The short answer: *Asma ul Husna* means "the most beautiful names". The Quran says: "And to Allah belong the best names, so call upon Him by them" (Al-A'raf 7:180). In Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ said that Allah has ninety-nine names, and whoever *learns and lives by* them will enter Paradise. Each name tells us something about Allah, so learning them is one of the best ways for a child to know and love Him.
A note on the list
The list of 99 names printed in most books and posters comes from a narration in At-Tirmidhi. Many scholars explain that the list itself was gathered by narrators from the Quran and Sunnah, which is why lists differ slightly, but every name in it describes Allah. For children, the goal is not only to memorise a list, but to understand what the names mean.
30 names to teach first
| Name | Arabic | Meaning in simple words |
|---|---|---|
| Allah | الله | The one true God |
| Ar-Rahman | الرَّحْمَٰن | The Most Merciful to all of creation |
| Ar-Rahim | الرَّحِيم | The Most Merciful, especially to the believers |
| Al-Malik | الْمَلِك | The King, who owns everything |
| Al-Quddus | الْقُدُّوس | The Most Pure, free from every fault |
| As-Salam | السَّلَام | The Source of Peace |
| Al-Mu'min | الْمُؤْمِن | The Giver of safety and faith |
| Al-Khaliq | الْخَالِق | The Creator |
| Al-Bari | الْبَارِئ | The Maker, who brings things into being |
| Al-Musawwir | الْمُصَوِّر | The Shaper, who gives everything its form |
| Al-Ghaffar | الْغَفَّار | The One who forgives again and again |
| Ar-Razzaq | الرَّزَّاق | The Provider, who gives us food and everything we need |
| Al-'Alim | الْعَلِيم | The All-Knowing |
| As-Sami' | السَّمِيع | The All-Hearing |
| Al-Basir | الْبَصِير | The All-Seeing |
| Al-Latif | اللَّطِيف | The Gentle and Kind, who knows the smallest things |
| Al-Halim | الْحَلِيم | The Patient, who does not rush to punish |
| Al-'Azim | الْعَظِيم | The Most Great |
| Al-Ghafur | الْغَفُور | The Most Forgiving |
| Ash-Shakur | الشَّكُور | The Most Appreciative, who rewards even small good deeds |
| Al-Karim | الْكَرِيم | The Most Generous |
| Al-Wadud | الْوَدُود | The Most Loving |
| Al-Haqq | الْحَقّ | The Truth |
| Al-Wakil | الْوَكِيل | The One we can always rely on |
| Al-Qawiyy | الْقَوِيّ | The Most Strong |
| Al-Hayy | الْحَيّ | The Ever-Living |
| Al-Qayyum | الْقَيُّوم | The One who looks after everything, always |
| Al-Ahad | الْأَحَد | The One and Only |
| As-Samad | الصَّمَد | The One everyone needs, who needs no one |
| At-Tawwab | التَّوَّاب | The One who always accepts our sorry |
Fun ways to teach them at home
- One name a week. Put it on the fridge, say it at breakfast, and find it in daily life: when it rains, talk about Ar-Razzaq.
- Use them in dua. Teach your child to call Allah by the right name: *Ya Ghafur, forgive me*; *Ya Razzaq, give us good food*.
- Spot them in the Quran. Many verses end with two names, such as *Al-Ghafur Ar-Rahim*. Ask your child to listen for them in Surah Al-Hashr (59:22–24), which has many names together.
- Act on them. Allah is Ar-Rahim, so we try to be merciful; Allah is Ash-Shakur, so we say thank you.
Ayatul Kursi contains Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum and Al-'Azim; see our guide to Ayatul Kursi for kids. For structured lessons on faith, see our Islamic Studies for kids classes, and you can book 3 free trial classes.