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The Elite 99 Names of Allah

Having already discussed the unlimited number of Allah's names and attributes, we turn now to an authentic hadith that seems to clash with what we said before.

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:

Translation: Indeed, Allah has 99 names (one hundred minus one); whoever memorizes them will enter Jannah. [Agreed Upon]

This hadith is talking about the elite 99 names of Allah. Although all of Allah's names are husna, some of them stand out above others.

So which names are the elite 99? Virtually every single scholar of Islam has a different opinion on this. And realize that the common version that we know--like the one in this nasheed--is da'eef.

Why is it da'eef? It comes from the same hadith as we stated above--except at, at some point, one narrator added "And this is what I think those names are." So it's someone's opinion.

And realize that most of the names they've mentioned there are ok--but some are definitely negative (which goes against Allah's names being husna), and some are definitely not Allah's names.

But the good thing is, about 80-90% of the names there are ok. And even among the scholars of Islam, they agree on the vast majority of which names are THE elite 99--but they differ in a few names.

And why is this important to know--aside from for tawassul? Because this is your key to jannah! Another wording of this hadith, instead of using hadifha (to memorize, to protect), uses the word "hisaa" (with saad). The root word has something to do with intelligence and intellect; the meaning is that whoever knows and acts upon these names will enter Jannah.

Having said all that--if these 99 names are so important, why didn't Allah just tell us which are His 99 names?

But think about it--if He (سبحانه وتعالى) told us--would anyone bother with the other names? Probably not. Would anyone try to investigate the meanings of and learn the names? Not really--we'd just have a common list of names passed around, and nobody would do more than memorize.

Instead, by not telling us, He (سبحانه وتعالى) has created a situation like Laylatul-Qadr. Nobody knows when Laylatutl-Qadr is, except Allah--so people strive the last ten days of Ramadan, doing extra nawafil acts, in the hopes that it's Laylatul-Qadr.

And these elite 99 names are like that--you have to work hard, and strive above and beyond just learning 99, if you want to know them for sure.

So learn these names--with their meanings! Subhanallah, nothing will increase your eman quite like this will.

To start you off, you can check our List of Allah's Names post, and also check God Names, a site that details 99 names, with a great explanation of meaning.

May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) help us to learn and memorize and act upon His 99 names, and become those of Jannah by it--ameen ya rabbi!

Yasir Qadhi. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Light Upon Light: Fundamentals of Faith 102. Metro Toronto Convention Center, July 2007.

• Light of Eman Session 3
• Light Upon Light
• Three Aspects of Tawhid
• Amplify Your Du’a With Tawassul
• THE Purpose of Creation

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The Elite 99 Names of Allah

Having already discussed the unlimited number of Allah's names and attributes, we turn now to an authentic hadith that seems to clash with what we said before.

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:

Translation: Indeed, Allah has 99 names (one hundred minus one); whoever memorizes them will enter Jannah. [Agreed Upon]

This hadith is talking about the elite 99 names of Allah. Although all of Allah's names are husna, some of them stand out above others.

So which names are the elite 99? Virtually every single scholar of Islam has a different opinion on this. And realize that the common version that we know--like the one in this nasheed--is da'eef.

Why is it da'eef? It comes from the same hadith as we stated above--except at, at some point, one narrator added "And this is what I think those names are." So it's someone's opinion.

And realize that most of the names they've mentioned there are ok--but some are definitely negative (which goes against Allah's names being husna), and some are definitely not Allah's names.

But the good thing is, about 80-90% of the names there are ok. And even among the scholars of Islam, they agree on the vast majority of which names are THE elite 99--but they differ in a few names.

And why is this important to know--aside from for tawassul? Because this is your key to jannah! Another wording of this hadith, instead of using hadifha (to memorize, to protect), uses the word "hisaa" (with saad). The root word has something to do with intelligence and intellect; the meaning is that whoever knows and acts upon these names will enter Jannah.

Having said all that--if these 99 names are so important, why didn't Allah just tell us which are His 99 names?

But think about it--if He (سبحانه وتعالى) told us--would anyone bother with the other names? Probably not. Would anyone try to investigate the meanings of and learn the names? Not really--we'd just have a common list of names passed around, and nobody would do more than memorize.

Instead, by not telling us, He (سبحانه وتعالى) has created a situation like Laylatul-Qadr. Nobody knows when Laylatutl-Qadr is, except Allah--so people strive the last ten days of Ramadan, doing extra nawafil acts, in the hopes that it's Laylatul-Qadr.

And these elite 99 names are like that--you have to work hard, and strive above and beyond just learning 99, if you want to know them for sure.

So learn these names--with their meanings! Subhanallah, nothing will increase your eman quite like this will.

To start you off, you can check our List of Allah's Names post, and also check God Names, a site that details 99 names, with a great explanation of meaning.

May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) help us to learn and memorize and act upon His 99 names, and become those of Jannah by it--ameen ya rabbi!

Yasir Qadhi. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Light Upon Light: Fundamentals of Faith 102. Metro Toronto Convention Center, July 2007.

• Light of Eman Session 3
• Light Upon Light
• Three Aspects of Tawhid
• Amplify Your Du’a With Tawassul
• THE Purpose of Creation

Like this post? Get instant ilm-ification via our RSS feed or through email!

The Elite 99 Names of Allah

Having already discussed the unlimited number of Allah's names and attributes, we turn now to an authentic hadith that seems to clash with what we said before.

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:

Translation: Indeed, Allah has 99 names (one hundred minus one); whoever memorizes them will enter Jannah. [Agreed Upon]

This hadith is talking about the elite 99 names of Allah. Although all of Allah's names are husna, some of them stand out above others.

So which names are the elite 99? Virtually every single scholar of Islam has a different opinion on this. And realize that the common version that we know--like the one in this nasheed--is da'eef.

Why is it da'eef? It comes from the same hadith as we stated above--except at, at some point, one narrator added "And this is what I think those names are." So it's someone's opinion.

And realize that most of the names they've mentioned there are ok--but some are definitely negative (which goes against Allah's names being husna), and some are definitely not Allah's names.

But the good thing is, about 80-90% of the names there are ok. And even among the scholars of Islam, they agree on the vast majority of which names are THE elite 99--but they differ in a few names.

And why is this important to know--aside from for tawassul? Because this is your key to jannah! Another wording of this hadith, instead of using hadifha (to memorize, to protect), uses the word "hisaa" (with saad). The root word has something to do with intelligence and intellect; the meaning is that whoever knows and acts upon these names will enter Jannah.

Having said all that--if these 99 names are so important, why didn't Allah just tell us which are His 99 names?

But think about it--if He (سبحانه وتعالى) told us--would anyone bother with the other names? Probably not. Would anyone try to investigate the meanings of and learn the names? Not really--we'd just have a common list of names passed around, and nobody would do more than memorize.

Instead, by not telling us, He (سبحانه وتعالى) has created a situation like Laylatul-Qadr. Nobody knows when Laylatutl-Qadr is, except Allah--so people strive the last ten days of Ramadan, doing extra nawafil acts, in the hopes that it's Laylatul-Qadr.

And these elite 99 names are like that--you have to work hard, and strive above and beyond just learning 99, if you want to know them for sure.

So learn these names--with their meanings! Subhanallah, nothing will increase your eman quite like this will.

To start you off, you can check our List of Allah's Names post, and also check God Names, a site that details 99 names, with a great explanation of meaning.

May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) help us to learn and memorize and act upon His 99 names, and become those of Jannah by it--ameen ya rabbi!

Yasir Qadhi. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Light Upon Light: Fundamentals of Faith 102. Metro Toronto Convention Center, July 2007.

• Light of Eman Session 3
• Light Upon Light
• Three Aspects of Tawhid
• Amplify Your Du’a With Tawassul
• THE Purpose of Creation

Like this post? Get instant ilm-ification via our RSS feed or through email!

The Elite 99 Names of Allah

Having already discussed the unlimited number of Allah's names and attributes, we turn now to an authentic hadith that seems to clash with what we said before.

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:

Translation: Indeed, Allah has 99 names (one hundred minus one); whoever memorizes them will enter Jannah. [Agreed Upon]

This hadith is talking about the elite 99 names of Allah. Although all of Allah's names are husna, some of them stand out above others.

So which names are the elite 99? Virtually every single scholar of Islam has a different opinion on this. And realize that the common version that we know--like the one in this nasheed--is da'eef.

Why is it da'eef? It comes from the same hadith as we stated above--except at, at some point, one narrator added "And this is what I think those names are." So it's someone's opinion.

And realize that most of the names they've mentioned there are ok--but some are definitely negative (which goes against Allah's names being husna), and some are definitely not Allah's names.

But the good thing is, about 80-90% of the names there are ok. And even among the scholars of Islam, they agree on the vast majority of which names are THE elite 99--but they differ in a few names.

And why is this important to know--aside from for tawassul? Because this is your key to jannah! Another wording of this hadith, instead of using hadifha (to memorize, to protect), uses the word "hisaa" (with saad). The root word has something to do with intelligence and intellect; the meaning is that whoever knows and acts upon these names will enter Jannah.

Having said all that--if these 99 names are so important, why didn't Allah just tell us which are His 99 names?

But think about it--if He (سبحانه وتعالى) told us--would anyone bother with the other names? Probably not. Would anyone try to investigate the meanings of and learn the names? Not really--we'd just have a common list of names passed around, and nobody would do more than memorize.

Instead, by not telling us, He (سبحانه وتعالى) has created a situation like Laylatul-Qadr. Nobody knows when Laylatutl-Qadr is, except Allah--so people strive the last ten days of Ramadan, doing extra nawafil acts, in the hopes that it's Laylatul-Qadr.

And these elite 99 names are like that--you have to work hard, and strive above and beyond just learning 99, if you want to know them for sure.

So learn these names--with their meanings! Subhanallah, nothing will increase your eman quite like this will.

To start you off, you can check our List of Allah's Names post, and also check God Names, a site that details 99 names, with a great explanation of meaning.

May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) help us to learn and memorize and act upon His 99 names, and become those of Jannah by it--ameen ya rabbi!

Yasir Qadhi. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Light Upon Light: Fundamentals of Faith 102. Metro Toronto Convention Center, July 2007.

• Light of Eman Session 3
• Light Upon Light
• Three Aspects of Tawhid
• Amplify Your Du’a With Tawassul
• THE Purpose of Creation

Like this post? Get instant ilm-ification via our RSS feed or through email!

The Elite 99 Names of Allah

Having already discussed the unlimited number of Allah's names and attributes, we turn now to an authentic hadith that seems to clash with what we said before.

The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:

Translation: Indeed, Allah has 99 names (one hundred minus one); whoever memorizes them will enter Jannah. [Agreed Upon]

This hadith is talking about the elite 99 names of Allah. Although all of Allah's names are husna, some of them stand out above others.

So which names are the elite 99? Virtually every single scholar of Islam has a different opinion on this. And realize that the common version that we know--like the one in this nasheed--is da'eef.

Why is it da'eef? It comes from the same hadith as we stated above--except at, at some point, one narrator added "And this is what I think those names are." So it's someone's opinion.

And realize that most of the names they've mentioned there are ok--but some are definitely negative (which goes against Allah's names being husna), and some are definitely not Allah's names.

But the good thing is, about 80-90% of the names there are ok. And even among the scholars of Islam, they agree on the vast majority of which names are THE elite 99--but they differ in a few names.

And why is this important to know--aside from for tawassul? Because this is your key to jannah! Another wording of this hadith, instead of using hadifha (to memorize, to protect), uses the word "hisaa" (with saad). The root word has something to do with intelligence and intellect; the meaning is that whoever knows and acts upon these names will enter Jannah.

Having said all that--if these 99 names are so important, why didn't Allah just tell us which are His 99 names?

But think about it--if He (سبحانه وتعالى) told us--would anyone bother with the other names? Probably not. Would anyone try to investigate the meanings of and learn the names? Not really--we'd just have a common list of names passed around, and nobody would do more than memorize.

Instead, by not telling us, He (سبحانه وتعالى) has created a situation like Laylatul-Qadr. Nobody knows when Laylatutl-Qadr is, except Allah--so people strive the last ten days of Ramadan, doing extra nawafil acts, in the hopes that it's Laylatul-Qadr.

And these elite 99 names are like that--you have to work hard, and strive above and beyond just learning 99, if you want to know them for sure.

So learn these names--with their meanings! Subhanallah, nothing will increase your eman quite like this will.

To start you off, you can check our List of Allah's Names post, and also check God Names, a site that details 99 names, with a great explanation of meaning.

May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) help us to learn and memorize and act upon His 99 names, and become those of Jannah by it--ameen ya rabbi!

Yasir Qadhi. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Light Upon Light: Fundamentals of Faith 102. Metro Toronto Convention Center, July 2007.

• Light of Eman Session 3
• Light Upon Light
• Three Aspects of Tawhid
• Amplify Your Du’a With Tawassul
• THE Purpose of Creation

Like this post? Get instant ilm-ification via our RSS feed or through email!

Sofa Fard, Bucket-Seat Fard

Fard: technically, it means any action which, if done, deserves reward from Allah; and if neglected, deserves punishment from Allah. (Yes, that's right--you actually earn reward for doing all those fard actions!)

Here, we discuss two classifications of faraaid--Sofa Fard, and Bucket-Seat Fard.

Sofa Fard (also known as Fard Muwassa') is a fard which you have a choice of when you can do it. It's like a sofa--you can sit on the left, on the right, in the middle, anywhere you want!

Praying Dhur is a sofa fard--you can pray at the start time, half an hour before the end time, at some point in the middle, etc. anytime before 'Asr. (Another definition of sofa fard is: an action you have time to do, and have time to do another similar action.)

Some examples of sofa fards include:

• Praying any of the 5x daily prayers
• Giving Zakaat-ul-Badl to poor people in Ramadan before 'Eid
• Performing Hajj

Bucket-Seat Fard (also known as Fard Mudayyaq) is an action where you don't have a choice of when you can do it. It's like a bucket--if you need to sit in the bucket (camping, anyone?) then you have to sit in the bucket. You can't choose where--you only fit in one spot.

The fasts of Ramadan are bucket-seat fards--you have to do them IN Ramadan, you can't do them before or after (unless you missed them legitimately).

Some examples of bucket-seat fards include:

• Fasting in Ramadan
• Paying zakaah one year after you cross the nisaab
• Visiting Arafah in Hajj on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah

What other examples of sofa and bucket-seat fards can you think of?

Muhammad Alshareef. Lecture. AlMaghrib. Code of Scholars. University of Toronto, Toronto. August 2005.

Abu Ameenah Bilal Phillips. Usool Al Fiqh: the Methodology of Islamic Law Made Easy. Ltd ed. United Arab Emirates: Preston University, 2003. 16.

• Fard vs. Wajib
• Ramadan Mubarak!
• Madd: Fard and Mustahab
• Signing on Behalf of Allah
• Five Categories of Everything

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Eid Mubarak!

So, another Ramadan has come and gone! 30 days of reading Qur'an and feeding the poor, 30 nights of Qiyaam-ul-Layl and Taraweeh and Tahajjud. And so, 'Eid comes again.

Congratulations! You have been one of those lucky few who lived to receive this great blessing from Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), this chance to get all your sins forgiven! Because the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: "Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven." [Saheeh Al-Bukhari]

So rejoice! Spend today with your family! And remember, Ramadan is the excuse killer. All of those things you started doing--praying in the masjid every day, fasting every now and then, reading Qur'an often, praying extra (nafl) prayers--that's taqwa. Keep doing those things. And all those things you stopped doing--lying, cheating, backbiting, arguing, listening to music, wearing immodest clothes, boycotting your boyfriend or girlfriend--that's taqwa. Keep avoiding those things. Forget about Shaytaan being on the loose, that's just an excuse--be strong, and ask Allah to help you.

Brothers and sisters, remember, you start with a clean slate after Ramadan! Don't let the future be like the past! Take a moment, right now, and decide on some changes that will, insha'allah, be for your akhira, your eternal life. Decide NOW to:

• Be a better son or daughter to your parents
• Be a better husband or wife to your spouse (if you're married)
• Cut out at least three haraam activities from your life, permanently, starting today
• Block, delete, and break contact with non-mahrams of the opposite gender you have communication with--whether your boyfriend or girlfriend, that sister on facebook, or someone else.
• Ask Allah, As-Sittiyr, to cover your sins and help you overcome them.

O Allah, make us among those people who benefit from every Ramadan, who have our sins forgiven and become better people for all time after that! Ameen ajma'een!

'Eid Mubarak to you and your families, from Ilm Fruits!

(P.S. If you're interested, check out this excellent Flash presentation on 'Eid--what to do and not do, and what it's all about.)

• Ramadan Mubarak!
• Eid Mubarak!
• Follow the footsteps of Khalilullah
• Chain of Command
• Ramadan Mubarak!

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So Why Are You Fasting?

Why are you fasting? The answer to this questions determines your reward on Judgment Day. Monks fast. Some poeple fast to lose weight. Is it a cultural thing?

Or is it because Allah is worthy of worship, and only He deserves your fast? That you are seeking His reward? This is what the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said--"Whoever fasted Ramadan with belief, hoping for the reward from Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven." [Bukhari/Muslim]

Listen to the podcast below and remind yourself of THE best reason to fast! Props out to Living Halal for this amazing ilm-tastic podcast!

• The Purpose of Fasting
• Ramadan Mubarak!
• Fasting in Muharram
• Worship
• Five Sunnahs of Fasting

Like this post? Get instant ilm-ification via our RSS feed or through email!

So Why Are You Fasting?

Why are you fasting? The answer to this questions determines your reward on Judgment Day. Monks fast. Some poeple fast to lose weight. Is it a cultural thing?

Or is it because Allah is worthy of worship, and only He deserves your fast? That you are seeking His reward? This is what the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said--"Whoever fasted Ramadan with belief, hoping for the reward from Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven." [Bukhari/Muslim]

Listen to the podcast below and remind yourself of THE best reason to fast! Props out to Living Halal for this amazing ilm-tastic podcast!

• The Purpose of Fasting
• Ramadan Mubarak!
• Fasting in Muharram
• Worship
• Five Sunnahs of Fasting

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Your Amazing Ramadan: Planning

Ramadan is here, you're all excited, praying in the masjid ... but how can you make the MOST of Ramadan? Do you have what it takes to keep your heart in touch, regardless of the distractions around you? To be one of those who look back and realize they've had an AMAZING Ramadan?

Listen to the podcast below to figure out how to plan your Ramadan! Props out to Living Halal for this amazing ilm-tastic podcast!

• So Why Are You Fasting?
• Six Days of Shawwal
• Ramadan Mubarak!
• THE Purpose of Creation
• The Purpose of Fasting

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