Asma al-Husna: The Most Beautiful Names of Allah

Asma al-Husna

The Most Beautiful Names of Allah

The Qur'an on the Divine Names

Mevlâna Jalâluddîn Rumi on the Divine Names

Allah The Greatest Name
Ar-Rahman 1 The All-Compassionate
Ar-Rahim 2 The All-Merciful
Al-Malik 3 The Absolute Ruler
Al-Quddus 4 The Pure One
As-Salam 5 The Source of Peace
Al-Mu'min 6 The Inspirer of Faith
Al-Muhaymin 7 The Guardian
Al-'Aziz 8 The Victorious
Al-Jabbar 9 The Compeller
Al-Mutakabbir 10 The Greatest
Al-Khaliq 11 The Creator
Al-Bari' 12 The Maker of Order
Al-Musawwir 13 The Shaper of Beauty
Al-Ghaffar 14 The Forgiving
Al-Qahhar 15 The Subduer
Al-Wahhab 16 The Giver of All
Ar-Razzaq 17 The Sustainer
Al-Fattah 18 The Opener
Al-'Alim 19 The Knower of All
Al-Qabid 20 The Constrictor
Al-Basit 21 The Reliever
Al-Khafid 22 The Abaser
Ar-Rafi' 23 The Exalter
Al-Mu'izz 24 The Bestower of Honors
Al-Mudhill 25 The Humiliator
As-Sami 26 The Hearer of All
Al-Basir 27 The Seer of All
Al-Hakam 28 The Judge
Al-'Adl 29 The Just
Al-Latif 30 The Subtle One
Al-Khabir 31 The All-Aware
Al-Halim 32 The Forebearing
Al-'Azim 33 The Magnificent
Al-Ghafur 34 The Forgiver and Hider of Faults
Ash-Shakur 35 The Rewarder of Thankfulness
Al-'Ali 36 The Highest
Al-Kabir 37 The Greatest
Al-Hafiz 38 The Preserver
Al-Muqit 39 The Nourisher
Al-Hasib 40 The Accounter
Al-Jalil 41 The Mighty
Al-Karim 42 The Generous
Ar-Raqib 43 The Watchful One
Al-Mujib 44 The Responder to Prayer
Al-Wasi' 45 The All-Comprehending
Al-Hakim 46 The Perfectly Wise
Al-Wadud 47 The Loving One
Al-Majíd 48 The Majestic One
Al-Ba'ith 49 The Resurrector
Ash-Shahid 50 The Witness
Al-h Haqq 51 The Truth
Al-Wakil 52 The Trustee
Al-Qawi 53 The Possessor of All Strength
Al-Matin 54 The Forceful One
Al-Wáli 55 The Governor
Al-Hamid 56 The Praised One
Al-Muhsi 57 The Appraiser
Al-Mubdi 58 The Originator
Al-Mu'id 59 The Restorer
Al-Muhyi 60 The Giver of Life
Al-Mumit 61 The Taker of Life
Al-Hayy 62 The Ever Living One
Al-Qayyum 63 The Self-Existing One
Al-Wajid 64 The Finder
Al-Májid 65 The Glorious
Al-Wahid 66 The Only One
Al-Ahad 67 The One
As-Samad 68 The Satisfier of All Needs
Al-Qadir 69 The All Powerful
Al-Muqtadir 70 The Creator of All Power
Al-Muqaddim 71 The Expediter
Al-Mu'akhkhir 72 The Delayer
Al-Awwal 73 The First
Al-Akhir 74 The Last
Az-Zahir 75 The Manifest One
Al-Batin 76 The Hidden One
Al-Walí 77 The Protecting Friend
Al-Muta'ali 78 The Supreme One
Al-Barr 79 The Doer of Good
At-Tawwib 80 The Guide to Repentance
Al-Muntaqim 81 The Avenger
Al-Afu 82 The Forgiver
Ar-Ra'uf 83 The Clement
Malik al-Mulk 84 The Owner of All
Dhul-Jalali
Wal-Ikram 85 The Lord of Majesty and Bounty
Al-Muqsit 86 The Equitable One
Al-Jami 87 The Gatherer
Al-Ghani 88 The Rich One
Al-Mughni 89 The Enricher
Al-Mani' 90 The Preventer of Harm
Ad-Darr 91 The Creator of The Harmful
An-Nafi 92 The Creator of Good
An-Nur 93 The Light
Al-Hadi 94 The Guide
Al-Badi 95 The Originator
Al-Baqi 96 The Everlasting One
Al-Warith 97 The Inheritor of All
Ar-Rashid 98 The Righteous Teacher
As-Sabur 99 The Patient One

Calligraphy on all pages of this section originally appeared in
The Most Beautiful Names, by Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti
(Threshold Books, 1985).

Muslims mark end of Ramadan with visits

Sarwat Husain/Express News-4 Oct 08

The Eid al-Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast, is a holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar that Muslims follow.

Ramadan, one of the “five pillars” of Islam, is the month in which Muslims fast from the break of dawn to dusk. During this time they restrain themselves from food, drink, smoking, sensual pleasures, fighting or arguing while also focusing on giving a lot in charity. The goal is that every practicing Muslim will be transformed.

Fasting is obligatory for any healthy Muslim who is over the age of puberty. Young children, the sick, the elderly and the mentally challenged are exempt from fasting, while pregnant women, nursing mothers and travelers are also excused temporarily, but should fulfill the obligation later. Ramadan is also the month in which the holy Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad: “Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the holy Quran, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong).” (Quran 2:185).

According to Islamic beliefs, Ramadan is also the month in which the Old and New Testaments were revealed. The Quran also says, “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil).” (2:183).

Eid al-Fitr, which falls on the first day of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, is the most celebrated holiday in the Muslim world. The holiday starts with a communal prayer followed by a short sermon by the imam reminding people of the lessons they should learn from Ramadan for the rest of the year about their responsibilities and obligations to God and fellow human beings.

Zakat ul-Fitr, charity of the fast breaking, has to be given to the mosque before the prayers of the Eid. The imam calculates the amount per person. The mosques then arrange for meals for the poor, allowing everyone to partake in the joys of Eid.

Throughout the three-day Eid holiday, Muslims visit family and friends to exchange gifts and greetings. Special sweets are prepared for the celebration.

After not eating or drinking anything during daylight hours — it was for 14 hours this Ramadan — we have the surety that we will have enough to eat when the time comes to break the fast. It also makes us realize what it must be like for people who are not so fortunate.

This year Eid al-Fitr was celebrated Tuesday, with early morning communal prayers at the Convention Center downtown, which brought 3,000 Muslims of San Antonio together to remember God's bounties and to celebrate his glory and greatness with the health, strength and opportunities of life that is given to them so that they could perform the duty of fasting.

After the prayers, there were lots of parties arranged at many homes and then a grand finale of an open house at Rogers Ranch given by Mr. and Mrs. Dhanani, where a number of Muslims gathered where there was variety of scrumptious foods and lots of different activities for children. This Eid will end with a picnic on Sunday for all the Muslims of San Antonio and surrounding areas. In order not to forget our civic duty, we will also be holding our big voters registration drive at the picnic.

We wish the same joy that we experience at Eid time to the Jewish community as they celebrate their High Holy Days this week and next and to the Christian community as they look forward to Christmas.

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