27 / Allah’s Most Beautiful Names Are Not Confined to a Specific Number, and an Explanation of the Words: “Whoever Enumerates Them Will Enter Paradise”

It is authentically reported from the Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, in the hadith of Abū Hurayrah—may Allah be pleased with him—recorded by al-Bukhārī and Muslim in their respective Sahīh collections, that he said: “Allah has ninety-nine names—one hundred less one. Whoever enumerates them will enter Paradise.”1

There is no doubt that this tremendous merit—namely, entering Paradise as a consequence of enumerating this number of Allah’s names—stirs a person to strive earnestly to attain this great objective, to pursue it to completion, and to be deeply committed to realizing it.

Some people have mistakenly assumed that enumerating Allah’s names, as encouraged in this hadith, means counting off the wording of ninety-nine of Allah’s names, memorizing them by heart, and reciting them at certain specified times. Some may even have incorporated them into their morning and evening remembrance of Allah without understanding these majestic and tremendous names, contemplating their meanings, fulfilling what they necessitate and entail, or acting in accordance with their demands and requirements.

The scholars—may Allah have mercy on them—have pointed out that enumerating Allah’s names does not mean merely counting their letters without understanding them or acting upon them. Rather, one must understand their meanings and what is intended by them in a sound and correct manner, and then act in accordance with what they require.

Abū Umar al-Talamankī—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “Complete knowledge of the names and attributes of Allah Most High—by virtue of which one who supplicates through them and memorizes them merits the reward mentioned by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—includes