The 99 Names of Allah: Meanings and How to Teach Them to Children

Allah tells us in the Quran that He has the most beautiful names, and invites us to call on Him by them:

وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا

"And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them." (Quran 7:180)

The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred minus one, and whoever enumerates them (ahsaha) will enter Paradise (Sahih al-Bukhari 6410). Scholars explain that this means learning them, understanding their meanings and living by them. These names are known as Asma ul Husna, "the Most Beautiful Names".

Why learn the names of Allah?

• To know Allah: each name tells us something about who He is.
• To make better dua: call on Allah with the name that fits your need. Ask Ar-Razzaq for provision, Al-Ghafur for forgiveness, Ash-Shafi for healing.
• To change how we live: knowing Allah is As-Sami' (All-Hearing) makes us careful with our words; knowing He is Al-Wadud (the Loving) fills us with hope.

25 names of Allah with their meanings

Arabic	Name	Meaning
الرَّحْمَٰنُ	Ar-Rahman	The Entirely Merciful
الرَّحِيمُ	Ar-Rahim	The Especially Merciful
الْمَلِكُ	Al-Malik	The King
الْقُدُّوسُ	Al-Quddus	The Most Pure
السَّلَامُ	As-Salam	The Source of Peace
الْعَزِيزُ	Al-Aziz	The Almighty
الْخَالِقُ	Al-Khaliq	The Creator
الْغَفُورُ	Al-Ghafur	The Most Forgiving
الرَّزَّاقُ	Ar-Razzaq	The Provider
الْعَلِيمُ	Al-Alim	The All-Knowing
السَّمِيعُ	As-Sami'	The All-Hearing
الْبَصِيرُ	Al-Basir	The All-Seeing
اللَّطِيفُ	Al-Latif	The Subtle, the Most Kind
الْحَلِيمُ	Al-Halim	The Forbearing
الْكَرِيمُ	Al-Karim	The Most Generous
الْوَدُودُ	Al-Wadud	The Most Loving
الْحَكِيمُ	Al-Hakim	The All-Wise
الْوَكِيلُ	Al-Wakil	The Trustee, the One we rely on
الْحَيُّ	Al-Hayy	The Ever-Living
الْقَيُّومُ	Al-Qayyum	The Sustainer of all
الْأَوَّلُ	Al-Awwal	The First
الْآخِرُ	Al-Akhir	The Last
التَّوَّابُ	At-Tawwab	The Ever-Accepting of Repentance
الْعَفُوُّ	Al-Afuww	The Pardoner
الْعَظِيمُ	Al-Azim	The Magnificent

Many of these names appear together at the end of Surah Al-Hashr (59:22–24), which begins: "He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful."

A note on the full list: the popular list of 99 names comes from a narration in Tirmidhi, and scholars have discussed whether that list itself was spoken by the Prophet ﷺ or compiled by narrators. All 25 names above are found in the Quran.

How to teach the names of Allah to children

1. One name a week. Introduce a name on Friday, talk about what it means, and look for it in daily life. For example, during a meal: "Who gave us this food? Ar-Razzaq!"
2. Use flashcards. Show the Arabic on one side and the meaning on the other. Play matching and memory games.
3. Make a names wall. Add a card to the wall each week, so children see their progress grow.
4. Link names to dua. Teach children to start their duas with a name: "Ya Ghafur, forgive me", "Ya Shafi, heal Grandma".
5. Tell stories. Prophet stories bring names to life: Yunus and At-Tawwab, Ibrahim and Al-Khaliq, Musa and As-Sami'.
6. Celebrate milestones. A small reward after 10, 25 and 50 names keeps motivation high.

Read next: Ayatul Kursi, meaning and benefits.