The 99 Names and Attributes of Allah (God)

It is not possible for me to perfectly translate the names and attributes of Allah from their original Arabic into English. However, here are some fairly close explanations for your knowledge.

Allah: He who has the Godhood which is the power to create the entities.

Ar-Rahman: The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers and the blasphemers in this world and especially for the believers in the hereafter.

Ar-Rahim: The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers.

Al-Malik: The One with the complete Dominion, the One Whose Dominion is clear from imperfection.

Al-Quddus: The One who is pure from any imperfection and clear from children and adversaries.

As-Salam: The One who is free from every imperfection.

Al-Mu'min: The One who witnessed for Himself that no one is God but Him. And He witnessed for His believers that they are truthful in their belief that no one is God but Him.

Al-Muhaymin: The One who witnesses the saying and deeds of His creatures.

Al-'Aziz: The Defeater who is not defeated.

Al-Jabbar: The One that nothing happens in His Dominion except that which He willed.

Al-Mutakabbir: The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures and from resembling them.

Al-Khaliq: The One who brings everything from non-existence to existence.

Al-Bari': The Creator who has the Power to turn the entities.

Al-Musawwir: The One who forms His creatures in different pictures.

Al-Ghaffar: The One who forgives the sins of His slaves time and time again.

Al-Qahhar: The Subduer who has the perfect Power and is not unable over anything.

Al-Wahhab: The One who is Generous in giving plenty without any return.

Ar-Razzaq: The One who gives everything that benefits whether Halal or Haram.

Al-Fattah: The One who opens for His slaves the closed worldy and religious matters.

Al-'Alim: The Knowledgeable; The One nothing is absent from His knowledge.

Al-Qabid: The One who constricts the sustenance by His wisdom and expands and widens it with His Generosity and Mercy.

Al-Basit: see above

Al-Khafid: The One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction and raises whoever He willed by His Endowment.

Ar-Rafi': see above

Al-Mu'iz: He gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him; And He degradeswhoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem.

Al-Muthil: see above

As-Sami': The One who Hears all things that are heard by His Eternal Hearing without an ear, instrument or organ.

Al-Basir: The One who Sees all things that are seen by His Eternal Seeing without a pupil or any otherinstrument.

Al-Hakam: He is the Ruler and His judgment is His Word.

Al-'Adl: The One who is entitled to do what He does.

Al-Latif: The One who is kind to His slaves and endows upon them.

Al-Khabir: The One who knows the truth of things.

Al-Halim: The One who delays the punishment for those who deserve it and then He might forgive them.

Al-'Azim: The One deserving the attributes of Exaltment, Glory, Extolement,and Purity from all imperfection.

Al-Ghafur: The One who forgives a lot.

Ash-Shakur: The One who gives a lot of reward for a little obedience.

Al-'Aliyy: The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures.

Al-Kabir: The One who is greater than everything in status.

Al-Hafiz: The One who protects whatever and whoever He willed to protect.

Al-Muqit: The One who has the Power.

Al-Hasib: The One who gives the satisfaction.

Aj-Jalil: The One who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status.

Al-Karim: The One who is clear from abjectness.

Ar-Raqib: The One that nothing is absent from Him. Hence it's meaning is related to the attribute ofKnowledge.

Al-Mujib: The One who answers the one in need if he asks Him and rescues the yearner if he calls upon Him.

Al-Wasi': The Knowledgeable.

Al-Hakim: The One who is correct in His doings.

Al-Wadud: The One who loves His believing slaves and His believing slaves love Him. His love to His slavesis His Will to be merciful to them and praise them:Hence it's meaning is related to the attributes of the Will and Kalam (His attribute with which He orders and forbids and spoke to Muhammad and Mu sa -peace be upon them- . It is not a sound nor a language nor a letter).

Al-Majid: The One who is with perfect Power, High Status, Compassion, Generosity and Kindness.

Al-Ba'ith: The One who resurrects His slaves after death for reward and/or punishment.

Ash-Shahid: The One who nothing is absent from Him.

Al-Haqq: The One who truly exists.

Al-Wakil: The One who gives the satisfaction and is relied upon.

Al-Qawiyy: The One with the complete Power.

Al-Matin: The One with extreme Power which is un-interrupted and He does not get tired.

Al-Waliyy: The Supporter.

Al-Hamid: The praised One who deserves to be praised.

Al-Muhsi: The One who the count of things are known to him.

Al-Mubdi': The One who started the human being. That is, He created him.

Al-Mu'id: The One who brings back the creatures after death.

Al-Muhyi: The One who took out a living human from semen that does not have a soul. He gives life bygiving the souls back to the worn out bodies on the resurrection day and He makes the hearts alive by the light of knowledge.

Al-Mumit: The One who renders the living dead.

Al-Hayy: The One attributed with a life that is unlike our life and is not that of a combination of soul, fleshor blood.

Al-Qayyum: The One who remains and does not end.

Al-Wajid: The Rich who is never poor. Al-Wajd is Richness.

Al-Majid: The One who is Majid.

Al-Wahid: The One without a partner.

As-Samad: The Master who is relied upon in matters and reverted to in ones needs.

Al-Qadir: The One attributed with Power.

Al-Muqtadir: The One with the perfect Power that nothing is withheld from Him.

Al-Muqaddim: The One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.

Al-Mu'akhkhir: see above

Al-'Awwal: The One whose Existence is without a beginning.

Al-'Akhir: The One whose Existence is without an end.

Az-Zahir: The One that nothing is above Him and nothing is underneath Him, hence He exists without aplace. He, The Exalted, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributesof bodies.

Al-Batin: see above

Al-Wali: The One who owns things and manages them.

Al-Muta'ali: The One who is clear from the attributes of the creation.

Al-Barr: The One who is kind to His creatures, who covered them with His sustenance and specified however He willed among them by His support, protection, and special mercy.

At-Tawwab: The One who grants repentance to whoever He willed among His creatures and accepts his repentance.

Al-Muntaqim: The One who victoriously prevails over His enemies and punishes them for their sins. It maymean the One who destroys them.

Al-'Afuww: The One with wide forgiveness.

Ar-Ra'uf: The One with extreme Mercy. The Mercy of Allah is His will to endow upon whoever He willedamong His creatures.

Malik Al-Mulk: The One who controls the Dominion and gives dominion to whoever He willed.

Thul-Jalal wal-Ikram: The One who deserves to be Exalted and not denied.

Al-Muqsit: The One who is Just in His judgment.

Aj-Jami': The One who gathers the creatures on a day that there is no doubt about, that is the Day of Judgment.

Al-Ghaniyy: The One who does not need the creation.

Al-Mughni: The One who satisfies the necessities of the creatures.

Al-Mani': The Supporter who protects and gives victory to His pious believers. Al-Mu'tiy The Withholder.

Ad-Darr: The One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed and benefit to whoever He willed.

An-Nafi': see above

An-Nur: The One who guides.

Al-Hadi: The One whom with His Guidance His belivers were guided, and with His Guidance the living: beings have been guided to what is beneficial for them and protected from what is harmful to them.

Al-Badi': The One who created the creation and formed it without any preceding example.

Al-Baqi: The One that the state of non-existence is impossible for Him.

Al-Warith: The One whose Existence remains.

Ar-Rashid: The One who guides.

As-Sabur: The One who does not quickly punish the sinners.

A Muslim Celebration

Muslims have two major celebrations in the year. Both are called Eid. Eid Al-Fitr, or the Celebration of Breaking the Fast, marks the end of Ramadan. Ramadan is the month of fasting.
Eid Al-Fitr is the celebration that comes at the end of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month of fasting, every day from dawn until sunset. The Islamic Calendar follows the moon and so each year, the dates are shifted forwards by about eleven days in the normal calendar. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year, and is followed by Syawal. The first three days of Syawal are the Eid days.

When it is

This year, (2007) the first day of Eid was fell on October 3 in most countries and today its already on Syawal 22. The reason it differs from country to country is the calendar. It is a little bit complicated, but each month has either 29 or 30 days. On the 29th night of the month, people look for the new moon. If it is spotted, then he month has 29 days, and the next day is the start of a new month. If it is not spotted the month continues on for a 30th day, and then the new month starts. These days, astronomers can predict the months and phases of the moon very accurately, but it is still traditional for the moon to be spotted by someone. So, if the sky is overcast over an entire country, even if the moon is there, it can’t be seen and the month continues for one more day.

What it is

Eid Al-Fitr is all about celebrating the good things that we have received, God’s (Allah’s) bounty and our family and friends. Every household who can afford it must pay a form of tax or zakat in the days leading up to Eid. It is a very small amount, and is paid for each person in the family. Traditionally the tax was in the form of food, although most people now give the equivalent in money. The money or food is given to poor people and whom which need in eight categories, so that they can celebrate Eid, too. The tax is not collected by anyone, and no one is forced to pay it, but it is required as a religious act, and almost everyone pays.

The Celebration

Many people decorate their houses for Eid one or two week before Eid. This is rather an odd thing, since no one is sure when Eid is, until the last minute, and some of the preparation are put up very late on the last day of the month.

Everyone has bought the new clothes for Eid in the month of Ramadan . The last few nights of Ramadan it is almost impossible to get into the shops, as everyone is buying their clothes. A complete outfit is normal, right down to the shoes, and even the headscarves for the women.
On the morning of Eid, everyone gets up very early to go to the prayers. These are special prayers, held only at Eid. They are held only in very big mosques, or in large open areas, such as football stadiums. They are held about 80 minutes after sunrise, so in the summer months it is very early.

At the morning before the prayer Islam encourage its follower to eat minimum breakfast at their home. After the prayers some of go home waiting for their relative, neighbours and friends. And also some of them go out for visit. Then the celebrations really begin. It isn’t common for children to receive gifts. Instead they receive money. The money should be in the form of a brand new bank note or coins. The amount given is small, usually in the region of about $2 or $3, but still they get plenty. Everyone who visits the children, or everyone whom they visit, gives then the gift of money. In a large extended family, with lots of friends, the children can end up with a small fortune!

Sometime around midmorning people start to go out visiting. They visit neighbors and friends in the morning. At each visit special cakes are eaten, and the children receive their money. The visits are very short as there are plenty to make. Dinner is spent with family. The traditional meal varies from country to country, the only standard thing being the special cakes. Each day of the holiday is spent with a different branch of the family, so that everyone gets visited. In the evening the visits start up again. This goes on for three days, but money is normally only given to the children on the first two days.

In between visiting, people make trips out into the streets. Many streets have a sort of fair going, with eid music, kids' games and much more. Here some of the children get to spend their money. They buy candy, soft drinks, toys and rides. Everyone has great fun, and the children are always disappointed when it is over. The adults, on the other hand, are usually worn out and glad of the rest!

Fasting is Good for Health

Fasting has its advantages from the point of view of health and hygiene. Islam wants a Muslim to be healthy, clean, alert, agile and energetic.

"Fast to be healthy," had said the Prophet (s.a.w.). And physicians today acknowledge the many benefits of fasting that ensure health and the soundness of one's body and mind. Some of these positive points have a direct influence on psychology and physique of the fasting individual.

Fasting has been found to be an effective treatment for psychological and emotional disorders. It helps a person to firm up his will, cultivate and refine his taste and manners, strengthen his conviction of doing good, avoid controversy, petulance and rashness, which all contribute towards a sane and healthy personality. Besides nurturing resistance and ability to face hardships and endurance, fasting reflects on outward physical appearance by cutting out gluttony and getting rid of excess fat.

The benefits of fasting on health do not stop there but are instrumental in alleviating a number of physical diseases, including those of the digestive systems, such as chronic stomachache, inflammation of the colon, liver diseases, indigestion, and conditions such as obesity, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, asthma, diphtheria and many other maladies.

A Swiss physician Dr. Barsilus noted that: The advantages of hunger as a remedy exceed those ingesting medicine several times.

As readers are well aware, several physicians advise patients to skip meals, sometimes for a few days, before prescribing them a controlled diet.

Generally speaking, fasting hastens the destruction of the decaying tissues of the body by means of hunger, and then builds new tissues through nutrition. This is why some scientists suggest that fasting should be regarded as an effective means of restoring youthfulness and longevity. However, Islam exempts from fasting sick and old people whose health is bound to deter.

But fasting should have its regulations too, and not simply the inorderly skipping meals, that is bound to harm health and stamina, rather than improving them. Here again Islam provides the answer, and in order to realize the benefits of fasting, it recommends the late midnight meals called 'Sahur' (before the formal start of a fast) and the breaking of the fast at the time prescribed. Of course, to ensure good health one should abstain from gluttony after breaking fast.

The Glorious Month of Ramadan

The holy month of Ramadan enjoys a special importance in the Islamic calendar. As the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "It is Allah's Own month." It is the chief of all months and the most glorious one. As we already know, 'Fasting' is one of the important pillars of Islam and it is the very month of Ramadan during which fasting has been made obligatory for all adults and sane Muslims. By fasting during Ramazan, a Muslim besides discharging an obligation imposed upon him by Allah, becomes entitled to great reward in the Hereafter. On the other hand, any lapse in the matter amounts to a great sin. Fasting is an article of worship, the knowledge about the performance or otherwise whereof rests only with Allah and the person concerned. Hence, it is Allah alone who will reward that person for it, on the Day of Judgement.

The blessings of Ramadan are not limited to fasting alone, because the performance of all sorts of worship and good deeds during this month, is also a source of great Divine favor. The revelation of the Holy Qur'an commenced during this very month and it is therefore the duty of every Muslim to read and try to understand the meaning of the Holy Qur'an and thereby gain an insight into the Divine secrets enshrined therein. It brings peace and illumination to the mind and imparts purity to the soul.

Ramazan is the month of fasting, intensive prayer, sacrifice and Divine worship. Throughout this month a devout Muslim fasts during the day in the true sense of the word, that is, he had merely denies himself food and water, but as explained by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), exercises strict control over his tongue, eyes, ears, thoughts and deeds and does everything possible to seek the pleasure of Allah.

Devout supplications to Allah and repentance of one's sins during Ramadan are the sources of Divine blessings and mercy. Some nights, among the last ten nights of Ramadan, are called the 'Nights of Glory' (Laylat al-Qadr). These are the 19th, 21st, and 23rd nights. Muslims keep awake during these nights and offer special prayers. Even among these nights, the 23rd enjoys excellence over all the others. It is accompanied by great blessings, and the supplications made to Allah during this night are usually granted by Him.

The holy month of Ramadan, besides being the month of worship and Divine blessings, carries a historical importance as well. As already mentioned above, the revelations of the Holy Qur'an commenced in this month. The epoch-making 'Battle of Badr' and the 'Conquest of Mecca' also took place during the holy month of Ramadan.

First Day of Ramadhan 1428 Hijriah

Today is the first day of Ramadhan 1428 Hijriah. Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims consider this whole month as a blessed month which already mention by al-Quran and Hadith of Prophet Muhammah (pbuh) . They fast during the days of this month and make special prayers at night which called Tarawih Pray. Islam also want and suggested the follower to give more charity and do extra righteous deeds also.

Also, in this Holy Month, The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received the first revelation of Al-Qur'an with Surah al-Alaq. Ramadhan is the month of celebration as well as the month of education to make our self more discipline and have a good self-control. Muslims always wait for the first day of Ramadhan to come. Its already came and hopefully we could be the best and give the best obligation to Almighty Allah.

For all muslim brothers and sisters over the world " happy Ramadhan fasting" and hopefully Allah will bless all of us. Give the best of the best to Almighty Allah and also to all the muslim nation over the world.

Becoming a Muslim

Accepting Islam as a way of life or become to be a Muslim is not only the declaration of the Islamic faith by recite syahadah but it also includes changing one's thinking, life style, behavior and also we will meet new friends. We need to turning the old habits into new habits except the positive habits which already accepted by Islam. We also will meeting new people and trying to understand where one fits in.

All the events and experiences that a person faces before, during and after becoming a Muslim, come together to mould them into the person they are. The following are real life accounts of people's past and present circumstances that led to their final acceptance of Islam.

The knowledge of our God

How to acquire the know-ledge and belief in God, His attributes, His Law, and the Day of Judgment?

As a human being, we have already referred to countless manifestations of God around us and in our own selves, which bear witness to the fact that there is one and only one creator and Governor of this universe and it is He Who controls and directs it. These witnesses reflect the divine attributes of the creator: His great wisdom, His all-embracing knowledge, His omnipotence, His mercy, His all-sustaining power, His force major-in short, His attributes can be traced everywhere in His work. But man’s intellect and his capacity to attain knowledge have erred in observing and understanding them. These are all manifest and clear and our eyes are open to read what is writ large on the creation. But here men have erred.

Some of them have declared that there are two gods others began to profess belief in trinity, and still others succumbed to polytheism. Some began nature-worship and others divided into multifarious deities: gods of rain, air, fair, death, etc. As such, although the manifestations of God were quite clear, human reason has faltered on various counts and failed to see the reality in its true perspective. It met deception after deception and resulted in nothing but confusion of thought. We hardly need dilate here on these errors of human judgment.

Similarly, with regard to life after death men have put forward many erroneous notions; for instance, that man is reduced to dust after death and will not rise to life again; or that man is subject to a process of continuous regeneration in this very world and is punished or rewarded in the oncoming cycles of life.

Even greater difficulty arises when we come to the question of the code of life. To formulate a complete and balanced code of life that should conform to God’s pleasure merely with the help of human reason, is an extremely difficult task. If a man is equipped with the highest faculties of reason and intellect and he possesses matchless wisdom and experience of many years of deliberation, even then the chances of his formulating right views on life and existence are not very promising. And even if, after a lifelong deliberation, he succeeds in that he will still lack in the confidence that he has really discovered the truth and adopted the right path.

Although the fullest and fairest test of man’s wisdom, reason, and knowledge might have been to leave him to his own resources without any external guidance so that he those who, through their own sagacious siftings and strivings, might have reached truth and righteousness would have won success and salvation, while those not reaching them would have failed. God, how- ever, spared His human creatures such a hard test. Through His grace and benevolence He raised for mankind men from among themselves to whom He imparted the true knowledge of His attributes, revealed to them His Law and the Right Code of Living, gave them the knowledge of the meaning and purpose of life and of the life after death and thus showed them the way by pursuing which man can achieve success and eternal bliss.

These chosen man are the Messengers of God-His prophets. God has communicated knowledge and wisdom to them by means of wahy (revelation), and the book containing the Divine communications is called the Book of God, or the word of God. Now the test of man’s Wisdom and intellect lies in this: does he recognize God's Messenger after thoroughly observing his pure and pious life and carefully studying his noble and flawless teachings? The man who possesses right wisdom and sound common sense would verify truth and accept the instructions given by the Messenger of truth. If he denies the Messenger of God and his teachings, his denial would signify that he was devoid of the capacity to find out truth and righteousness. On account of this denial he would fail in his test. Such a man will never be able to discover the truth about God and His Law and the life after death.

The Meaning of Muslim Faith

The Muslim "Faith" is what we have defined in the foregoing discussion as ‘Knowledge and belief’. The Arabic word Iman, which we have rendered in English as faith, literally means ‘to know’, ‘to believe’, and ‘to be convinced beyond the least shadow of doubt’. Faith, thus, is firm belief arising out of knowledge and conviction. And the man who knows and reposes unshakable belief in the unity of God, in His Attributes, in His Law and the Revealed Guidance, and in the Divine code of Reward and punishment is called Mukmin (faithful). This faith invariably leads man to a life of obedience and submission to the will of God. And one who lives this life of submission is known as Muslim.

This should clearly bring home the fact that without faith (Iman) no man can be a true Muslim. It is the indispensable essential; rather, the very starting point, without which no beginning can be made. The relation of Islam to Iman is the same as of a tree to its seed. As a tree cannot sprout forth without its seed, in the same way it is not possible for a man, who has no belief to start with, to become a ‘Muslim’. On the other hand, just as it can happen that, in spite of sowing the seed, the tree may not grow for a multiple of reasons, or if it sprouts, its growth may be impaired or retarded, in the same way, a man may have faith, but due to a number of weaknesses, he may not become a true and staunch Muslim. Thus we find that faith is the starting point and leads man to the life of submission to God, and that a man cannot become a Muslim without faith. On the contrary, it is possible that a man may have faith but, because of the weakness of his will power, poor training, or bad company, he may not be living the life of a true Muslim. As such, from the viewpoint of Islam and Iman, all men may be classified into four categories:

1. Those who have firm faith-a faith that makes them absolutely and whole-heartedly submit to God. They follow the way of God and devote themselves heart and soul to seek His pleasure by doing all that He likes and by avoiding all that He dislikes. In their devotion they are even more fervent that is the common man in pursuit of wealth and glory. Such men are true Muslim.
2. Those who do have faith, who believe in God, His Law and the Day of Judgment, but whose faith is not deep and strong enough to make them totally submit to God. They are far below the rank of true Muslims deserve punishment for their defaults and misdeeds, but they are still a Muslim. They are defaulters and wrongdoers but not rebels. They acknowledge the Sovereign and His Law and, although they are violating the Law, they have not revolted against the Sovereign. They admit its supremacy and their own guilt. Thus they are guilty and deserve punishment, but Muslims they remain.
3. Those who do not possess faith at all. These people refuse to acknowledge the sovereignty of God and are rebels. Even if their conduct is not bad and even if they are not spreading corruption and violence, they remain rebels and their apparent good deeds are of little value. Such men are like the outlaws. And as, even if any action of an outlaws is in consonance with the law of the land, he does not become a loyal and obedient citizen, in the same way the apparent good of those who revolt against God cannot compensate for the gravity of the real wrong, revolt, and disobedience.

Those who neither possess faith nor do good deeds. They spread disorder in the world and perpetrate all kinds of violence and oppression. They are the worst of the people; for they are rebels as well as the wrongdoers and criminals.

The above classification of mankind clearly shows that the real success and salvation of man depends on Iman (faith). The life of obedience (Islam) takes its birth from the seed of Iman. This Islam of a person may be flawless or defective. But without Iman there can be no Islam. Where there is no Imaan there is no Islam.

Where there is no Islam there is Kufr. Its form and nature may be different, but in any way it would be Kufr and nothing but Kufr.