3. Why should we try to understand the names of Allah?

4. Because Allah says so in the Qur’an

5. …. وَلِلّهِ الأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا The most beautiful names belong to Allah : so call on Him by them;..." (Surah Al A’raf 7:Verse180)

6. Reported by Abu Hurayrah (RA) Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: To God belong 99 names, 100 minus 1, anyone who memorizes them will enter Paradise; {Bukhari}

7. Because we say: لا الہ الا اللہ There is no god but Allah

8. La ilaaha ill Allah We are declaring that ALLAH is: Single Unique Unequalled Independent Creator Master

9.  The one we pray to  The one we call upon  The one we obey  The one we ask for help  The one we think of in times of need  The one we thank in times of joy

10. This concept is called Tawheed

11. Names and attributes of Allah are an essential part of Tawheed.

12. Misconceptions about God in different religions and cultures

13. Image of God In western cultures: An old man with a long white beard who sits in the clouds

14. Different imaginary portrayals of Jesus (AS)

15. Michelangelo painted an image of God in the Sistine Chapel

16. Greek God

17. Some religions have a concept of: God of Good God of Evil

18. Some religions believe anything that “looks” more powerful than man is god.

19. Sun God

20. God to some is personified in animals or some super natural being.

21. Holy Person

22. Most common misconceptions

23. God is in everything

24. Allah Himself has given us an idea about Himself

25. Chapter 112 : Surah Al Ikhlaas قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ Say (O Muhammad) He is Allah, (the) one. Allah the Self Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co- equal or comparable to Him.

26. Understanding Allah’s names is understanding with:  knowledge  clarity  sincerity who we are worshipping.

27. Three types of senses of Allah’s beautiful names They point to the one being described They point to qualities that are taken directly from them They point to qualities that are indirectly taken from the name

28. The Beneficient

29. The Merciful

30. الرحمان رحم الرحیم Mercy الحی القادر The able The alive

31. Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem They point to the one being described, i.e. Allah They point to a quality that is directly taken from it, i.e. Rahm (Mercy) They point to indirect qualities not taken from the name itself. i.e. the quality of life (al-hayaat), and power (al-qudrah)

32. Such is the case with all the names of Allah

33. The Unique

34. The One

35. الواحد ال احد The One The Unique البدیع الحمید The Praiseworthy The Incomparable

36. There are Four Classes of origins of Allah’s Names

37. 1. The Proper name that includes all the meanings of each name and quality or characteristic or attribute.

39. Allah is the personal name of god Nothing else can be called Allah It has no gender and no plural Other names are always used to describe Allah and never the other way round

40. 2. Those which include a characteristic of Allah’s self

41. The All Hearing

42. The All Seeing

43. The All Knowing

44. 3. Those which indicate nullification, negation or impossibility of any imperfection or fault

45. The Holy

46. The Source of Peace

47. 4. Those which characterize Allah’s actions

48. The Creator

49. The Evolver

50. The Shaper of Beauty

51. The Sustainer

52. All things Bright...

53. … and Beautiful

54. All creatures great …

55. … and small

56. All Things wise …

57. And Wonderful

58. The Lord God made them all

59. Each little Flower that opens

60. And Each little Bird that sings

61. He made their glowing colours

62. He made their shiny wings

63. The Purple Headed Mountains

64. The Rivers Flowing by …

65. The Sunset

66. ... and the morning

67. The Brightness of the Sky

68. The Cool Winds in the Winter

69. The Pleasant Summer Sun

70. The ripe fruit in the garden

71. He made them everyone

72. The Sovereign Lord

73. The Guardian of Faith

74. The Protector

75. The Mighty

76. Note to Teacher Give handout of 99 names of Allah Can also give cassette/CD of 99 names of Allah Play clip of 99 names of Allah before beginning the presentation