What does “Ism-i A‘zam” mean?

Ism-i A‘zam literally means “the Greatest Name.” As a term, it is used for certain names among the most beautiful names of Allah (c.c.). Some Islamic scholars have held that all of Allah’s names are equal in virtue and superiority, while others, considering certain hadiths, have believed that some names are greater and more virtuous than others.

In some hadiths of the Prophet (s.a.s.), Ism-i A‘zam is mentioned, and it is stated that if a supplication is made with this name, the prayer will certainly be accepted. (see Tirmizî, Da‘awât, 64-65, 100 [3475-3476, 3544]; Abû Dâwûd, Salât (Du‘ā), 356 [1493]) However, it is not possible to definitively determine which of Allah’s names is the Greatest Name. This is because in some of these hadiths, the name “Allah” is mentioned as the Greatest Name, while in others, names such as “Rahmān, Rahīm” (the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate), “Hayy Qayyūm” (the Ever-Living, the Sustainer), and “Dhū’l-jalāl wa’l-ikrām” (the Lord of Majesty and Generosity) are identified as Allah’s Greatest Name.

One related hadith is as follows: “The Messenger of Allah (s.a.s.) heard a man supplicating: ‘O Allah, I ask You by virtue of these matters I testify to: You are Allah, there is no deity but You, You are One, the Self-Sufficient (in need of nothing, while all are in need of You), You have not begotten, nor were You begotten, and there is none like You.’” Upon this, the Prophet (s.a.s.) said: “By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, this man has asked Allah by His Ism-i A‘zam. Know that whoever supplicates with the Ism-i A‘zam, Allah will answer him, and whoever asks by it, (Allah will surely) grant him what he asks.” (Tirmizî, Da‘awât, 64 [3475]) Another hadith translation is as follows: “A man supplicated: ‘O Allah, all praise is due to You, You are the Bestower of blessings, there is no deity but You. You are the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of Majesty and Generosity, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer. I ask You by making these names my intercessors!’ (Upon hearing this supplication) the Messenger of Allah (s.a.s.) asked: ‘Do you know by what this man is supplicating?’ They replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ The Messenger of Allah continued: ‘By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, he has supplicated to Allah by His Ism-i A‘zam. That Ism-i A‘zam which, if supplicated with, Allah answers, and if asked by it, He grants.’ (Nesâî, Sahw, 58 [1300]; see Abû Dâwûd, Salât, 356 [1495])

Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu