الجليل
AL-JALIL
The Majestic, exalted in awe-inspiring greatness
Meaning and Explanation
Al-Jalil requires a visible source distinction. The independent form Al-Jalil belongs to the widely circulated enumeration, while the Quran uses the same j-l-l root in the compound Dhu al-Jalali wa al-Ikram. Ar-Rahman 55:27 says that the Face of the Lord, Possessor of Majesty and Honour, remains; 55:78 blesses the name of the Lord, Possessor of Majesty and Honour. These verses support the field of jalal, but they do not contain the separate definite form Al-Jalil. Majesty here is not social prestige enlarged to infinity. Human displays of grandeur depend on architecture, clothing, ceremony, wealth, and audiences. Divine jalal is not staged and does not answer insecurity. The Quranic compound also places majesty beside ikram—honour, generosity, and gracious giving. Keeping the two together prevents awe from being taught as terror without hope or generosity without reverence. Its distinctive centre is the Quranic compound and the devotional balance between reverence and hope, separate from Al-Kabir, Al-Azim, or Al-Mutakabbir. Sacred language is not a prop for making a speaker impressive. The more seriously a person receives jalal, the less casually they should use Allah's name to market themselves, frighten vulnerable people, or claim unquestionable status. Reverence also affects attention. It resists turning worship into background noise while remaining humane toward distraction, disability, exhaustion, and different capacities. A believer can cultivate careful speech, unhurried prayer, and respect for sacred texts without policing others through humiliation. Awe before Allah should lower the appetite to be feared by people. Because the exact-name status is derivative in this project, editorial honesty is part of the worshipful response. This page states clearly what the verses contain, what the traditional list contains, and where interpretation begins.
Arabic root: j-l-l (ج ل ل), carrying majesty, greatness, and exalted dignity.
This Name in the Quran
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Dhikr Tradition
Reflection on Al-Jalil should join reverence with hope and generosity. It must not cultivate prestige, intimidation, or the belief that a religious leader may demand fear or unquestioning obedience.
Remembrance (dhikr) through the beautiful names is a foundational act of worship in Islam. However, reciting a name a specific number of times (based on its abjad value) or at a specific day/time carries no religious obligation, and scholars are not unanimous on this point — some accept it as a traditional practice, others hold it has no basis in the primary sources. The information on this page does not constitute religious ruling.
Other Names
Sources
- Tanzil Project — Uthmani Mushaf
- Gazzâlî, el-Maksadü'l-Esnâ fî Şerhi Esmâillâhi'l-Hüsnâ
- Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu, "Allah'ın 99 ismi hakkında bilgi verir misiniz?"
Prepared by: Kadir Özbek