The Most Beautiful Names [Paperback]

Tosun Bayrak Al-Jerrahi Al-Halveti (Author), Tosun Bayrak (Photographer), Shems Friedlander (Designer)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1983

A contemporary presentation of the 99 names of God according to the Sufi tradition in which it is said these are the divine attributes by which God manifests himself in the world and by which He completes the spiritual life of man. Compiled from original Arabic and Turkish texts this is the most extensive presentation available to readers in any Western language. Also included are the 201 Divine Names of the Prophet.

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Threshold Books (November 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0939660105
• ISBN-13: 978-0939660100
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,572,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars God's Mastery shows in His Names, July 15, 2006

By 

Karina A. Suarez "Karina A. Fogliani-Ahmed" (Walt Disney World, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Most Beautiful Names (Paperback)

There is indeed beauty in the 99 names attributed to God according to the Islamic Sufism. Not only does this book explain the meaning and the nature of the names of God, but it also applies each quality to what would be the equivalent to the human condition. Thus we find that "Al-Musawwir", the Shaper of Beauty, the Perfect Artist, manifests itself in whoever is that "makes of things in accordance with the beauty, manifest in all that Allah has created, because no beauty is possible in opposition to the beauty created by Allah or other than it." (page 22). Hence the way for us artists to be thankful for our gift of creativity yet be humble about it as well.

My other favorite names are "Al-`Adl" (the Just), "Az-Zahir" (the Manifest One, closely related to Al-Musawwir in the sense that He maintains everything that is created) and "Al-Wali"(the Governor), especially because it lets us know that everything and anything that happens in our lives has been pre-ordained, thus, the power of destiny cannot be denied.

In Arabic, every word is created from a three-letter root. This book has inspired me to do my own research regarding Arabic proper names, because every proper noun has its own meaning.

For Muslims, a book like this one is a highly appreciated devotional reference, which will either be kept by the bedside or carried in a purse. I much prefer to have it always at hand, so I recommend a miniature, full color edition published by Islamic Book Service. Sadly, it seems to be out of print, but if found, it's well worth the investment.

The book ends with a list of the names of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and is illustrated throughout with calligraphic motifs of the different names of Allah.