24 / Allah’s Names Are Described as the Most Beautiful, and What This Signifies

The Noble Quran encourages calling upon Allah by His magnificent, Most Beautiful Names and sternly warns against the path of those who deviate concerning His names, stating that Allah will call them severely to account for doing so. He—glory be to Him—says: “To Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them, and leave those who deviate concerning His names. They will be repaid for what they used to do.” 1 It is therefore especially incumbent upon every Muslim to give due attention to Allah’s Most Beautiful Names and understand them correctly, remaining far removed from the path of those who deviate concerning His names. Allah warns them in this verse by saying, “They will be repaid for what they used to do,” and He warns them elsewhere, saying: “Indeed, those who deviate concerning Our signs are not hidden from Us. Is one who is cast into the Fire better, or one who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you wish; He certainly sees all that you do.” 2 Deviation concerning Allah’s names is deviation concerning His signs.

The foregoing noble verse indicates that all of Allah’s names are the Most Beautiful. For Allah—Mighty and Majestic—by virtue of His perfection, majesty, beauty, and greatness, is called only by the most beautiful names, just as He is described only by the finest attributes and praised only with the most perfect, beautiful, and excellent praise. His names—Majestic and Exalted is He—are therefore the most beautiful and perfect of names. No names are more beautiful; no others can take their place, convey their meanings, or serve in their stead. In the Noble Quran, the Lord—Mighty and Majestic—describes His names as the Most Beautiful in four passages: in the foregoing verse, and in