The greatest name of Allah

Sayyiduna Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) heard a man supplicating thus: "O Allah, I ask You by means of the fact that You are Allah, the One, the Self-Sufficient, who has not begotten and was not begotten, and to whom no one is equal." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This man has asked by means of the Greatest Name of Allah, such that when He is supplicated by means of it He answers, and when He is asked for something by means of it He gives."

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) heard a man supplicating thus: "O Allah, I ask You by means of the fact that to You alone belongs all praise. There is no god but You, You are alone, You have no partner, the Bestower of favors, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the Possessor of Majesty and Honor." He said: "This man has asked by means of the Greatest Name of Allah, such that when He is asked by means of it He gives, and when He is supplicated by means of it He answers."

Abd al-Rahman bin Sabit said that someone supplicated in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), saying: "O Allah, I ask You by means of Your name Allah, that there is no god but You, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the Creator of the heavens and the earth without any model, and when You intend to do something You say to it: Be, and it is." At this the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "You, or he, very nearly supplicated by means of the Greatest Name of Allah, the Name of majesty."

Sayyidah Asma bint Yazid (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The Greatest Name of Allah is mentioned in these two verses: 'And your God is one God; there is no god but He, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.' And at the beginning of Surah Al Imran: 'Alif Lam Mim. Allah, there is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all.'"

Abd al-Malik bin Umayr said that a man recited Surah al-Baqarah and Al Imran, whereupon Ka'b said: He has recited two surahs. In these two surahs there is a name such that when Allah is supplicated by means of that name, He answers.

Hisham bin Abi Ruqayyah said that Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda and Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say: The greatest and highest name of Allah is: My Lord, my Lord.

Hayyan al-A'raj said that Jabir bin Zayd said: The Greatest Name of Allah is the word Allah.

Mis'ar reported from someone who heard al-Sha'bi say: The Greatest Name of Allah is the word Allah. Then he recited, or I recited to him, this verse: "He is Allah, the Creator," to the end of the verse.