Thread by @aaolomi

In Islamic belief God is said to have 99 Names. Muslims invoke these Names in devotional rites like supplications, prayers, and meditative practices. They are also part of esoteric beliefs and traditions

A thread on the 99 Names of God or asma al husna

While the Qur’an states God has many names and refers to God with a variety of attributes, the compilation of the Names of God comes from later commentaries drawn both from the Qur’an and the hadith.

The lists vary from compiler to compiler.

There is also some debate on the actual number.

While 99 names are common based on the Abu Hurayrah hadith, there are traditions that hint upwards of a 1000

Muslims use the different Names to invoke God in prayers, supplications, and in meditative rites.

They are often chanted a certain number of times resulting in numeric formula.

Some famous prescriptions include:

For protection from plagues, one can recite Al-Baqi 136 times daily.

Recitation of Al Baqi 100 times will also guard from all calamities.

If a body is made infirm by illness, Al Quddus can be recited 391 times

Reciting Al Haqq 100 times will reveal that which is hidden or lost.

To protect from violence, recite Al Jabbar 33 times.

To clear away obstacles and doubt one can recite Al Fattah 21 times

For those suffering oppression, invocation of Al Malik 90 times daily after salat can lift the suffering

To help with memory, learning, and to recover lost memories one can recite Al Mu'id 134 times or 99 times.

The number of recitations are derived from an alpha numeric scheme in which letters are given certain values which produce a sum

The Names are also used in a meditative fashion to internalize those attributes of God.

For example the recitation of Al Rahim to truly contemplate Mercy.

For commentators like Misri, the human soul is a reflection or mirror of God’s Names

For Ibn Arabi and Al Buni, the entirety of the cosmos is fashioned from the Names of God.

Ibn Arabi would say the heart is the seat or Throne of God’s Names

A common belief among some Sufi interpretations is there are 99 Names with 1 hidden Name, Ism-i Azam.

Only certainly saintly figures or wali know the hidden Name, knowledge of which grants miraculous abilities

One such person was Abu Yazd al-Bistami who was said to have knowledge of the Greatest Name.

One time as he was in a rush so he invoked the Name to fold the Tigris river so that he may cross it in a single bound.

Some divide up the Names into categories, for example Jalali and Jamali.

@TheLadyImam has mentioned some fascinating analysis of understanding the Names in this way.

Others see the Names in three categories: merciful, forceful, and perfection. And others like Ibn Arabi divided the Names into essence, glory, and action while Al Buni has ten divisions.

The commentary and discussion of the Names in Islamic mysticism overlap with Neo-platonic philosophy while the practical use of the Names and their connection with miracle-working share similarities with the Jewish Baal Shem.

We also find the Names used even more occult traditions and talismans from amuletic objects, spiritual protection, and charms.

I will cover these in a future thread.