Al-Asma al-Husna
Allah: meaning, transliteration and explanation
The unique name of the Exalted Creator: there is no god but Him
- Appears in the Quran
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- #Allah meaning
- #the 99 Names of Allah
- #the Beautiful Names of Allah
- #the name Allah
Arabic
اللَّه
- Transliteration
- Allāh
- Meaning
- "Allah" is the proper name (ism al-alam) of the Exalted Creator. It is not derived from any other word; it belongs solely to His essence and cannot be given to any other being. All of Allah's beautiful names (al-Asma al-Husna) fall within the scope of this name, which is why "Allah" is considered the greatest and most all-encompassing of the names.
In the Quran
«Allah: there is no god but Him; He is the Ever-Living (Al-Hayy) and the Sustainer of all things (Al-Qayyum).»
Surah Al-Baqarah, 255Explanation
The most all-encompassing of the names
According to the majority of Islamic scholars, the name "Allah" is the greatest name, gathering within it all the perfect attributes of that Essence. Names such as Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, Al-Malik and Al-Quddus are all names and attributes of this same Essence. The Quran states, "The most beautiful names belong to Allah" (Surah Al-A'raf, 180).
A name that belongs to Him alone
The name "Allah" is never pluralized, nor is it ever attributed to any other being. The Quran asks, "Do you know of anyone who shares His name?" (Surah Maryam, 65). This name belongs exclusively to the one and only Lord of all creation.
Dhikr and dua
All duas and remembrances begin with the name "Allah"; expressions such as "Bismillah", "Alhamdulillah" and "La ilaha illallah" all contain this name.
Sources
This page is based on Quran verses and authentic hadith sources.
This verse (Ayat al-Kursi) declares Allah's oneness and eternal life.
- Classical sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Allah"
Academic source for the linguistic and theological explanation of the name Allah.
Related Names
Other Names with closely connected meanings.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this Name.
What does the name Allah mean?
"Allah" is the proper name of the Exalted Creator. This name is not derived from any other word and belongs solely to His essence; all other beautiful names fall within the scope of this name.How does the name Allah differ from His other names?
Other names each express one attribute of Allah (for example, Ar-Rahman expresses His mercy), while "Allah" is the unique name that gathers all attributes together and cannot be given to any other being.