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Reflecting on the Names of Allah
True love is not fleeting, nor is it temporary, but its permanence takes root in the heart. We might have felt this type of love for certain people in our lives, and we should be grateful for this love.
When it comes to Allah, we know that we should love Him. Muslims are taught this from a young age. God says in the Qur'an, 'those who believe are stronger in love for Allah' [2:165].
While we often put those we love before what we ourselves want, we might not always choose God in this way. Part of the reason is that true love is based on how much we know someone, our relationship with that person, and his or her presence in, and impact on, our lives... Allah, who created us and knows us more intimately than any human being, knows this about us, and indeed created this tendency in us. Thus, one of the most beautiful aspects of the revelation of His names and attributes is that they form the basis of our relationship with Him...
Indeed Allah's names tell us something about ourselves; when we know that He is the Giver of Peace, for example, it means that we will necessarily go though periods of anxiety, and the antidote is to go to Him for calm. Knowing that He is the Responder means that there is one who is asking; Him being the Forgiving means that we make mistakes...
With these names, God wants us to know him.
When it comes to Allah, we know that we should love Him. Muslims are taught this from a young age. God says in the Qur'an, 'those who believe are stronger in love for Allah' [2:165].
While we often put those we love before what we ourselves want, we might not always choose God in this way. Part of the reason is that true love is based on how much we know someone, our relationship with that person, and his or her presence in, and impact on, our lives... Allah, who created us and knows us more intimately than any human being, knows this about us, and indeed created this tendency in us. Thus, one of the most beautiful aspects of the revelation of His names and attributes is that they form the basis of our relationship with Him...
Indeed Allah's names tell us something about ourselves; when we know that He is the Giver of Peace, for example, it means that we will necessarily go though periods of anxiety, and the antidote is to go to Him for calm. Knowing that He is the Responder means that there is one who is asking; Him being the Forgiving means that we make mistakes...
With these names, God wants us to know him.
558 pages, Paperback
Published November 16, 2020
345 people are currently reading
2071 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 13, 2020
The book is structured in a way that each chapter can be read independently from each other but also follows an order which the author thought carefully about. For example, the book starts with the names al-Hadi & al-Rashid (the guide), the author explains why, it becomes clear how much thought it was given in the editing process to make it relatable and unique, both for the reader and from the unique perspective of the author’s journey.
The writing flows smoothly and is down to earth, making it relatable and easy to incorporate into every day practice. There are plenty of examples of situations we or the author have encountered and how the different attributes of God have manifested themselves or how they can provide perspective, hope, solace and more.
The way the subtleties and nuances are explained help the reader capture the inner essence of each name. One can find different layers of understanding and depth in different seatings, depending on the state of our soul or how the day went or if we’re dealing with a particular challenge or are simply feeling happy and grateful. Thus the text provides a much needed space for pause and reflection which is essential to truly “know” God. One knows through exploration, the book is an exploration of God’s attributes and we add to the reading with our own reflection.
This is not a book that returns to the shelves after reading. It is a book of reference to return to time again. It is therefore a must for every household or library.
A final point that came to mind while reading the book is that it is not intended for Muslims only, also because the use of terms is made accessible with no need for prior knowledge, but it forms a good basis for dialogue and a bridge about the understanding of the One between the monotheistic religions. At the academic level, it could help researchers improve their understanding of how Muslims view and understand God, or Allah, beyond the stereotypes.
The writing flows smoothly and is down to earth, making it relatable and easy to incorporate into every day practice. There are plenty of examples of situations we or the author have encountered and how the different attributes of God have manifested themselves or how they can provide perspective, hope, solace and more.
The way the subtleties and nuances are explained help the reader capture the inner essence of each name. One can find different layers of understanding and depth in different seatings, depending on the state of our soul or how the day went or if we’re dealing with a particular challenge or are simply feeling happy and grateful. Thus the text provides a much needed space for pause and reflection which is essential to truly “know” God. One knows through exploration, the book is an exploration of God’s attributes and we add to the reading with our own reflection.
This is not a book that returns to the shelves after reading. It is a book of reference to return to time again. It is therefore a must for every household or library.
A final point that came to mind while reading the book is that it is not intended for Muslims only, also because the use of terms is made accessible with no need for prior knowledge, but it forms a good basis for dialogue and a bridge about the understanding of the One between the monotheistic religions. At the academic level, it could help researchers improve their understanding of how Muslims view and understand God, or Allah, beyond the stereotypes.
August 31, 2024
“With these names, God wants us to know Him. It would have been enough for God to say that He is God, and we must obey Him, without revealing anything else about Himself. But from His mercy, He has told us His names and attributes, so that we can connect to Him, and have a relationship with Him based on hope, awe, and love.”
an amazing book that can work well as introductory material on the subject of the names and attributes of Allah while still giving a pretty elaborate and comprehensive view.
an amazing book that can work well as introductory material on the subject of the names and attributes of Allah while still giving a pretty elaborate and comprehensive view.
July 15, 2022
This is the most comprehensive book I have read on this topic in English.
April 30, 2022
Reading this right after reading Divine Speech was not something I'd set out to do intentionally, but it was one of those timely happenstances that benefitted me greatly since there were so many inter-related reminders and subject matters discussed in the two books, and it made me appreciate both books so much more now that I've finished reading this.
As the title suggests, this book assists readers in generating careful reflections on the 99 names of Allah SWT, and each chapter is dedicated to a detailed explanation of the meaning behind each name while giving examples based on the parables and verses found in the Quran and other sahih hadiths. This is one of those books that merits a careful and slow contemplation, as readers are invited to reflect on God's divine names in order to fully understand our deen and why we are encouraged to perform certain practices or supplications in our religion.
"Reflecting on the Names of Allah" is a wonderful resource that will assist readers (inshaAllah) with the everyday rituals of performing our daily tasks, as the author has helpfully given a variety of examples where the names of Allah may accompany our days and nights. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking to immerse themselves in the study of God's powerful and beautiful names, and may this be a beneficial read to us all.
As the title suggests, this book assists readers in generating careful reflections on the 99 names of Allah SWT, and each chapter is dedicated to a detailed explanation of the meaning behind each name while giving examples based on the parables and verses found in the Quran and other sahih hadiths. This is one of those books that merits a careful and slow contemplation, as readers are invited to reflect on God's divine names in order to fully understand our deen and why we are encouraged to perform certain practices or supplications in our religion.
"Reflecting on the Names of Allah" is a wonderful resource that will assist readers (inshaAllah) with the everyday rituals of performing our daily tasks, as the author has helpfully given a variety of examples where the names of Allah may accompany our days and nights. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking to immerse themselves in the study of God's powerful and beautiful names, and may this be a beneficial read to us all.
November 11, 2023
Infinity stars!!! This is truly the best book I’ve ever read that genuinely changed me and my life.
This book explores all of Allah’s 99 names, each chapter with different names in detail on what these names mean, lessons from these names, Quran verses, examples, how to live with these names, reflections, literally everything and that’s why I loved this so much! Plus at the end of the book there’s a whole section for supplications and duas both in Arabic and English
This book answered so many questions I had about Allah, and made me know him more, I cried in so many chapters because this was so beautiful and touching, this is not a book you just read and forget about, this is a book to get attached to and revisit often. It also made me realize how much wisdom there is in the stories of the Quran, those stories are timeless and everyone relates to them in one way or another which is why we should learn from them and why they were especially picked to be in the Quran.
Truly every single Muslim should read this book. It will genuinely change your life and character. All of the questions you have are answered in Allah’s names, the more you get to know him, the more you love and fear him, and strive for him.
Like I said, Every. Muslim. Must. Read. This. Book. Honestly even if you aren’t Muslim this is still a very informative book to help you understand who Allah is.
May Allah reward Jinan Yousef for this beautiful book 🫶🏻🫶🏻
This book explores all of Allah’s 99 names, each chapter with different names in detail on what these names mean, lessons from these names, Quran verses, examples, how to live with these names, reflections, literally everything and that’s why I loved this so much! Plus at the end of the book there’s a whole section for supplications and duas both in Arabic and English
This book answered so many questions I had about Allah, and made me know him more, I cried in so many chapters because this was so beautiful and touching, this is not a book you just read and forget about, this is a book to get attached to and revisit often. It also made me realize how much wisdom there is in the stories of the Quran, those stories are timeless and everyone relates to them in one way or another which is why we should learn from them and why they were especially picked to be in the Quran.
Truly every single Muslim should read this book. It will genuinely change your life and character. All of the questions you have are answered in Allah’s names, the more you get to know him, the more you love and fear him, and strive for him.
Like I said, Every. Muslim. Must. Read. This. Book. Honestly even if you aren’t Muslim this is still a very informative book to help you understand who Allah is.
May Allah reward Jinan Yousef for this beautiful book 🫶🏻🫶🏻
November 11, 2021
Love love loved it!! It was such a wholesome read. It’s a must have for all my muslamics 💖
May 6, 2024
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would because this is a book everyone should read that wants to get to know Allah in more depth.
With beautiful reflections from the Quran and Hadith, Dr Yousef makes a beautiful book that can and should be referred to over and over again.
It took me 7 months to read this but I went really slow so I could absorb all the names and meanings.
Highly recommend this book.
With beautiful reflections from the Quran and Hadith, Dr Yousef makes a beautiful book that can and should be referred to over and over again.
It took me 7 months to read this but I went really slow so I could absorb all the names and meanings.
Highly recommend this book.
May 18, 2025
This is my favourite islamic book that I have read so far and one I will be going back to re read often as the writing style is suited to me, and i've learned a lot.
The book is filled with wisdom, focuses on spiritual growth, and the importance of good character. This is what im drawn to, so i found it very inspiring.
it was a beautiful way to learn each of God's attributes and ways we can embody the same attributes ourselves to a lesser degree.
Each chapter includes relevant quranic verses and hadiths that relate to each name. It also provides context using current real-life examples, which are very relatable.
This book highlights many of the things I love most about Islam, which is why I enjoyed it a lot.
The book is filled with wisdom, focuses on spiritual growth, and the importance of good character. This is what im drawn to, so i found it very inspiring.
it was a beautiful way to learn each of God's attributes and ways we can embody the same attributes ourselves to a lesser degree.
Each chapter includes relevant quranic verses and hadiths that relate to each name. It also provides context using current real-life examples, which are very relatable.
This book highlights many of the things I love most about Islam, which is why I enjoyed it a lot.
November 28, 2021
From someone who followed Sr/Ustadha Jinan's work on ImamSuhaibWebb.com and then later, VirtualMosque.com back in my medical school years (2005-2011) when I was abroad and away from home, this was such a honor and pleasure to hold and read a little every few days if not more often. Her words, explanations still strike my heart the same deep way her articles on the 99 Names and the Salah series did all those years ago.
Each analysis and discussion of the 99 Names goes into detail, with relevant examples from our tradition/scripture, being it the Qur'an or Ahadith. Additionally, where these attributes come into play with contemporary situations, that even were not present when those initial articles were published, are included to further enhance how we can incorporate the Names into our daily lives, prayers and beyond.
Additionally, at the end of the book, Sr. Jinan includes some ways we can further emphasize these Names, such as journaling or study groups and even after this section, there are beautiful prayers with transliteration as well, where the Names are used.
I know I will be coming back to this volume/book again and again, to use as a reference or just to remind myself of these lessons. Her writings have always given me that Imaan-boost or lift when I need one.
Each analysis and discussion of the 99 Names goes into detail, with relevant examples from our tradition/scripture, being it the Qur'an or Ahadith. Additionally, where these attributes come into play with contemporary situations, that even were not present when those initial articles were published, are included to further enhance how we can incorporate the Names into our daily lives, prayers and beyond.
Additionally, at the end of the book, Sr. Jinan includes some ways we can further emphasize these Names, such as journaling or study groups and even after this section, there are beautiful prayers with transliteration as well, where the Names are used.
I know I will be coming back to this volume/book again and again, to use as a reference or just to remind myself of these lessons. Her writings have always given me that Imaan-boost or lift when I need one.
July 17, 2021
This book makes me cry. Why? Because Allah is the First and Last and it makes me realise that we should start to see His attributes in the minutiae of our everyday.
This is the part that I cried so hard:-
You may be in your room alone right now, or reading this book in a cafe. Wherever you are, take ten seconds right now to talk to Allah in your heart. Tell Him what is going through your mind. It is certain that no one around you can hear you, but Allah will. He is al-Sami.
I don’t know why this could make me burst into tears, perhaps with the everything is going on and I feel so overwhelming.
At the end of this book, the author compiled examples of supplications from the Qur’an and Sunnah, which encompass the most beautifully-worded prayers for so many of our needs.
I believe this is not the book that returns to the shelves after reading, but it is a book of reference to return to time again.
This is the part that I cried so hard:-
You may be in your room alone right now, or reading this book in a cafe. Wherever you are, take ten seconds right now to talk to Allah in your heart. Tell Him what is going through your mind. It is certain that no one around you can hear you, but Allah will. He is al-Sami.
I don’t know why this could make me burst into tears, perhaps with the everything is going on and I feel so overwhelming.
At the end of this book, the author compiled examples of supplications from the Qur’an and Sunnah, which encompass the most beautifully-worded prayers for so many of our needs.
I believe this is not the book that returns to the shelves after reading, but it is a book of reference to return to time again.
June 20, 2022
beautiful and life-changing
July 1, 2025
I absolutely cherish this book, and it will be a book I go back to over and over again over the rest of my days. I made it a point to memorize the names of Allah swt and it took a while but so worth it, this book drew me in, made me cry, opened my heart and soul up even more to Allahs beautiful names and meanings. To connect with each name and ponder about his true essence. His boundless mercy and compassion for his creation, to love Allah more than I already knew I had was such a deep experience. I can’t thank this author enough for such an eloquent and well put together book, May Allah reward you tenfold. 🤲
May 10, 2021
Review soon
January 25, 2022
A wonderful book to bring you back on track. I am thankful to have learn the Names of Allah to practice it daily :')
July 29, 2022
Excellence read. Lots of points to reflect.
September 9, 2021
I started reading this book in April. Today, I say my goodbye. It’s one of those heartfelt book-breakups.
Thank you for inviting me to learn Your names and share this experience with those who have looked forward to my sharing every other day. I took my time with this book.
May the light of knowledge illuminate our days and guide us to Him.
Thank you for inviting me to learn Your names and share this experience with those who have looked forward to my sharing every other day. I took my time with this book.
May the light of knowledge illuminate our days and guide us to Him.
August 27, 2021
The book has a really good explanation on each name of Allah.
January 20, 2021
First book in 2021. Author shares a lot of du’as. The book will help us see and reflect on how God manifested His names in our life, how we can live with these names/implement in our daily life and the book helps me to lessen my worries about my future tbh. Highly recommended.
May 20, 2021
Great book that every chapter explain the details about names of Allah.. very reflect and can adapt in your daily life.. love this book very much!!
July 27, 2021
A good book to better understand the names of Allah. The author provides example with regards to daily life on how His name manifest. We can call out His specific name for the situation we are in.
May 23, 2021
There are many works on the 'Beautiful Names of God', and they pretty much follow the same format,
1. Begin with the Name / Attribute
2. Explain its context within the Quran
3. Explain its context with respect to Human Strivings and an Engagement of the Human with the Divine Being, seeking His names Emulation or its Intercession.
This work, has a different approach altogether, where it collates familiar meanings or opposite meanings together - as they pertain to the human Interaction with these Divine Names or for Guidance
This approach is not knew with respect to the school of the ahl al-Bayt (Shia). In their corpus of traditions, there is Dua Jawshan al-Kabir, a recitation of the 1000 Meanings of the Attributes of God, and the interaction of that one tradition with other Traditions. In the ahlal Sunna Community, only the Turkish are aware and recite this tradition, coming down from Said Nursi to Fethulleh Gullen.
I entreat You by Your Names:
O the All-Kind and Caring, (Who manifests Himself with His Mercy and is inclined (even) toward those who turn away from Him,)
O the All-Bounteous and Favorng,
O the Supreme Ruler and All-Requiting (of good and evil),
O the All-Forgiving and Demonstrating,
O the All-Proving and Demonstrating,
O the Absolute, Eternal Authority,
O the All-Glorified, Who is absolutely free from all deficiencies and imperfections and from doing anything wrong or in vain,
O He Whose help is always sought,
O the Owner of all bounty and goodness and eternal exposition, (Who nourishes his creature with His infinite blessings, and who communication His decrees to all His creatures in the most perfectly eloquent way,)
O He Whose protection is sufficient against all fear and danger,
All-Glorified are You; there is no deity but You! Mercy! Mercy! Save us from the Fire!
One can download the entire arabic + persian + english text from
http://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=A...
Apparently the text from Jinan Yousef is also download-able from
http://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=6...
1. Begin with the Name / Attribute
2. Explain its context within the Quran
3. Explain its context with respect to Human Strivings and an Engagement of the Human with the Divine Being, seeking His names Emulation or its Intercession.
This work, has a different approach altogether, where it collates familiar meanings or opposite meanings together - as they pertain to the human Interaction with these Divine Names or for Guidance
This approach is not knew with respect to the school of the ahl al-Bayt (Shia). In their corpus of traditions, there is Dua Jawshan al-Kabir, a recitation of the 1000 Meanings of the Attributes of God, and the interaction of that one tradition with other Traditions. In the ahlal Sunna Community, only the Turkish are aware and recite this tradition, coming down from Said Nursi to Fethulleh Gullen.
I entreat You by Your Names:
O the All-Kind and Caring, (Who manifests Himself with His Mercy and is inclined (even) toward those who turn away from Him,)
O the All-Bounteous and Favorng,
O the Supreme Ruler and All-Requiting (of good and evil),
O the All-Forgiving and Demonstrating,
O the All-Proving and Demonstrating,
O the Absolute, Eternal Authority,
O the All-Glorified, Who is absolutely free from all deficiencies and imperfections and from doing anything wrong or in vain,
O He Whose help is always sought,
O the Owner of all bounty and goodness and eternal exposition, (Who nourishes his creature with His infinite blessings, and who communication His decrees to all His creatures in the most perfectly eloquent way,)
O He Whose protection is sufficient against all fear and danger,
All-Glorified are You; there is no deity but You! Mercy! Mercy! Save us from the Fire!
One can download the entire arabic + persian + english text from
http://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=A...
Apparently the text from Jinan Yousef is also download-able from
http://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=6...
August 12, 2022
This series was so comforting and beneficial to read. I’m sad it’s come to an end.
I felt that simply memorizing the 99 names of Allah (S) was not enough and wanted to delve a little deeper so this series of reflections was perfect to read. May Allah (S) reward the writer and all the scholars whose work she drew from to formulate her thoughts.
(Note: I’d recommend reading the series slowly so as to provoke reflection. I read this over a span of a couple months and some recommend only studying a name a day. There is plenty that can be extracted from each name and to truly gain insight into that depth, this should be read thoughtfully.)
I felt that simply memorizing the 99 names of Allah (S) was not enough and wanted to delve a little deeper so this series of reflections was perfect to read. May Allah (S) reward the writer and all the scholars whose work she drew from to formulate her thoughts.
(Note: I’d recommend reading the series slowly so as to provoke reflection. I read this over a span of a couple months and some recommend only studying a name a day. There is plenty that can be extracted from each name and to truly gain insight into that depth, this should be read thoughtfully.)
November 20, 2024
I loved every chapter of it. I appreciated how the author addressed modern problems and showed how we can understand the names of God within these contexts. I had previously tried to read about Allah’s names in Arabic, but often felt that something was missing, or that the language was too complex, making the reading a bit dull or requiring full focus to truly understand. This, however, was an easy and soothing read. It made me think deeply about each name and its meaning, and I am so grateful to have come across such a wonderful book!
#fav
#fav
August 8, 2025
This book is written with a great deal of love and is undoubtedly the most comprehensive English work on the Attributes of Allah (swt).
I wish the author would bring a revised version of this book and use Arabic names for the Prophets of Allah. Allah swt could have referred to Yusuf as Joseph, Yunus as Jonah, or Ibrahim as Abraham in the Qur'an. However, Allah introduced them to us as Yusuf, Yunus, and Ibrahim (a). I wish Muslim authors would move away from the 'English' versions of these names and use the ones mentioned as such in the Qur'an.
I wish the author would bring a revised version of this book and use Arabic names for the Prophets of Allah. Allah swt could have referred to Yusuf as Joseph, Yunus as Jonah, or Ibrahim as Abraham in the Qur'an. However, Allah introduced them to us as Yusuf, Yunus, and Ibrahim (a). I wish Muslim authors would move away from the 'English' versions of these names and use the ones mentioned as such in the Qur'an.
December 21, 2021
Finally finished the book after three months of studying, reflecting and implementing the lessons shared in the book. I really took my time to devour and contemplate each chapter as if I was taking a course in an academic program. The language used is easy to understand and the examples given are very relatable with our daily experiences. May Allah bless the author and the publisher for their effort in helping us learning the names of Allah in a comprehensive yet uncomplicated way.
June 3, 2023
Spent more than a year to finish this gem but I absolutely loving my time savouring each page of this book!
Definitely recommended for anyone who wants to get to know more about Allah through His beautiful names. The explanation used is not lengthy, the sentences were easy to comprehend and the part that I love most is definitely the reflections and how we can apply His names in our daily lives.
Definitely recommended for anyone who wants to get to know more about Allah through His beautiful names. The explanation used is not lengthy, the sentences were easy to comprehend and the part that I love most is definitely the reflections and how we can apply His names in our daily lives.
May 17, 2024
A wonderfully concise yet meaningful introduction to the names of Allah. Learning His Names and knowing Him would help many of us correct our thinking, especially when facing life's challenges.
May Allah accept from the author and those who worked on this book. It took me over a year to finish reading this due to the time it takes to contemplate each lesson. Definitely one for keeping and re-reading.
May Allah accept from the author and those who worked on this book. It took me over a year to finish reading this due to the time it takes to contemplate each lesson. Definitely one for keeping and re-reading.
September 27, 2021
Such a great book. Highly recommended for both Muslims and non Muslims. Honestly I feel more calmer after I started reading this book, yes I can say this book gave impact in my life. The author not just explain all the attributes of Allah but also gave some examples on how we can practice the names in our life. Now I am familiar with His names and will memorize the meanings.
March 21, 2022
Alhamdulillah this is definitely a must have book in every household. From this book, I learned about Allah's Names and this book is a starting point for us to get closer to Allah in shaa Allah. May this book becomes one of the reasons the author will be granted the highest level of Jannah aamiin
April 17, 2022
A simple read, accompanying al-Ghazali's On the Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names of God : Al-Maqsad Al-Asna Fi Sharh Asma' Allah Al-Husna.
I applaud this book as it is practical yet it gives insight to Allah's names, of which could easily be embedded in our daily life.
I applaud this book as it is practical yet it gives insight to Allah's names, of which could easily be embedded in our daily life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews