Allah has the beautiful names
Qulid-’ullaha ‘awid-’ur-Rahman ‘ayyama tad-’u fala-hul-’asma-’ul-husna:
“Say: Call upon Allah, or call upon Rahman (Beneficent), by whatever name you call upon Him (it is well). For to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names.”
(The Qur’an 17.110)
Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said: “Some scholars of the Qur’an are not very advanced in philosophical knowledge. Although there are many methods prescribed to reach perfection, they do not know the ultimate conclusion of the Qur’an, which should be considered the most powerful. Studying your own Qur’an and deliberating over what is written there, what is your conclusion?”
(Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-lila, 18.197-19 
The saintly Muslim replied, “All that you have revealed is true. This has certainly been written in the Qur’an, but some of our scholars can neither understand nor accept this side. Usually they describe Allah’s impersonal aspect, but they hardly know that Allah’s personal feature is worshipable. They are undoubtedly lacking this knowledge. I have studied the Muslim scriptures very extensively, but I still cannot conclusively decide what is the ultimate goal of life or how I can approach it. Now that I have seen and heard you, my false prestige that grew on me from being a learned scholar has been washed away.” (50, Madhya-lila, 18.199-203) Saying this, the saintly Muslim took shelter of Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, accepted him as spiritual preceptor and requested him to speak of life’s ultimate goal and the process by which it could be obtained.
Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu answered, that ultimate goal of human life is the love of God and the process by which it could be obtained is chanting the holy names of God, “You have chanted the holy name of God, therefore the sinful reactions you have accumulated over millions of years are now gone. You are now pure.”
Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu then told all the Muslims there, “Chant the holy name of God! Chant the holy name of God!” As they all began to chant, they were all overwhelmed by ecstatic love. In this way Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu indirectly initiated the saintly Muslim by advising him to chant the holy name of God. By hearing from Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a pure surrendered devotee of God, the saintly Muslim with great joy and ecstasy received the deeper realizations of the Holy Qur’an. Previously he had been amazed and hooked on the beauty of the external opulence of the treasure chest but now by the association of a pure surrendered devotee and chanting the holy name the real personal treasure was been revealed. He felt so much love and devotion for Allah that he began to realize how Allah is his real friend, his merciful guide, his only provider and maintainer and his loving well-wisher. He realized that Allah has a never-ending personal relationship with everyone, He personally instructs each and everyone from inside and outside, He loves every single living entity but He takes special care of the living beings that are sincerely trying to devote everything to Him. He began to consciously see that Allah is just waiting for us to place our dependence on Him and take shelter of His supreme guidance and protection. Allah proclaims that who ever takes shelter of Him with love and devotion will without a doubt attain the supreme destination. By the mercy of Allah the Muslim scholar finally realized the ultimate goal of the Holy Qur’an is to bring us to the point of surrender and dependence on Allah, the beginning of love of God.
The hidden meaning of the Qur’anic verses were revealed to the saintly Muslim and his heart was overwhelmed with love and devotion. He realized that aside of the impersonal nature, the personal nature of Allah is worshipable. This personal nature of Allah can be realized by the association and mercy of the pure devotees. There was another Muslim present whose name was Vijuli Khan. He was a young man, the son of the king. All the other Muslims, Pathanas, headed by the saintly scholar were his servants.
Vijuli Khan overwhelmed with the power of pure spiritual knowledge also took shelter of Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Before Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu moved on, he bestowed His blessings upon them. All the Pathana Muslims then became mendicants. Later these very Pathans became celebrated as Pathana Devotees. They toured all over the country and chanted the glorious activities of Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Vijuli Khan became a greatly advanced devotee of God and his importance was celebrated at every place of pilgrimage.
In this way Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, without considering a mans bodily designations such as religion, color, creed, sex, age and position, traveled and spread the essence, the ultimate conclusion of all bona fide scriptures. He explained that love of God is attainable when anyone sincerely endeavors to take shelter of the Supreme Lord and chants His holy names.
It is again and again stressed in the Holy Qur’an,
Fasabih bismi Rabbikal ‘Azim: “So chant the name of your Tremendous Lord.” (69.52)
This is the essential recommendation of all authentic scriptures of the world.
The hadith related by Tirmizi mentions 99 names of Allah. According to another tradition, knowledge of Allah is based on the 99 names. One tradition is that there are 3,000 names of Allah as follows: 300 given in Tauret, 300 in Zabur, 300 in Ingil and 99 + 1 (hidden name) in the Holy Qur’an. All other names remain unknown. (22, p.43)
According to one ancient tradition if one discovers the 100th hidden name of Allah he will be able to conquer the entire world.
These 99 names or attributes are classified under six categories:
1. First category has seven names, which describe the absolute being and unity of Allah;
2. Five names present Him as the Creator of all;
3. Four names present His special moral attributes;
4. Eighteen names refer to His general attributes;
5. Twenty four names, known as isma-e-jamaliya (beautiful names) represent Him as merciful and gracious;
6. Forty one names, known as isma-e-jalaliya (glorious and awe-inspiring names) represent Him as all powerful and absolute Sovereign God.
Allah is al-Qadir (the Powerful), al-Jabbar (the Strong), al-Hassib (the Reckoner), al-Kabir (the Great), al-Adil (the Just), al-Rabb (the Lord) and al-Qabiz (the Controller). All these names of Allah are of the category of isma-e-jalaliya (glorious names) also translated as terrible names. (22, pp. 35-39)
Abuhurairah witnessed that the Apostle of God said: “Verily there are 99 names for God; and whoever counts them shall enter into Garden. He is
1) Allah - that which there is no other;
2) Al-Rahman - the compassionate;
3) Al-Rahim - the merciful;
4) Al-Malik - the king;
5) Al-Kudus - the pure;
6) Al-Salam - His nature is secure from defect;
7) Al-Momin - the shelter;
Al-Muhaimin - the witness;
9) Al-Aziz - the powerful and incomparable;
10) Al-Jabbar - the benefactor;
11) Al-Mutacabbir - the mighty doer;
12) Al-Khalid - the creator;
13) Al-Bari - the fixer of quantity before creating;
14) Al-Musawwir - the giver of likeness;
15) Al-Ghaffar - the pardoner;
16) Al-Kahhar - the breaker of the backs of tyrants;
17) Al-Wahhab - the perpetual bestower;
1 Al-Razzak - the sender of daily bread to the creation;
19) Al-Fattah - the opener of the doors of mercy on His servants;
20) Al-Alim - the omniscient;
21) Al-Kabid - the taker of souls;
22) Al-Basit - the opener of daily bread on whom He wills;
23) Al-Khafid - the sinker of the infidels to the lowest earth;
24) Al-Rafi - the raiser up;
25) Al-Muizz - the giver of greatness in the world to whom He wills;
26) Al-Mudhill - the ruiner;
27) Al-Sami - the hearer;
2 Al-Basir - the seer;
29) Al-Hacam - the orderer, amongst the creation in the expulsion of oppression;
30) Al-Adil - the just;
31) Al-Latif - the doer of good to the creation;
32) Al-Khabir - the knower;
33) Al-Halim - the clement;
34) Al-Adhim - the great;
35) Al-Ghafur - the great pardoner;
36) Al-Shacur - the giver of rewards to the grateful;
37) Al-Ali - the most high;
3 Al-Kabir - the Lord of greatness;
39) Al-Hafidh - the guardian;
40) Al-Mukit - the giver of strength;
41) Al-Hasib - the taker of accounts;
42) Al-Jalil - the glorious;
43) Al-Carim - the munificent;
44) Al-Rakib - the keeper of watch;
45) Al-Mujib - the approver of supplications;
46) Al-Wasi - the expander;
47) Al-Hacim - the knower of the realities of things;
4 Al-Wadud - the friend;
49) Al-Majid - the lord of glory;
50) Al-Baith - the awakener;
51) Al-Shahid - the giver of witness;
52) Al-Haqq - the truth;
53) Al-Wacil - the taker on himself the affairs of servants;
54) Al-Kawiy - the strong;
55) Al-Matin - the firm;
56) Al-Waliy - the assister of true believers;
57) Al-Hamid - the praiser of His own nature;
5 Al-Muhsi - the counter;
59) Al-Mubdi - the creator of new;
60) Al-Muid - the causer of return;
61) Al-Muhiy - the causer of life;
62) Al-Mumit - the causer of death;
63) Al-Haiy - the living one, who never dies nor declines;
64) Al-Kaiyum - the maker alive of the creation;
65) Al-Wajid - the finder of all perfections;
66) Al-Majid - the grand;
67) Al-Wahid - the one;
6 Al-Samad - from the court of whom all desires are supplicated, and he in need of no one;
69) Al-Kadir - the Lord of power;
70) Al-Maktadir - the Lord of might;
71) Al-Mukaddim, al-Mawakhkhir - the bringer before and after;
72) Al-Awwal - the first;
73) Al-Akhir - the last;
74) Al-Dhahir - whose existence is clear;
75) Al-Batin - whose realities hidden;
76) Al-Wali - the master of all;
77) Al-Mutaali - the sublime of degree;
7 Al-Barr - doer of good;
79) Al-Tawwab - the accepter of repentance;
80) Al-Muntakim - the taker of revenge;
81) Al-Afuw - the eraser of sins;
82) Al-Rawuf - the benefiter;
83) Malik-ul-Mulci - the ruler of countries;
84) Dhul-Jalal-wal Icram - the Lord of glory and greatness;
85) Al-Muksit - the giver of justice;
86) Al-Jami - the assembler of the creation;
87) Al-Ghani - the independent;
8 Al-Mughni - the maker of independence;
89) Al-Muati - the giver to whom He wills;
90) Al-Mani - the withholder from whom He wills;
91) Al-Darr - the creator of profit;
92) Al-Nafi - the creator of loss;
93) Al-Nur - the maker of light and giver of light;
94) Al-Hadi - the director;
95) Al-Badi - the incomparable;
96) Al-Baki - the eternal;
97) Al-Warith - the heir;
9 Al-Rashid - the shower of the straight road;
99) Al-Sabr - the most patient.” (101, p.545)
and
100) Hidden name.
The Holy Qur’an recommends:
Qulid-’ullaha ‘awid-’ur-Rahman / ‘ayama tad-’u fala-hul ‘asma-’ul-husna: “Say: Call upon Allah, or call upon Rahman (Beneficent), by whatever name you call upon Him (it is well). For to Him belong the most beautiful names.” (17.110)
The Arabic word “Rahman”, “Most Gracious” is a intensive form of referring to Allah’s attribute of Mercy. Mercy may imply pity, patience and forgiveness, all of which the sinner needs and Allah Most Merciful bestows in abundant measure. But there is a Mercy that goes before even the need arises, the Grace which is ever watchful, and flows from Allah Most Gracious to all His creatures, protecting them, preserving them, guiding them and leading them to clear light and higher life. Rahman describes one of the attributes of Allah, - His grace and Mercy which comes to the sinner even before he feels consciously in need of it, - the preventive Grace which saves Allah’s servants from sin. Allah can be invoked, either by His simple name, which includes all attributes, or by one of the names implying the attributes by which we try to explain His nature to our limited understanding. In Al-Qur’an the holy name Rahman is especially stressed. A very interesting fact is that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in his religious activity put special emphasize on this name of God.
In his instructions Mahaprabhu gave special preference and highlighted the importance of chanting the holy names of God. He said that in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the only way to attain love of God is by chanting His holy names. By his powerful preaching he involved hundreds of thousands of people from different backgrounds in chanting the holy names of the Supreme Lord. Some scholars said that Mahaprabhu knew the hidden, or secret name of Allah. Therefore he was very powerful and easily conquered the hearts of everyone who approached him. Anyone who listened to his chanting of the holy names of the Supreme Lord joined in and was overwhelmed with ecstatic love for God. Thus chanting the beautiful names of the one Almighty God is the essence of his teachings.
