Speaking about the beautiful names and all of God’s names are beautiful. This has been mentioned clearly in the second verse cited above i.e. verse 110 of Surah Isra. After this verse had been revealed the people heard the Messenger repeating the names, “Ya Allah and Ya Rahman” so they objected and criticized him for it and said, “You ask us not to worship two gods but you mentioned two yourself.” It was then that this verse was revealed rejecting their presumption and asserting that all of God’s names were beautiful for they all refer to His entity only. (1) All of these names are the different interpretations of His attributes.

The poet says, “Our interpretations are varied but Your beauty is singular and each name reflect His unparalleled beauty.”

 So the beautiful names actually are God’s names. “To God alone belong the most beautiful names; so call Him by them and leave alone those who are profane while using His name”

The proof that God’s names glorify His perfect entity e.g. Aalim and Qadir; or they certify that there is no imperfection in Him like Quddoos and yet others glorify the positive ness of His actions like Rahman, Raheem, Khaliq, Muddabbir and Raaziq.

The interpretation of the above cited verse tells us that the most beautiful names are restricted to God because they reflect His glory and His necessary existence is the complete embodiment of all perfection.

So the real perfection is for Him and all others are embodiment of dependence for they are contingent beings. The question that crops up here is that in the traditions (as we will discuss them shortly) have mentioned a fixed number of beautiful names. This in turn tells us that the beautiful names do not cover all His attributes but are names for specific ones.

In answer we can say that a specific number of names denote their importance and not a proof of entirety. In our discussion later one we will discuss that some names are real and many branches come out of them like the word “Raziq” the Sustainer is derived from the name “Rabb” the Administrator. The name Muhi (The life giver) is derived from Mumeet (He who gives death).

It will be very far fetched to assume that the beautiful names may have any other meaning other than those confirming to the divine laws. The best way to describe them is to call them the beautiful names and this includes everything.

The Qura’n says, “To God alone belong the most beautiful names; so call Him by them.” This means that you should not alter them because of misguidance and disbelief, and not name the idols by them or invoke God with names that are incorrect. The plurality of his names does not deny His Oneness because all of them refer to different attributes. At times He is called Aalim because He is all-aware and at times He is called Qadir because of his omnipotence. All His names are beautiful names though some have special significance of their own.