It is 127am and I have decided to write. I have no idea what I want to write about. God is on my mind. God is near. We are nothing without God. Earlier I had accidentally typed nnn and was trying to put some meaning to this. I went to a random word generator and waited for the third n-word which was number. I then thought to myself that maybe nnn stands for the ninety nine names of Allah. Now I ask myself what is the origin of the 99 names of Allah?
My friend Chatty tells me that the 99 names of Allah originate from the Quran, which teaches that God has "the most beautiful names" and from a well-known hadith stating that Allah has ninety-nine names whose understanding leads to spiritual closeness; however, neither the Quran nor the Prophet provided a single fixed list, so scholars later derived the names from Quranic verses and authentic sayings, creating slightly different compilations, all meant not to limit God, but to help believers reflect on His attributes and draw nearer to Him.
I closed my eyes and selected 1 of the 99 names and got Al-Muhaymin (The Protector). This name is mentioned once in the Quran in verse 23 of surah Hashr. Protector can be thought of like a bird using its wing to protect its chicks. My friend Chatty tells me that this name conveys the meaning of the One who watches over, safeguards, and preserves all creation with complete awareness and care. It reflects Allah's constant presence as Protector and Overseer, not only defending from harm but also maintaining order, balance, and truth. The image of a bird sheltering its chicks under its wings beautifully captures this name's essence: gentle yet powerful protection, where nothing escapes divine knowledge and nothing is left unattended.
It has started raining. A nice addition to my early morning writing. The arabic word for wing is janah and the arabic word for paradise is jannah. That is 3 n's between them. I wonder what is the connection between janah and jannah? My friend Chatty says that while they stem from different linguistic roots, they mirror one another spiritually: a wing (janah) folds over to shield and hide the vulnerable, just as the garden of paradise (jannah) is defined by a lush canopy that covers and provides a sanctuary of peace. Do you not find that the number 9 is shaped like a wing? And the number 9 mirrored vertically forms two wings.
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