violate the sanctity of the Divine names are rebuked,17 and the violation of the sanctity of the Divine names has been clearly explained to mean either ascribing to God attributes which do not befit His high dignity, or ascribing Divine attributes to that which is not Divine. Hence calling on God by His excellent names merely means that only those high attributes should be ascribed to Him which befit His dignity. The particular names of God mentioned in the Holy Qur’ān are:

1. As relating to His person, al-Wāḥid or Aḥad (the One), al-Ḥaqq (the True), al-Quddūs (the Holy), al-Ṣamad (on Whom all depend while He does not depend on any), al-Ghanī (the Self-sufficient), al-Awwal (the First), al-Ākhir (the Last), al-Ḥayy (the Ever-living), al-Qayyūm (the Self-subsisting).

2. As relating to the act of creation, al-Khāliq (the Creator), al-Bāri’ (the Creator of the soul), al-Muṣawwir (the Fashioner of shapes), al-Badī‘ (the Originator).

3. As relating to the attributes of love and mercy, (besides Rabb, al-Raḥmān, and al-Raḥīm), al-Ra’ūf (the Affectionate), al-Wadūd (the Loving), al-Laṭīf (the Benignant), al-Tawwāb (the Oft-returning to mercy), al-Ḥalīm (the Forbearing), al-‘Afuww (the Pardoner), al-Shakūr (the Multiplier of rewards), al-Salām (the Author of peace), al-Mu’min (the Granter of security), al-Barr (the Benign), Rāfi‘ al-dārajāt (the Exalter of ranks), al-Razzāq (the Bestower of sustenance), al-Wahhāb (the Great Giver), al-Wāsi‘ (the Ample-giving).

4. As relating to His greatness and glory, al-‘Azīm (the Grand), al-‘Azīz (the Mighty), al-‘Aliyy or Muta‘āl (the Exalted or the High), al-Qawiyy (the Strong), al-Qahhār (the Supreme), al-Jabbār (one Who sets things aright by supreme power),18al-Mutakabbir (the Possessor of greatness), al-Kabīr (the Great), al-Karīm (the Honoured), al-Ḥamīd (the Praiseworthy), al-Majīd (the Glorious), al-Matīn (the Strong), al-Ẓāhir (Ascendant over all), Dhu-l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām (the Lord of glory and honour).

5. As relating to His knowledge, al-‘Alīm (the Knowing), al-Ḥakīm (the Wise), al-Samī‘ (the Hearing), al-Khabīr (the Aware), al-Baṣīr (the Seeing), al-Shahīd (the Witness), al-Raqīb (the Watcher), al-Bāṭin (the Knower of hidden things), al-Muhaimin (the Guardian over all).