i.e. say "Ya-Rahman" or "Ya-Raheem", etc. It is recommended to repeat names an odd number of times such as eleven times.  

  • The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: There are two qualities or characteristics which will not be returned by any Muslim without his entering Paradise. While they are easy, those who act upon them are few. One should say: "Glory be to Allah" (SubnahAllah) ten times after every prayer, "Praise be to Allah" (Alhamdulilah) ten times and "Allah is Most Great" (Allahu Akbar) ten times. That is a hundred and fifty on the tongue, but one thousand and five hundred on the scale. When he goes to bed, he should say: "Allah is Most Great" thirty-four times, "Praise be to Allah" thirty-three times, and Glory be to Allah thirty-three times, for that is a hundred on the tongue and a thousand on the scale. (He said:) I saw the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) counting them on his hand. The people asked: Apostle of Allah! How is it that while they are easy, those who act upon them are few? He replied: The Devil comes to one of you when he goes to bed and he makes him sleep, before he utters them, and he comes to him while he is engaged in prayer and calls a need to his mind before he utters them. [Dawud 5047]

• Do not use what is marketed as "dhikr beads"... use your right hand and count on the inside joints.  

• Each time you are calling upon Allah's intervention in your life in regard to that attribute (name).  Dhikr is a very integral part of a Muslim/Muslimah's life.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!