الودود

AL-WADUD

The Most Loving, the Most Beloved

Meaning and Explanation

Al-Wadud comes from the root for love/affection in an intensive form and is read in two directions: that God loves His sincere servants and their good deeds, and that He is most deserving of love from hearts that truly come to know Him. This name reminds us that the Islamic conception of God rests not only on awe and fear but also on love and closeness — this dimension is especially prominent in the context of repentance (Hud 11:90).

Traditional Note — Abjad Value

This name's abjad (letter numerical value) calculation is 20.

Letter-by-letter abjad calculation (root "ودود"): و (6) + د (4) + و (6) + د (4) = 20. Some low-quality web sources mistakenly list this as "400" — a concrete example of poor source discipline; we use the letter-by-letter verified value here.

Quranic Usage and Related Verses

11:90

"Seek forgiveness from your Lord and turn to Him in repentance; my Lord is Merciful and Loving (Wadud)" — in the context of repentance.

85:14

"He is the Forgiving, the Loving (Wadud)" — paired with forgiveness in Surah Al-Buruj.

Dhikr Counter

Historical abjad value: 20.

0 / 33

Specific counts, days, or times are not religious obligations or guarantees of outcomes. Dhikr and abjad methodology

Remembrance and Reflection

Some sources describe reciting Al-Wadud while seeking closeness and affection with God as a traditional practice; no specific count (including 20) carries a religious obligation in this context.

Understanding This Name

Love joined with forgiveness and mercy

Al-Wadud occurs in Hud 11:90 after a call to seek forgiveness and repent, where God is described as merciful and loving. In Al-Buruj 85:14 the name stands beside forgiveness again. The pairing prevents divine love from becoming sentimental approval of every act. It opens a relationship of return in which wrongdoing is named, mercy is sought, and the person changes course. Love and accountability are not rivals in these passages.

A model that does not excuse possession

Human response to Al-Wadud includes care that seeks another person's good rather than control. Jealous surveillance, coercion, and refusal to respect boundaries are not signs of sacred love. A person can express affection, keep commitments, and repair harm while accepting that another human being is not property. The name should never be sold as a method that forces a particular person to return or fall in love.

Other Names

Ar-Rahim As-Salam

Frequently Asked Questions

Will reciting Al-Wadud make a specific person love me?

No such result can be guaranteed. Dhikr is worship; another person's consent and freedom cannot be replaced by a devotional formula.

Sources

Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Kur'an Yolu Tafsir (Hûd 11:90, Burûc 85:14) (in Turkish)
TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, entry "Vedûd" (in Turkish)
Al-Ghazali, al-Maqsad al-Asna fi Sharh Asma' Allah al-Husna, chapter on El-Vedûd
English Translation — Noor International Center (v1.1.2)
TDV Encyclopedia of Islam — Esmâ-i Hüsnâ — in Turkish
Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — The 99 Names of God — in Turkish

Prepared by: Kadir Özbek · Updated: October 17, 2026