Foreword

The Quran tells us about the best names of God, asma-e-husna: “God has the Most Excellent Names. Call on Him by His Names and keep away from those who distort them.” (7:180). That is, think of God in terms of these perfect divine attributes, rather than by such names as people have themselves concocted.

Man by his very nature lives in total helplessness, whereas God, because of being the Creator, the Lord, is All-powerful, compensates for man’s helplessness. As such, it is but natural that man should call upon Him on all occasions. For this purpose man is aided by his knowledge of God’s great attributes.

All these names of God, in fact, relate to man. Whenever man is in need of divine succour, he makes reference to these names. Whenever any feelings awaken within man of his helplessness or of his servitude, or he has any kind of negative emotions, these divine names immediately give him some word which guides him. With these guiding words he gets connected with the Lord of the World just as by dialling a number on the telephone, one immediately gets connected with the desired person.

The beautiful names which God has chosen to introduce Himself to man—asma-e-husna—are such as will open the gate of mercy to man. God’s beautiful names tell us what the meeting points between God and man are. It is through these meeting points that man may achieve closeness with God.

Wahiduddin Khan

January 20, 2021
New Delhi