Allah (swt)

* You will see me use (swt) after Allah when I write blog posts. What does it mean? “swt” is an acroymn which stands for “subhanu wa ta’ala” which translates as “Glorified and Exalted”. Therefore Allah (swt) = Allah, the Glorified and Exalted.

* Please view a recent post ‘Life’s Journey: To Understand Our Creator’ to learn more about Who is Allah (swt)?

Allah (Arabic)  = God (English)

Islam is purely monotheism. Which means the worship of only, one creator. Muslim’s worship and praise Allah (aka in english, ‘God’), the same creator that is worshiped by Christians and Jews.

Muslims prefer to use the name Allah, in reference to their creator, instead of ‘God’ for several reasons:

1. Allah (swt) revealed the Quran in Arabic and preferred this name for himself.

2. It can not be pluralized. There is no such thing as more then one Allah. Whereas ‘God’ can be pluralized and rewritten as ‘Gods’ and ‘Goddess’.  Muslims prefer not to use the word ‘God’ because it can be easily changed (pluralized), and therefore it defeats the true essence of worshiping one creator. Since Islam is purely monotheistic then that means the ‘oneness’ (this is related to the aspect of Islam called ‘tawheed’) found in the religion and of the creator should be evident everywhere and in every aspect. Including in the name of the creator, hence Muslims call their creator – “Allah”.

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ASIDE:

Did you know, “Allah” instead of the word “God” is written in the Arabic version of the Bible that is read by Christian believers in the Middle East.

If you don’t think that the fact, that the name “God” can be pluralized, is a big deal, then I implore you to take a deeper look at the ‘definitions’ of ‘goddess’ or ‘gods’ in a dictionary. Even though ‘God’ is a beautiful name to address the ‘one creator’ and it implies that the parallel religion is monotheistic, it is not the best name. Because it can be transformed into the words ‘goddess’ or ‘gods’ which strongly parallel with polytheistic beliefs (the believe in one or more gods). Think about it.

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Common Phrases that Muslims say:

Subhan-Allah

Allahmdulliah  – “Praise be to Allah (swt)”

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The Most Beautiful Names of Allah (swt):

NOTE: Below is a table of the 99 names of Allah and the English translation. These names denote distinct qualities of Allah (swt). These are the most beautiful names and they belong to only Allah (swt). Muslims also use these names, alongside Allah (swt) when referring to the Creator.

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The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah:

1		Ar-Rahman	The All Beneficent, The Most Merciful in Essence
2		Ar-Rahim	The Most Merciful, The Most Merciful in Actions
3		Al-Malik	The King, The Sovereign, The True and Ultimate King
4		Al-Quddus	The Most Holy, The Most Pure, The Most Perfect
5		As-Salaam	The Peace and Blessing, The Source of Peace and Safety, The Most Perfect
6		Al-Mu’min	The Guarantor, The Self Affirming, The Granter of Security, The Affirmer of Truth
7		Al-Muhaymin	The Guardian, The Preserver, The Overseeing Protector
8		Al-Aziz	The Almighty, The Self Sufficient, The Most Honorable
9		Al-Jabbar	The Powerful, The Irresistible, The Compeller, The Most Lofty, The Restorer/Improver of Affairs
10		Al-Mutakabbir	The Tremendous
11		Al-Khaliq	The Creator
12		Al-Bari’	The Rightful
13		Al-Musawwir	The Fashioner of Forms
14		Al-Ghaffar	The Ever Forgiving
15		Al-Qahhar	The All Compelling Subduer
16		Al-Wahhab	The Bestower
17		Ar-Razzaq	The Ever Providing
18		Al-Fattah	The Opener, The Victory Giver
19		Al-Alim	The All Knowing, The Omniscient
20		Al-Qabid	The Restrainer, The Straightener
21		Al-Basit	The Expander, The Munificent
22		Al-Khafid	The Abaser
23		Ar-Rafi‘e	The Exalter
24		Al-Mu‘ezz	The Giver of Honour
25		Al-Mudhell	The Giver of Dishonour
26		As-Sami‘e	The All Hearing
27		Al-Basir	The All Seeing
28		Al-Hakam	The Judge, The Arbitrator
29		Al-`Adl	The Utterly Just
30		Al-Latif	The Subtly Kind
31		Al-Khabir	The All Aware
32		Al-Halim	The Forbearing, The Indulgent
33		Al-Azeem	The Magnificent, The Infinite
34		Al-Ghafur	The All Forgiving
35		Ash-Shakur	The Grateful
36		Al-Aliyy	The Sublimely Exalted
37		Al-Kabir	The Great
38		Al-Hafiz	The Preserver
39		Al-Muqit	The Nourisher
40		Al-Hasib	The Reckoner
41		Al-Jalil	The Majestic
42		Al-Karim	The Bountiful, The Generous
43		Ar-Raqib	The Watchful
44		Al-Mujib	The Responsive, The Answerer
45		Al-Wasse‘e	The Vast, The All Encompassing
46		Al-Hakim	The Wise
47		Al-Wadud	The Loving, The Kind One
48		Al-Majid	The All Glorious
49		Al-Ba’ith	The Raiser of The Dead
50		Ash-Shaheed	The Witness
51		Al-Haqq	The Truth, The Real
52		Al-Wakil	The Trustee, The Dependable
53		Al-Qawaie	The Strong
54		Al-Matin	The Firm, The Steadfast
55		Al-Walaie	The Protecting Friend, Patron and Helper
56		Al-Hamid	The All Praiseworthy
57		Al-Muhsi	The Accounter, The Numberer of All
58		Al-Mubdi’	The Producer, Originator, and Initiator of All
59		Al-Mu‘id	The Reinstater Who Brings Back All
60		Al-Muhyi	The Giver of Life
61		Al-Mumit	The Bringer of Death, The Destroyer
62		Al-Hayy	The Ever Living
63		Al-Qayyum	The Self Subsisting Sustainer of All
64		Al-Wajid	The Perceiver, The Finder, The Unfailing
65		Al-Majid	The Illustrious, The Magnificent
66		Al-Wahid	The One, The Unique, Manifestation of Unity
67		Al-Ahad	The One, the All Inclusive, The Indivisible
68		As-Samad	The Self Sufficient, The Impregnable, The Eternally Besought of All, The Everlasting
69		Al-Qadir	The All Able
70		Al-Muqtadir	The All Determiner, The Dominant
71		Al-Muqaddim	The Expediter, He Who Brings Forward
72		Al-Mu’akhir	The Delayer, He Who Puts Far Away
73		Al-Awwal	The First
74		Al-Akhir	The Last
75		Az-Zahir	The Manifest, The All Victorious
76		Al-Batin	The Hidden, The All Encompassing
77		Al-Wali	The Patron
78		Al-Muta’ali	The Self Exalted
79		Al-Barr	The Most Kind and Righteous
80		At-Tawwab	The Ever Returning, Ever Relenting
81		Al-Muntaqim	The Avenger
82		Al-‘Afuww	The Pardoner, The Effacer of Sins
83		Ar-Ra’uf	The Compassionate, The All Pitying
84		Malik-al-Mulk	The Owner of All Sovereignty
85		Dhu-al-Jalali wa-al-Ikram	The Lord of Majesty and Generosity
86		Al-Muqsit	The Equitable, The Requiter
87		Al-Jami‘e	The Gatherer, The Unifier
88		Al-Ghanaie	The All Rich, The Independent
89		Al-Mughni	The Enricher, The Emancipator
90		Al-Mani’e	The Withholder, The Shielder, the Defender
91		Ad-Darr	The Distressor, The Harmer
92		An-Nafi‘e	The Propitious, The Benefactor
93		An-Nur	The Light
94		Al-Hadi	The Guide
95		Al-Badi	The Incomparable, The Originator
96		Al-Baqi	The Ever Enduring and Immutable
97		Al-Warith	The Heir, The Inheritor of All
98		Ar-Rashid	The Guide, Infallible Teacher and Knower
99		As-Sabur	The Patient, The Timeless.