Not Mysterious

The general concept regarding asma-e-husna is that they are some mysterious words. It is believed that some miraculous effect is hidden in these words, just as in the chants (mantras) of magicians, and that our task is only to remember them and recite them repeatedly. And then mysteriously we will receive miraculous benefits. This is what people think of divine names.

But this kind of concept of God’s names is totally baseless. Asma-e-husna are in no sense mysterious words. They represent a known and meaningful reality. Divine names are without doubt a great blessing for man. But there is nothing mysterious about it, rather it is a blessing which can be fully explained rationally.

Asma-e-husna indeed are the known doors of God’s mercy. These doors have been opened as we learn from to the Quran that man may discover them and passing through them may reach the mercy of God in this world. Asma-e-husna are like the good gates of the divine mercy. They are the means of connecting us to God. They are like a God-given key to ma’arifah, or God-realization, which awaken our hearts and minds and take us from darkness to light.