The names of God: the cards as text
Aqidah. Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review.
- Card 1
Ninety-nine names, and a promise for whoever learns them.
- Card 2
Ninety-nine names, and a promise
It starts with a promise. The Prophet said God has ninety-nine names, and whoever enumerates them enters Paradise. Most scholars hold the names are not limited to ninety-nine. These are the ones given that promise.
- Card 3
Lesson: Scholars explain that learning God's names means living by them.
- Card 4
Where the names come one after another
Where can someone meet these names? The end of surah al-Hashr gathers many in a row: the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the King, the Holy, the Source of Peace, the Creator, the Shaper.
- Card 5
Qur'an 59:22-24
هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ عَٰلِمُ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِۖ هُوَ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ٢٢
22 He is Allah; none has the right to be worshiped except Him, Knower of the unseen and the seen; He is the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
- Card 6
Lesson: Surah al-Hashr says it plainly: to Him belong the most beautiful names.
- Card 7
Calling on the names, and living by them
Knowing God's names is only the start. Knowing God is the Forgiving moves believers to forgive. Knowing He is the Just moves them to be fair. Muslims call on the name that fits their need: "O Forgiving, forgive me".
- Card 8
Qur'an 7:180
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ فَٱدۡعُوهُ بِهَاۖ وَذَرُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلۡحِدُونَ فِيٓ أَسۡمَٰٓئِهِۦۚ سَيُجۡزَوۡنَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ ١٨٠
180 Allah has the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them, and leave those who deviate concerning His Names. They will be recompensed for what they used to do.
- Card 9
Lesson: Muslims call on the name that fits the need, and the names shape their character.
- Card 10
Reflect: How many names did the Prophet mention in the well-known hadith?
Answer: Ninety-nine. Ninety-nine, though most scholars hold God's names are not limited to that number.
- Card 11
The end of The names of God.