161. I Read 99 Names Of Allaah Every day. Is That Okay?

By Asma bint Shameem 

It’s true that there’s an authentic hadeeth about 99 Names of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“Allaah has ninety-nine names, one hundred less one. Whoever memorizes them will enter Jannah.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

However, just reading the Beautiful Names of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala from a book or even memorizing them is not what’s meant by this hadeeth. 

And there are several points that need to be clarified. 

POINT # 1: 
*People think that there are ONLY 99 Names of Allaah* 

That’s not correct. 

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala has MORE than 99 Names and we don’t know the exact number. 

This is supported by authentic ahaadeeth.

For example, the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“There is no-one who is afflicted by distress and grief, and says: 

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ ، وَابْنُ عَبْدِكَ ، وَابْنُ أَمَتِكَ ، نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ ، أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ ، أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ ، أَوْ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ ، أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي ، وَنُورَ صَدْرِي ، وَجِلَاءَ حُزْنِي ، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي

“Allaahumma inni ‘abduka ibn ‘abdika ibn amatija naasyati bi yadika, maada fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qadaa’uka. As’aluka bi kulli ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw anzaltahu fi kitaabika aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqika aw ista’tharta bihi fi ‘ilm il-ghayb ‘indaka an taj’al al-Qur’aana rabee’ qalbi wa noor sadri wa jalaa’ huzni wa dhihaab hammi”

“O Allaah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son of Your maidservant; my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. *I ask You by every name belonging to You which You have named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the Unseen with You,* that You make the Qur’aan the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety”,

but Allaah will take away his distress and grief, and replace it with joy.” 

He was asked: 
“O Messenger of Allaah, should we learn this?” 

He said:
“Of course; everyone who hears it should learn it.” 

(Ahmad - saheeh by al-Albaani)

This hadeeth shows that there are SOME Names of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala that He has kept HIDDEN with HIM, preserved in the knowledge of the UNSEEN, and *NO ONE KNOWS* about them EXCEPT Him, Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala. 

That proves that Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala has MORE than 99 Names. 

And there are other authentic ahaadeeth that prove that. 

POINT # 2: 
*Then why does the hadeeth say “Allaah has 99 Names”*

Let me explain it this way:

If I say I have $500 that I want to give for sadaqah, that does not mean that I have ONLY $500/-. 

What my statement means is that OUT of “whatever” money I have, I’m taking out $500/- for sadaqah. 

And it does NOT mean that the TOTAL amount of money I possess is $500/-.

POINT # 3: 
*Some people think just memorizing the names is enough. 

That’s because the hadeeth says:

“Whoever memorizes them will enter Jannah.”*

So they read these 99 Names from a book every day and some even repeat specific Names a certain number of times and think that’s a good way to worship Allaah and hope that’s the means to enter Jannah as per the hadeeth. 

BUT that’s NOT the CORRECT understanding of the hadeeth. 

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“What is meant by memorising them is not merely writing them on a piece of paper, then repeating them until you have memorised them…

“Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (1/74) 

The ulama explain that the word ‘memorize’ actually implies several things. 

*LEARN the Beautiful Names and UNDERSTAND what they mean* 

*MEMORIZE them by heart*

*CALL upon Allaah with His Beautiful Names in duaa and ASK Him with those Names* 

Allaah says:

“And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allaah, so call on Him by them” (Surah al-A’raaf :180)

So we should ask Allaah and call upon Him with those Beautiful Names that are appropriate for what we’re asking. 

For example, if we’re asking Allaah for forgiveness then we can say “O Allaah, You are al-Ghafoor, the Most Forgiving...so forgive me.”

Or “Yaa Razzaaq... Only You are the Provider. So provide for me, increase my provision and help me find a halal means of earnings” 

And similarly use all other Names like that. 

*ACTING in accordance with those Names*

For example, 

We know that Allaah is al-Waahid, al-Ahad, the One and Only. 

So we should LIVE with Tauheed, ACKNOWLEDGE that He’s the ONLY One worthy of worship, and not associate any partners with Him. We should strive only for His sake, and be sincere to Him alone, in all our words and deeds. 

We know that He is ar-Razzaaq. So we will not ask or hope for our provisions from anyone else except Him. We will depend on no one but Him. And beg no one but Him for anything. That reflects obedience to Him and shows our complete need of Him. 

And He is al-Kareem, the Most Generous. So we should ask no one but Him, knowing the Most Generous will suffice for us. 

At the same time we ourselves should try and implement this beautiful quality in us and be as generous to His creation as we can. 

So KNOW the Beautiful Names of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala, UNDERSTAND them and LIVE by them by IMPLEMENTING them in your self. 

*THAT is humility*. 

*THAT is part of perfect servitude* 

*THAT is the way to Jannah*

And Allaah knows best