In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

📜 The Explanation of the 99 Names of Allah — According to Early Scholars

🧠 Reported by:

Shaykh Abu Bakr Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Hanbali (رحمه الله)

"I read this text to Abu ʿAli al-Ḥasan ibn Aḥmad al-Fārisi, the grammarian, and then transcribed it from his handwriting."

He stated that it was narrated from:

Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn al-Sarri al-Zajjāj (رحمه الله)

who mentioned:

“These are the interpretations of the Names of Allah that were narrated from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in relation to His statement:

‘Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred minus one...’

(Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)

🧾 Background Context

It is recorded that Qadi Isma'il ibn Ishaq (رحمه الله) requested this compilation from the scholars. It was dictated to him and later copied.


🔗 Chain of Transmission

Scholar Narrated From
Abu ʿAli → Abu Ishaq
Abu Ishaq → Isma'il ibn Ishaq
Isma'il ibn Ishaq → Safwan ibn Salih al-Thaqafi
Safwan → al-Waleed ibn Muslim
al-Waleed → Shuʿayb ibn Abi Ḥamza
Shuʿayb → Abu al-Zinad
Abu al-Zinad → al-Aʿraj
al-Aʿraj → Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه)
Abu Hurairah → The Prophet ﷺ

🕋 The Hadith:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

❝Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine Names, one hundred minus one. He is Witr (One, Unique) and loves al-Witr. Whoever enumerates them shall enter Paradise.❞

(Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim)


📚 Linguistic & Rhetorical Explanation: The Phrase "Whoever enumerates them" (مَنْ أَحْصَاهَا)