Abu Huraira reported
that the Messenger of Allah said, "Allah has ninety-nine names, one
hundred less one. Whoever ahsaha will enter Paradise. (Recorded by al-Bukhari
and Muslim)
It should be noted that the
hadith states that Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred less one, is not
meant to be all inclusive. That is, it does not mean that Allah has
ninety-nine and only ninety-nine names. Indeed, in going through the Quran and
authentic hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) many scholars have been
able to discover more than ninety-nine names of Allah. Furthermore, many
scholars have concluded that Allah has an infinite number of names.
The Prophet (peace be
upon him) made the following supplication:
'[O Allah], I ask you of you by every name that You have
named yourself or that You have revealed in Your book or that You have taught
any of Your creation or that You have kept hidden, in the unseen knowledge,
with Yourself.' (Recorded by Ahmad, sahih.)
Note:
Many scholars hold that the Remembrance
of Allah is a powerful tool to bring back the Divine consciousness
inside us. The remembrance of the Divine through His qualities is recommended
and practiced as a spiritual exercise to enable inner transformation. It also
holds the secret key to blissful state.
Some may not necessarily agree with
the recommendations of the dhikr in this booklet,