Allah has described Himself in the
Quran through His Names and Attributes. Muslims believe that studying these Names
and Attributes is one of the most effective ways of strengthening one’s
relationship with God. Each Name and Attribute nourishes a kind of
consciousness and humility in man and their study leads one to constantly
better their actions.
“The most beautiful names belong to
Allah: so call on Him by them.” (Quran, 7:180)
Muslims are asked to call upon God
during their supplications by the most appropriate names that relate to what
they are asking for. For example, if one is seeking forgiveness from God for a
sin they have committed, they would call upon Him by His name “Al-Ghaffar,”
meaning “The Ever Forgiving.” If one is asking for peace and tranquility in
their life while experiencing a period of tension, they would call on God by
His name “As-Salaam,” meaning “The Ultimate Source of Peace.”
The table below captures an
approximate translation of a selection of Allah’s names as found in the Quran.
We have chosen to provide some commentary on His names relating to Mercy.
However, each of the names listed could be the subject of its own article.
Names Relating to Mercy
The primary Names of Allah
specifically dealing with Mercy are Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim. These
two names frequently occur together in the Qur’an. They are both derived from
the same root word rahmah which means mercy and also has elements of
sympathy, kindness, gentleness, compassion and love intertwined with it. As
with all the Names of Allah, these are Names of majesty and perfection. Allah
therefore manifests these qualities to the most perfect level with His
Creation. Ar-Rahman signifies a flood of mercy that covers us and is endless.
The mercy we see in this world which
Allah has put among His Creation is just a hundredth of all His Mercy. Examples
of mercy that we see in His creation includes the love a mother has for her
child (human and otherwise), the eyes with which we are able to see, the food
which we are provided to consume, the generosity and kindness we show to
others.
Can
we image what life would be like if these things, that we often take for
granted, did not exist? When we realize that this is only a small portion of
His Mercy, we learn to better appreciate (although we cannot comprehend) the
extent of His Mercy. The other 99 parts are for the Day of Judgment and the
Hereafter, when God provides shade for the believers, makes their accounting
easy, and admits them to Paradise.
God’s Mercy comes before and
prevails over His Anger. We take refuge in His Mercy from His Wrath.
“Say: O my servants who have acted
extravagantly against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah;
surely Allah forgives the faults altogether; surely He is the Forgiving the
Merciful” (Quran, 39:53).
Allah’s name “Al-Ghaffar,” meaning
“The Ever Forgiving,” is related to His Mercy. If one is sincere in asking for
forgiveness from Allah, there is no sin that it too great for Him to forgive.
When asking for forgiveness, a person would ask directly of God and there is no
intermediary or religious cleric that would intervene. Islam has the principle
that one has a direct relationship with God and one should learn to have
dependence, faith and trust in Him for all their affairs.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is
reported to have said that no man’s good deeds are alone enough to get him
admitted into Paradise, but it is only by the Mercy of God that people will
enter Paradise. Our deeds are a tool to get close to God to a place where we
can be hopeful of His Mercy.
Some other Names of Allah that are
related to His Mercy (with rough translations) are Al-Karim (the Generous),
Al-Halim (the Forbearing), Al-Barr (the Generous), Al-Jawwad
(the Bestower of Good), Ar-Rauf (the Kind) and Al-Wahhab (the
Bestower).
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#
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Transliteration
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Translation (can vary based on
context)
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Qur’anic Usage
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1
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Ar-Rahman
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The All Beneficent, The Most
Merciful in Essence, The Compassionate, The Most Gracious
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Beginning of every chapter except
one, and in numerous other places
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2
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Ar-Rahim
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The Most Merciful, The Most
Merciful in Actions
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Beginning of every chapter except
one, and in numerous other places
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3
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Al-Malik
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The King, The Sovereign, The True
and Ultimate King
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59:23, 20:114
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4
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Al-Quddus
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The Most Holy, The Most Pure, The
Most Perfect
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59:23, 62:1
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5
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As-Salaam
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The Peace and Blessing, The Source
of Peace and Safety, The Most Perfect
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59:23
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6
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Al-Mu’min
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The Guarantor, The Self Affirming,
The Granter of Security, The Affirmer of Truth
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59:23
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7
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Al-Muhaymin
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The Guardian, The Preserver, The
Overseeing Protector
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59:23
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8
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Al-Aziz
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The Almighty, The Self Sufficient,
The Most Honorable
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3:6, 4:158, 9:40, 48:7, 59:23
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9
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Al-Jabbar
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The Powerful, The Irresistible,
The Compeller, The Most Lofty, The Restorer/Improver of Affairs
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59:23
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10
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Al-Mutakabbir
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The Tremendous
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59:23
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11
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Al-Khaliq
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The Creator
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6:102, 13:16, 39:62, 40:62, 59:24
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12
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Al-Bari’
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The Rightful
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59:24
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13
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Al-Musawwir
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The Fashioner of Forms
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59:24
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14
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Al-Ghaffar
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The Ever Forgiving
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20:82, 38:66, 39:5, 40:42, 71:10
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15
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Al-Qahhar
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The All Compelling Subduer
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13:16, 14:48, 38:65, 39:4, 40:16
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16
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Al-Wahhab
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The Bestower
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3:8, 38:9, 38:35
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17
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Ar-Razzaq
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The Ever Providing
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51:58
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18
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Al-Fattah
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The Opener, The Victory Giver
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34:26
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19
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Al-Alim
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The All Knowing, The Omniscient
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2:158, 3:92, 4:35, 24:41, 33:40
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20
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Al-Qabid
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The Restrainer, The Straightener
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2:245
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21
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Al-Basit
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The Expander, The Munificent
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2:245
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22
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Al-Khafid
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The Abaser
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95:5
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23
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Ar-Rafi‘e
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The Exalter
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58:11, 6:83
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24
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Al-Mu‘ezz
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The Giver of Honour
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3:26
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25
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Al-Mudhell
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The Giver of Dishonour
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3:26
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26
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As-Sami‘e
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The All Hearing
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2:127, 2:256, 8:17, 49:1
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27
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Al-Basir
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The All Seeing
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4:58, 17:1, 42:11, 42:27
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28
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Al-Hakam
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The Judge, The Arbitrator
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22:69
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29
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Al-`Adl
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The Utterly Just
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6:115
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30
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Al-Lateef
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The Subtly Kind
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6:103, 22:63, 31:16, 33:34
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31
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Al-Khabeer
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The All Aware
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6:18, 17:30, 49:13, 59:18
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32
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Al-Haleem
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The Forbearing, The Indulgent
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2:235, 17:44, 22:59, 35:41
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33
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Al-Azeem
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The Magnificent, The Infinite
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2:255, 42:4, 56:96
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34
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Al-Ghafoor
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The All Forgiving
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2:173, 8:69, 16:110, 41:32
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35
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Ash-Shakoor
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The Grateful
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35:30, 35:34, 42:23, 64:17
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36
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Al-Aliyy
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The Sublimely Exalted
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4:34, 31:30, 42:4, 42:51
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37
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Al-Kabeer
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The Great
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13:9, 22:62, 31:30
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38
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Al-Hafeez
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The Preserver
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11:57, 34:21, 42:6
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39
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Al-Muqeet
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The Nourisher
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4:85
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40
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Al-Hasib
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The Reckoner
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4:6, 4:86, 33:39
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41
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Al-Jaleel
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The Majestic
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55:27, 39:14, 7:143
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42
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Al-Karim
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The Bountiful, The Generous
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27:40, 82:6
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43
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Ar-Raqib
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The Watchful
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4:1, 5:117
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44
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Al-Mujib
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The Responsive, The Answerer
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11:61
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45
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Al-Wasse‘e
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The Vast, The All Encompassing
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2:268, 3:73, 5:54
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46
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Al-Hakeem
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The Wise
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31:27, 46:2, 57:1, 66:2
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47
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Al-Wadud
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The Loving, The Kind One
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11:90, 85:14
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48
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Al-Majeed
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The All Glorious
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11:73
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49
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Al-Ba’ith
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The Raiser of The Dead
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22:7
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50
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Ash-Shaheed
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The Witness
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4:166, 22:17, 41:53, 48:28
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51
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Al-Haqq
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The Truth, The Real
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6:62, 22:6, 23:116, 24:25
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52
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Al-Wakeel
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The Trustee, The Dependable
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3:173, 4:171, 28:28, 73:9
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53
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Al-Qawee
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The Strong
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22:40, 22:74, 42:19, 57:25
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54
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Al-Mateen
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The Firm, The Steadfast
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51:58
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55
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Al-Walee
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The Protecting Friend, Patron and
Helper
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4:45, 7:196, 42:28, 45:19
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56
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Al-Hamid
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The All Praiseworthy
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14:8, 31:12, 31:26, 41:42
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57
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Al-Muhsi
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The Accounter, The Numberer of All
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72:28, 78:29, 82:10-12
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58
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Al-Mubdi’
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The Producer, Originator, and
Initiator of All
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10:34, 27:64, 29:19, 85:13
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59
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Al-Mu‘id
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The Reinstater Who Brings Back All
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10:34, 27:64, 29:19, 85:13
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60
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Al-Muhyi
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The Giver of Life
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7:158, 15:23, 30:50, 57:2
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61
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Al-Mumit
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The Bringer of Death, The
Destroyer
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3:156, 7:158, 15:23, 57:2
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62
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Al-Hayy
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The Ever Living
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2:255, 3:2, 25:58, 40:65
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63
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Al-Qayyum
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The Self Subsisting Sustainer of
All
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2:255, 3:2, 20:111
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64
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Al-Wajid
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The Perceiver, The Finder, The
Unfailing
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38:44
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65
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Al-Majid
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The Illustrious, The Magnificent
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85:15, 11:73,
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66
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Al-Wahid
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The One, The Unique, Manifestation
of Unity
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2:163, 5:73, 9:31, 18:110
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67
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Al-Ahad
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The One, the All Inclusive, The
Indivisible
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112:1
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68
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As-Samad
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The Self Sufficient, The
Impregnable,
The Eternally Besought of All, The Everlasting |
112:2
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69
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Al-Qadir
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The All Able
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6:65, 36:81, 46:33, 75:40
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70
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Al-Muqtadir
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The All Determiner, The Dominant
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18:45, 54:42, 54:55
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71
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Al-Muqaddim
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The Expediter, He Who Brings
Forward
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16:61, 17:34,
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72
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Al-Mu’akhir
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The Delayer, He Who Puts Far Away
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71:4
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73
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Al-Awwal
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The First
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57:3
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74
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Al-Akhir
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The Last
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57:3
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75
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Az-Zahir
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The Manifest, The All Victorious
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57:3
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76
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Al-Batin
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The Hidden, The All Encompassing
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57:3
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77
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Al-Waali
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The Patron
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13:11, 22:7
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78
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Al-Muta’ali
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The Self Exalted
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13:9
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79
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Al-Barr
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The Most Kind and Righteous
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52:28
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80
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At-Tawwab
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The Ever Returning, Ever Relenting
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2:128, 4:64, 49:12, 110:3
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81
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Al-Muntaqim
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The Avenger
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32:22, 43:41, 44:16
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82
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Al-‘Afuww
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The Pardoner, The Effacer of Sins
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4:99, 4:149, 22:60
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83
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Ar-Ra’uf
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The Compassionate, The All Pitying
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3:30, 9:117, 57:9, 59:10
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84
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Malik-al-Mulk
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The Owner of All Sovereignty
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3:26
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85
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Dhu-al-Jalaliwa-al-Ikram
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The Lord of Majesty and Generosity
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55:27, 55:78
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86
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Al-Muqsit
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The Equitable, The Requiter
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7:29, 3:18
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87
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Al-Jami‘e
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The Gatherer, The Unifier
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3:9
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88
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Al-Ghani
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The All Rich, The Independent
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3:97, 39:7, 47:38, 57:24
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89
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Al-Mughni
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The Enricher, The Emancipator
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9:28
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90
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Al-Mani’e
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The Withholder, The Shielder, the
Defender
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67:21
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91
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Ad-Darr
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The Distressor, The Harmer, The
AfflictorThis attribute can only be found in hadith
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6:17
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92
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An-Nafi‘e
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The Propitious, The Benefactor
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?
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93
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An-Nur
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The Light
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24:35
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94
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Al-Hadi
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The Guide
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25:31
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95
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Al-Badi
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The Incomparable, The Originator
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2:117, 6:101
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96
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Al-Baqi
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The Ever Enduring and Immutable
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??
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97
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Al-Warith
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The Heir, The Inheritor of All
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15:23
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98
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Ar-Rashid
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The Guide, Infallible Teacher and
Knower
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2:256
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99
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As-Sabur
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The Patient, The Timeless.
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?
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