Call on God by His Beautiful Names

Salam,

It is stated in the Quran that the names of God is special and exclusive and most of it is showing what His attributes are. All His names are blessed and created by Him and He will take into account those who manipulate and deviate with their own invention to associate it with that of God’s. God is particular the way His names are being mentioned and to call upon. Of His names it is stated in the Quran that all His names are beautiful names and should reflect His attributes with the special meanings solely due to Him and none others are equal to that of His status as Lord of the heavens and the earth:

Blessed be the name of thy Lord, full of Majesty, Bounty and Honor.
(Surah 55:78)

The most beautiful names belong to Allah: so call on him by them; but shun such men as use profanity in his names: for what they do, they will soon be requited. (Surah 7:180)

All of His beautiful names are stated in the Quran and He commanded that only His names which He has authorized should be used to call upon Him and He takes offend those who call Him by the wrong names or by those names which He did not authorized:

He said: "Punishment and wrath have already come upon you from your Lord: dispute ye with me over names which ye have devised - ye and your fathers, without authority from Allah? Then wait: I am amongst you, also waiting." (Surah 7:71)

God is particular that His name is being called as He commands us to call and as such in all matters concerning His names and especially when we call upon Him by establishing the Salat it is imperative that we call Him by His beautiful names and not by any other than that which He has authorized us to call and He said in the Quran by command:

Say: "Call upon Allah, or call upon Ar Rahman: by whatever name ye call upon Him, for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speaks thy Salat aloud nor speaks it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between." Say: "Praise be to Allah, who begets no son, and has no partner in His dominion: Nor needs He any to protect Him from humiliation: yea, magnify Him for His greatness and glory!"
(Surah 17:110-111)

There are many names which He Himself have authorized and which He commanded the believers to call upon Him and this is all stated in the Quran. There are other names He is being called upon but if one can check by doing a little research in the Quran it is not only to be found but the names has been perverted and more than not it is the names which has been passed from father to sons through generations without making reference to the Book of God. The names of God in the Quran will normally goes with the prefix or the definite article of the Arabic word “Al” or “The” showing there is none other equal to Him as He is “The Only One” to be worshipped:

"If not Him, ye worship nothing but name which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which Allah hath sent down no authority: the command is for none but Allah: He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men understand not. (Surah 12:40)

In calling His beautiful names one can find that the name AllahhuAkbar is not listed in the Quran. It is a mystery why the Arab calls Allah in that way because in Arabic AllahhuAkbar when translated into English will mean Allah is greater. For Allah to be greatest the Arabic must be Allah Al Kabir as stated in the Quran in Surah Surah 13:9 below:

He knoweth the unseen and that which is open: He is the Greatest (Al Kabir), the Most High. (Surah 13:9)

The definite article “the” or Arabic “al” testify that there is no competition and its attribute of great is solely belongs to Him so He is the Greatest or Allah AlKabir and not He is the greater or AllahhuAkbar as he is being called today by most Muslims. AllahhuAkbar is however mentioned in the Quran but it does refer to His names but to the following:

God has promised the believers, men and women, gardens underneath which rivers flow, forever therein to dwell, and goodly dwelling-places in the Gardens of Eden; and greater, God's good pleasure (ridhwanu minAllahi Akbar); that is the mighty triumph. (Surah 9:72)

Recite what has been revealed to thee of the Book, and perform the Salat; Salat forbids indecency and dishonour. God's remembrance is greater (zikrul Allahi Akbar); and God knows the things you work. (Surah 29:45)

It shall be proclaimed to the unbelievers, 'Surely God's hatred is greater (maktul Allahi Akbar) than your hatred one of another, when you were called unto belief, and disbelieved.' (Surah 40:10)

It is therefore blasphemous to call on God by name He has not authorized and since Allahu Akbar does not refer to Him in the Quran but Allah Al Kabir then it is our duty to put His correct name when we call Him in our Salat otherwise we would be just following the habit of our fathers when calling on God by the following reference that is stated in the Quran as follow:

"If not Him, ye worship nothing but name which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which Allah hath sent down no authority: the command is for none but Allah: He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men understand not... (Surah 12:40)

Below is a list of Names of God which is authorized by Him as He has authenticated in the Quran and these are the names which should be called upon God when one is calling on Him during performing the Salat or any other religious occasions as He has commanded in the Surah 17:110 to call upon His good names and below are His authorized names:

Name...Meaning...Reference Surah

1 Ar Rahman.. Most Gracious.. Surah Al Fatiha 1:1

2 Ar Rahim.. Most Merciful.. Surah Al Fatiha 1:1

3 Al Malik.. The Sovereign.. Surah Al Hashr 53:23

4 Al Qudus.. The Holy One.. Surah Al Hashr 53:23

5 As Salam.. The Peace.. Surah Al Hashr 53:23

6 Al Mu’minun.. The Guardian of Faith.. Surah Al Hashr 53:23

7 Al Muhaiminun.. The Preserver of Safety.. Surah Al Hashr 53:23

8 Al Aziz.. The All Mighty.. Surah Al Hashr 53:23

9 Al Jabbar.. The Compeller.. Surah Al Hashr 53:23

10 Al Mutatkabir.. The Supreme.. Surah Al Hashr 53:23

11 Al Khaliqu.. The Creator.. Surah Al Hashr 53:24

12 Al Bariuu.. The Evolver.. Surah Al Hashr 53:24

13 Al Musawiru.. Bestower of Forms.. Surah Al Hashr 53:24

14 Al Ghaffaru.. The Forgiver.. Surah Al Zumar 39:5

15 Al Qahhar.. The Irresistable.. Surah Yusuf 12:39

Names... Meaning... Reference Surah

16 Al Wahhab.. The Bestower.. Surah Ali Imran 3:8

17 Al Fatah.. The Trustworthy.. Surah Saba’ 34:26

18 Al A’alim.. The Knower.. Surah Ali Imran 3:35

19 As Same’a.. The Hearer.. Surah Ali Imran 3:35

20 Al Bashir.. The Seer.. Surah Al Isra’ 17:1

21 Al Latif.. The Most Subtle.. Surah Al An’am 6:103

22 Al Khabir.. The Most Aware.. Surah Al An’am 6:103

23 Al Azim.. The Supreme.. Surah Yunus 10:64

24 Al Affu.. The Forgiver.. Surah Yusuf 12:97

25 Al A’liyu.. The Highest.. Surah Luqman 31:30

26 Al Kabir.. The Greatest.. Surah Ar Ra’d 13:9

27 Al Karim.. The Most Nobel.. Surah Al Infitar 82:6

28 Al Hakim.. The Wise.. Surah Ali Imran 3:18

29 Al Haq.. The Truth.. Surah Al Hajj 22:62

30 Al Qawe’i.. The Strongest.. Surah Al Shura 42:19

31 Al Hamid.. The Praise Worthy.. Surah Ibrahim 14:1

32 Al Haiyu.. The Living.. Surah Al Hajj 22:55

33 Al Qaiyum.. The Self Subsisting.. Surah Al Baqarah 2:255

34 Al Wahid.. The One.. Surah Yusuf 12:39

35 Al Awwal.. The First.. Surah Al Hadid 57:3

36 Al Akhir.. The Last.. Surah Al Hadid 57:3

37 As Samad.. The Eternal Absolute.. Surah Al Ikhlas 112:2

Names... Meanings... Reference Surah

38 Al Zhahir.. The Most High.. Surah Al Hadid 57:3

39 Al Batinu.. The Most Near.. Surah Al Hadid 57:3

40 Al Barru.. The Beneficent.. Surah Al Tur 52:28

41 Al Tawwab.. The Accepter of Repent.. Surah Al Baqarah 2:160

42 Al Ghani.. The Rich.. Surah Yunus 10:68

43 Al Kadir.. The Most Powerful.. Surah Al Rum 30:54

44 Al Wali.. The Protector.. Surah Al Shura 42:9

45 Al Matin.. The Lord of Power.. Surah Qaf 51:58

46 Al Ghafur.. The Oft Forgiving.. Surah Yunus 10:107

47 Al Razak.. The Provider.. Surah Qaf 51:58

48 Al Mijid.. The All Glorious.. Surah Al Buruj 85:15

49 Al Wadud.. The All Loving.. Surah Al Buruj 85:14

50 Al Rakib.. The Watcher.. Surah Al Ma’idah 5:117

51 Al Qahhir.. The Omnipotent.. Surah Al An’am 6:61

52 Al Muta’al.. The Most High.. Surah Al Ra’d 13:9

53 Al Maula.. The Patron.. Surah Al Hajj 22:78

54 Al Nasir.. The Helper.. Surah Al Hajj 22:78

55 Al Mubin.. The Manifest.. Surah Al Nur 24:25

"Lord of the heavens and of the earth, and of all that is between them; so worship Him, and be constant and patient in His worship: know thou of any who is worthy of the same Name as He?" (Surah 19:65)

Allah! There is no god but He! To Him belong the most Beautiful Names.
(Surah 20:8)

But keep in remembrance the name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him whole-heartedly. (He is) Lord of the East and the West: there is no god but He: take Him therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.(Surah 73:8-9)

Asar