January 28, 2022
by Reyhan Akaweih
The first pillar of Iman (Faith) is belief in Allah- which includes his 99 names. Understanding and incorporating the names of Allah will allow us to understand and be more aware of Him and therefore help increase our belief and connection to Him.
Why we should learn & understand the names of Allah:
Quran:
“And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them.” (Surat Al-A’raf 7:180). Allah tells us directly to call him by these names, so it is important that we do.
Hadith:
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “Allah has ninety-nine names, i.e. one-hundred minus one, and whoever knows them will go to Paradise.” (Sahih Bukhari 50:894)
It is important to not only learn, but also truly understand his names so that we can use them in our dua. By starting off our dua with praising Allah using his beautiful and great names, we are following the sunnah of the Prophet. It is useful to use the names of Allah that correspond to our situation and the dua we are trying to make.
The 3 names explained below are As-Salam, Al- Jabbar, and Al-Latif.
Allah is the source of peace and security for all mankind. He is the creator of Jannah, which is Darussalam. Darussalam means “abode of peace”.
Because Allah is As-Salam, we seek peace and security through him. Those that stray away from Allah will not find any inner peace.
Allah SWT made peace the greeting for the children of Adam- us. There is a reason we say “ “Assalamu Alaikum” to one another. The translation of “peace be upon you” is widely known, but what kind of peace are we wishing for the other ? We are wishing for them the greatest peace in the world, the peace from from As-Salam, as he is the source of peace. This is a beautiful way to greet each other subhanallah.
It is useful to call upon this name in dua when you are seeking peace in your life, your relationships, your country, etc.
Hadith mention:
The Prophet said “Allah is As-Salam, so spread it amongst yourselves.”