ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ 8
Translations
Allāh - there is no deity except Him. To Him belong the best names.
Transliteration
Allahu la ilaha illa huwa, lahu al-asma'u al-husna
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah is a clear declaration of Allah's absolute oneness (tawhid) and His exclusive right to worship, emphasizing that none deserves to be worshipped except Him alone. The phrase 'al-asma'u al-husna' (the Most Beautiful Names) refers to Allah's divine attributes and names, which reflect His perfect qualities and are the basis for understanding His nature. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this ayah serves as a foundational statement of Islamic monotheism, reaffirming that knowledge of Allah's beautiful names is intrinsic to understanding His uniqueness and majesty.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears early in Surah Ta-Ha, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islam when the Prophet faced intense opposition to the message of monotheism. The surah begins with mysterious letters (Ta-Ha) and quickly establishes the core message of tawhid as a response to the polytheistic beliefs of Meccan society. This ayah sets the theological foundation for the entire surah's discussion of Allah's oneness and His relationship with creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Allah has ninety-nine names. Whoever memorizes them will enter Paradise' (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 2736). Additionally, the Quran itself references the Beautiful Names in Surah Al-A'raf 7:180: 'And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that true faith begins with the conviction that Allah alone is worthy of worship and that understanding His beautiful names strengthens our relationship with Him and protects us from associating partners with Allah. For modern Muslims, it serves as a reminder to regularly contemplate Allah's attributes and to ground all worship and devotion exclusively in the recognition of His absolute oneness.