The 99 Names of Allah, for kids

The 99 Names of Allah, al-Asma al-Husna, are the names by which Allah describes Himself in the Qur’an and Sunnah: the Most Merciful, the Creator, the All-Hearing, the Ever-Forgiving. “To Allah belong the most beautiful names, so call on Him by them” (Surah al-A’raf 7:180). Below is every name in the familiar order, with its meaning and one sentence you can say to a small child tonight.

How to use this list

  • One name a night. Say the Arabic, the meaning, and the one-line explanation. Repeat last night's name first, then add tonight's.
  • Attach it to a moment. Ar-Razzaq at dinner, Al-Hafiz at lights-out, Al-Ghaffar after a sorry. Names stick to moments, not to lists.
  • Let a story carry it. A child who has heard Yunus call from inside the fish already understands As-Sami', the All-Hearing.

All 99 names, in order

  1. 01
    Ar-RahmanالرَّحْمَنُThe Most Merciful

    Allah is kind to everyone in the whole world, even people who forget Him, every single day.

  2. 02
    Ar-RahimالرَّحِيمُThe Especially Merciful

    Allah gives special, extra kindness to the people who love Him and try to do what is right.

  3. 03
    Al-MalikالْمَلِكُThe King

    Allah is the real King of everything, the sky, the sea, and every person, and nobody rules over Him.

  4. 04
    Al-QuddusالْقُدُّوسُThe Most Holy

    Allah is perfectly pure, with no mistakes and nothing bad in Him at all, ever.

  5. 05
    As-SalamالسَّلَامُThe Source of Peace

    Allah is perfect and free from every harm, and all peace and safety in the world come from Him.

  6. 06
    Al-Mu'minالْمُؤْمِنُThe Giver of Security

    Allah keeps every promise He makes and gives His believers safety, so you never have to be afraid.

  7. 07
    Al-MuhayminالْمُهَيْمِنُThe Guardian

    Allah watches over everything that happens and takes care of it all, so nothing is ever lost or forgotten.

  8. 08
    Al-AzizالْعَزِيزُThe Almighty

    Allah is the strongest of all, and nobody and nothing can ever beat Him or stop Him.

  9. 09
    Al-JabbarالْجَبَّارُThe Compeller

    Allah can make anything happen the way He wants, and He mends things that are broken.

  10. 10
    Al-MutakabbirالْمُتَكَبِّرُThe Supreme

    Allah is greater than everything, and only He deserves to be proud, because He alone is truly great.

  11. 11
    Al-KhaliqالْخَالِقُThe Creator

    Allah made everything from nothing: the stars, the oceans, the tiny ants, and you.

  12. 12
    Al-Bari'الْبَارِئُThe Maker

    Allah made every creature just right, so each one works perfectly for the life it lives.

  13. 13
    Al-MusawwirالْمُصَوِّرُThe Fashioner

    Allah gave every creature its shape, your eyes, a cat's whiskers, and a butterfly's wings.

  14. 14
    Al-GhaffarالْغَفَّارُThe Ever-Forgiving

    When you say sorry to Allah, He forgives you again and again, as many times as you ask.

  15. 15
    Al-QahharالْقَهَّارُThe Subduer

    Allah is in charge of everything, and nothing can fight Him or go against what He decides.

  16. 16
    Al-WahhabالْوَهَّابُThe Bestower

    Allah keeps giving gifts, your family, your food, your breath, without asking for anything back.

  17. 17
    Ar-RazzaqالرَّزَّاقُThe Provider

    Every bit of food you eat and everything you need comes from Allah, who feeds every creature.

  18. 18
    Al-FattahالْفَتَّاحُThe Opener

    When a door seems closed, Allah can open a way, and He helps people who feel stuck.

  19. 19
    Al-AlimالْعَلِيمُThe All-Knowing

    Allah knows everything: what happened, what will happen, and even the thoughts inside your heart.

  20. 20
    Al-QabidالْقَابِضُThe Withholder

    Sometimes Allah holds something back from us for a while, and that is always for a wise reason.

  21. 21
    Al-BasitالْبَاسِطُThe Extender

    Allah gives plenty and opens things wide for people, more than we could ever count or carry.

  22. 22
    Al-KhafidالْخَافِضُThe Abaser

    Allah brings down people who are cruel and proud, so their unfairness does not last forever.

  23. 23
    Ar-Rafi'الرَّافِعُThe Exalter

    Allah lifts people up when they are good and humble, and gives them a high place with Him.

  24. 24
    Al-Mu'izzالْمُعِزُّThe Giver of Honour

    Real honour comes from Allah, and He gives it to people who obey Him and are kind.

  25. 25
    Al-MudhillالْمُذِلُّThe Humiliator

    Allah lets people who choose to be wicked lose their honour, because only He decides who is truly great.

  26. 26
    As-Sami'السَّمِيعُThe All-Hearing

    Allah hears everything, even your quietest whisper and the dua you say inside your heart.

  27. 27
    Al-BasirالْبَصِيرُThe All-Seeing

    Allah sees everything, in the dark, under the sea, and every kind thing you do in secret.

  28. 28
    Al-HakamالْحَكَمُThe Judge

    Allah is the Judge who decides fairly, and on the Last Day His decision is the final one.

  29. 29
    Al-AdlالْعَدْلُThe Just

    Allah is always fair and never makes a mistake, so no one is ever treated wrongly by Him.

  30. 30
    Al-LatifاللَّطِيفُThe Subtle and Gentle

    Allah is gentle and kind in ways we do not even notice, helping us quietly all day long.

  31. 31
    Al-KhabirالْخَبِيرُThe All-Aware

    Allah knows the inside of everything, even the tiny secrets no one else could ever find out.

  32. 32
    Al-HalimالْحَلِيمُThe Forbearing

    When people do wrong, Allah does not rush to punish; He waits patiently and gives them time to come back.

  33. 33
    Al-AzimالْعَظِيمُThe Magnificent

    Allah is so great that the whole universe is tiny next to Him, and nothing is bigger.

  34. 34
    Al-GhafurالْغَفُورُThe All-Forgiving

    Allah forgives even big mistakes completely, and covers them over when you truly say sorry.

  35. 35
    Ash-ShakurالشَّكُورُThe Appreciative

    Allah notices every little good deed you do and rewards it with much, much more than it deserves.

  36. 36
    Al-AliالْعَلِيُّThe Most High

    Allah is higher than everything, above the sky and above every king, and nothing is above Him.

  37. 37
    Al-KabirالْكَبِيرُThe Most Great

    Allah is the greatest of all, and everything big we can think of is small next to Him.

  38. 38
    Al-HafizالْحَفِيظُThe Preserver

    Allah guards and protects you, and He keeps the whole world safe and in its place.

  39. 39
    Al-MuqitالْمُقِيتُThe Sustainer

    Allah gives every living thing exactly the strength and food it needs to keep on living.

  40. 40
    Al-HasibالْحَسِيبُThe Reckoner

    Allah counts every deed, big or small, and He is enough to take care of all your needs.

  41. 41
    Al-JalilالْجَلِيلُThe Majestic

    Allah is full of majesty and greatness, so grand that hearts feel awe just thinking of Him.

  42. 42
    Al-KarimالْكَرِيمُThe Most Generous

    Allah is the most generous of all; He gives even to people who never ask and never say thank you.

  43. 43
    Ar-RaqibالرَّقِيبُThe Watchful

    Allah is always watching over you with care, every moment, even while you are fast asleep.

  44. 44
    Al-MujibالْمُجِيبُThe Responsive

    When you make dua, Allah answers; He always hears you and gives you what is best.

  45. 45
    Al-Wasi'الْوَاسِعُThe All-Encompassing

    Allah's kindness and knowledge reach everywhere, to every person in every place, with room for all.

  46. 46
    Al-HakimالْحَكِيمُThe All-Wise

    Everything Allah does has a wise reason behind it, even when we cannot understand it yet.

  47. 47
    Al-WadudالْوَدُودُThe Most Loving

    Allah loves the people who do good, and He puts love for them into other people's hearts.

  48. 48
    Al-MajidالْمَجِيدُThe Most Glorious

    Allah is full of glory and honour, and everything about Him is beautiful and great.

  49. 49
    Al-Ba'ithالْبَاعِثُThe Resurrector

    One day Allah will wake everyone up again after death, and He sent prophets to teach people.

  50. 50
    Ash-ShahidالشَّهِيدُThe Witness

    Allah witnesses everything that happens, so nothing you do, good or bad, is ever unseen.

  51. 51
    Al-HaqqالْحَقُّThe Truth

    Allah is completely real and true; everything He says is true, and He never changes.

  52. 52
    Al-WakilالْوَكِيلُThe Trustee

    You can leave your worries with Allah, and He will take care of them better than anyone.

  53. 53
    Al-QawiyyالْقَوِيُّThe All-Strong

    Allah is stronger than everything and never gets tired, so nothing is too hard for Him.

  54. 54
    Al-MatinالْمَتِينُThe Firm

    Allah's strength is firm and steady; He never grows weak, tired, or worn out.

  55. 55
    Al-WaliyyالْوَلِيُّThe Protecting Friend

    Allah is the close friend and helper of the believers, and He looks after those who love Him.

  56. 56
    Al-HamidالْحَمِيدُThe Praiseworthy

    Allah deserves all thanks and praise, for every good thing in your life came from Him.

  57. 57
    Al-MuhsiالْمُحْصِيThe Enumerator

    Allah counts everything, every raindrop, every leaf, every kind word, and nothing is missed.

  58. 58
    Al-Mubdi'الْمُبْدِئُThe Originator

    Allah began everything; before He made it, there was nothing at all, and then it was.

  59. 59
    Al-Mu'idالْمُعِيدُThe Restorer

    Allah can bring things back, and after we die He will bring us all to life again.

  60. 60
    Al-MuhyiالْمُحْيِيThe Giver of Life

    Every heartbeat and every green shoot in spring is alive because Allah gives it life.

  61. 61
    Al-MumitالْمُمِيتُThe Bringer of Death

    Allah decides when each life ends, and for believers, dying is going back home to Him.

  62. 62
    Al-HayyالْحَيُّThe Ever-Living

    Allah is alive forever; He was never born, He never sleeps, and He will never die.

  63. 63
    Al-QayyumالْقَيُّومُThe Self-Sustaining

    Allah needs nobody to hold Him up, and He holds up everything else so it keeps going.

  64. 64
    Al-WajidالْوَاجِدُThe Finder

    Allah finds whatever He wants and never lacks anything, so He never has to search or wait.

  65. 65
    Al-MajidالْمَاجِدُThe Noble

    Allah is noble and generous in a way so great that it fills the heart with wonder.

  66. 66
    Al-WahidالْوَاحِدُThe One

    There is only one Allah; He has no partner, and no one shares His power.

  67. 67
    Al-AhadالْأَحَدُThe Unique

    Allah is one and only, unlike anything else, and nothing can ever be joined with Him.

  68. 68
    As-SamadالصَّمَدُThe Eternal Refuge

    Everyone needs Allah for everything, but Allah needs nothing from anyone at all.

  69. 69
    Al-QadirالْقَادِرُThe All-Able

    Allah can do anything He wants; nothing is impossible for Him, ever.

  70. 70
    Al-MuqtadirالْمُقْتَدِرُThe All-Powerful

    Whatever Allah decides to do gets done, and nothing in the world can get in His way.

  71. 71
    Al-MuqaddimالْمُقَدِّمُThe Expediter

    Allah brings some things forward and puts some people first, and His timing is always perfect.

  72. 72
    Al-Mu'akhkhirالْمُؤَخِّرُThe Delayer

    Sometimes Allah makes us wait for something, and the waiting is part of His wise plan.

  73. 73
    Al-AwwalالْأَوَّلُThe First

    Allah was there before everything; there was no beginning to Allah, because He always was.

  74. 74
    Al-AkhirالْآخِرُThe Last

    Allah will still be there after everything else is gone; He has no end at all.

  75. 75
    Az-ZahirالظَّاهِرُThe Manifest

    Signs of Allah are everywhere you look, in the sun, the rain, and the mountains, so His greatness is clear.

  76. 76
    Al-BatinالْبَاطِنُThe Hidden

    We cannot see Allah in this life, yet He knows us and is closer to us than we know.

  77. 77
    Al-WaliالْوَالِيThe Governor

    Allah runs everything that happens in the world and takes care of all of it every moment.

  78. 78
    Al-Muta'aliالْمُتَعَالِيThe Most Exalted

    Allah is above everything, higher than we can even imagine, and nothing can reach up to Him.

  79. 79
    Al-BarrالْبَرُّThe Source of Goodness

    Allah is kind and good to everyone, always giving good things, even to people who forget Him.

  80. 80
    At-TawwabالتَّوَّابُThe Accepter of Repentance

    Every time you say sorry and come back to Allah, He welcomes you and accepts you.

  81. 81
    Al-MuntaqimالْمُنْتَقِمُThe Avenger

    Allah gives fair punishment to people who keep doing cruel things and refuse to stop, so justice is done.

  82. 82
    Al-AfuwwالْعَفُوُّThe Pardoner

    Allah wipes away mistakes so completely that it is as if they never happened at all.

  83. 83
    Ar-Ra'ufالرَّءُوفُThe Most Kind

    Allah is so tender and kind that He gives us easy things and protects us from hard ones.

  84. 84
    Malik-ul-Mulkمَالِكُ الْمُلْكِThe Owner of All Sovereignty

    Everything in the world truly belongs to Allah, and He gives it to whoever He wishes.

  85. 85
    Dhul-Jalali wal-Ikramذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِThe Lord of Majesty and Generosity

    Allah is both mighty and generous, so He deserves our awe and our thanks at the same time.

  86. 86
    Al-MuqsitالْمُقْسِطُThe Equitable

    Allah makes everything fair in the end, so anyone who was wronged will get their fair share.

  87. 87
    Al-Jami'الْجَامِعُThe Gatherer

    Allah brings everything together, and on the Last Day He will gather every person who ever lived.

  88. 88
    Al-GhaniالْغَنِيُّThe Self-Sufficient

    Allah is rich beyond measure and needs nothing from anyone, while everything needs Him.

  89. 89
    Al-MughniالْمُغْنِيThe Enricher

    When someone has enough, it is Allah who gave it; He makes people rich and content.

  90. 90
    Al-Mani'الْمَانِعُThe Preventer

    Sometimes Allah stops something from reaching us, and that is His way of protecting us from harm.

  91. 91
    Ad-DarrالضَّارُّThe Distresser

    Even hard things, like being sick, happen only with Allah's permission, and He always has a wise reason.

  92. 92
    An-Nafi'النَّافِعُThe Benefactor

    Every good thing that helps you, your medicine, your food, your friends, comes from Allah.

  93. 93
    An-NurالنُّورُThe Light

    Allah is the Light who lights up the heavens and the earth and guides hearts out of darkness.

  94. 94
    Al-HadiالْهَادِيThe Guide

    Allah shows people the right path, and He sent prophets and the Qur'an to guide us home.

  95. 95
    Al-Badi'الْبَدِيعُThe Incomparable Originator

    Allah made everything without copying anything; there was no pattern before Him, He invented it all.

  96. 96
    Al-BaqiالْبَاقِيThe Everlasting

    Everything else will one day end, but Allah stays forever and never fades away.

  97. 97
    Al-WarithالْوَارِثُThe Inheritor

    When everything else is gone, Allah remains, and everything in the world returns to Him.

  98. 98
    Ar-RashidالرَّشِيدُThe Guide to the Right Path

    Allah guides everything to its right way, and He shows people what is best for them.

  99. 99
    As-SaburالصَّبُورُThe Most Patient

    Allah is patient; even when people do wrong for years, He gives them time to come back to Him.

Questions parents ask

What are the 99 Names of Allah?+

Al-Asma al-Husna, the most beautiful names, are names and attributes of Allah found in the Qur'an and Sunnah, such as Ar-Rahman (the Most Merciful) and Al-Khaliq (the Creator). The Qur'an says: "To Allah belong the most beautiful names, so call on Him by them" (Surah al-A'raf 7:180).

Where does the list of 99 names come from?+

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that Allah has ninety-nine names and whoever memorises them will enter Paradise (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim). The commonly used ordered list comes from a narration in Jami' at-Tirmidhi; scholars note Allah's names are not limited to ninety-nine.

How can I teach my child the names of Allah?+

One name a night, attached to something the child already knows: Ar-Razzaq at dinner, Al-Hafiz at bedtime, Al-Ghaffar after a sorry. Say the Arabic, the meaning, and the one-line explanation, and repeat last night's name first. Stories help most: a child who knows Yunus in the fish understands As-Sami', the All-Hearing.

What does memorising the 99 names mean?+

Scholars explain the hadith as knowing the names, understanding their meanings, and living by them: trusting Ar-Razzaq to provide, asking Al-Ghaffar for forgiveness, and being generous because Allah is Al-Karim. The list is a doorway to knowing Allah, not a memory test.

The names, met inside the stories.

Narrated stories of the prophets for Muslim kids, free to start in the Sukun Kids app.