Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى - Who Created man and Bestowed him with innumerable Bounties and comforts, keeping in view his nature, temperament and necessities – is Most Deserving that His Recognition سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى should settle deep in man’s heart. Thereafter, man should mould his life according to the laws of the Qur’aan Kareem and the words of Sayyiduna Rasulullah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم, following their Commands and abstaining from their Prohibitions, which will ultimately allow one to live a life that is pure, and enjoyable.

One means of acquiring the Recognition of Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is through His Beautiful Names سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, every one of which is undoubtedly a door of Divine Cognisance. The more one gains insight into these Beautiful Names سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, and attains recognition from the Qur’aan and the Ahaadith Shareef, the stronger and firmer will be his conviction in the Being of Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى.

These are not merely Names سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, but are Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى’s Attributes and Qualities سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى (Who سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is the Creator سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى of the earth and heavens, and the Sole Controller سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى of the Showpiece of His Power سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). From these Beautiful Names سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, we learn that He سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is the Possessor of the Most Beautiful Qualities and Attributes سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, Power سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, Perfection سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, His Relationship سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى with the creation, His Favours سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى on them, and how Deserving of love, obedience, worship, honour and respect He سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is; there is nothing which He سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى does not Possess, and which is not included within the sphere of His Power سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. Who is there in the universe more Loving سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, Appreciative سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, Merciful سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, Just سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and Knowledgeable سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, than Him سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى ? Who besides Him سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى can Bring into Existence from non-existence, the gigantic and most difficult of things, and who can make the impossible Possible? Then why should one not adore Him سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, sing His Praises سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, take His Name سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى at all times, call out and implore Him سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, in all difficulties and problems, seek support only from Him سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, live one’s life according to His Wish سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, love Him سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى more than one’s parents, children, beloved objects, and even one’s own life? Inspite all of this, can it ever be conceived that one can worship any being besides Him سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى ? Call out to anyone besides Him سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى? Regard anyone else as the Solver of problems? All heavenly scriptures, religions and all Divine Laws, first mentioned and emphasised the Qualities and Attributes of Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. Thereafter, the details of worship, acts of obedience, compulsory actions and dealings were explained.

Any being is only recognised in accordance to one’s recognition of his qualities. The more one becomes aware of any person’s qualities, the greater the bond, and closeness to him. When one speaks of bond and closeness, it is no hidden fact that the greatest, and real relationship is that with Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. In order to foster a relationaship with Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, it is necessary to be cognisant of His Attributes and Qualities سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. This is facilitated by His Beautiful Names سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, as every Blessed Name سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى directs to a Divine Attribute and Quality سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. One should supplicate to Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى by means of these Attributes and Qualities سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى.
Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى States in the Qur’aan Kareem:

وَلِلّهِ الأَسْمَاءالْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا
“And Allaah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has The Most Beautiful Names (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), thus call out to Him (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), by means of them.” (A’raaf)

Sayyiduna Rasulullaah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم said:

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ اسْمًا مِائَةً غَيْرَ وَاحِدٍ مَنْ أَحْصَاهَا دَخَلَ الجَنَّةَ
“Allaah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has 99 Names (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Whoever learns them will enter Paradise. “ (Tirmidhi)

These Beautiful Names سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى are the means to acquire Divine Recognition. Every Name سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is a Door to this Recognition. The more one knows and recognizes Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, the more his love for Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى will increase. As one’s love increases, he will become obedient to Allaah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and remember Him سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى at all times.