Name 16 of 99
الْوَهَّابُ
Al-Wahhab – The Bestower, the Giver of gifts
- Transliteration
- Al-Wahhab
- Meaning
- The Bestower, the Giver of gifts
- Arabic root
- و ه ب
- Theme
- Provision and generosity
Meaning of Al-Wahhab
Al-Wahhab is the One who gives freely and abundantly, without expecting anything in return. A hiba is a gift given without compensation. In the Quran, believers call on Allah by this name when asking for hearts kept firm on guidance (3:8), and the Prophet Sulayman used it when asking for a kingdom (38:35).
Al-Wahhab in the Quran
Al-Wahhab appears in the Quran as a name or description of Allah. Two of the verses where it occurs:
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ
Our Lord! Cause not our hearts to stray after Thou hast guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from Thy Presence. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Bestower.
قَالَ رَبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَهَبْ لِى مُلْكًۭا لَّا يَنۢبَغِى لِأَحَدٍۢ مِّنۢ بَعْدِىٓ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ
He said: My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such as shall not belong to any after me. Lo! Thou art the Bestower.
Reflection
Asking Al-Wahhab for good things, small and large, is itself an act of worship.
Related names: provision and generosity
Frequently asked questions
What does Al-Wahhab mean?
Al-Wahhab (الْوَهَّابُ) means "The Bestower, the Giver of gifts". Al-Wahhab is the One who gives freely and abundantly, without expecting anything in return. A hiba is a gift given without compensation. In the Quran, believers call on Allah by this name when asking for hearts kept firm on guidance (3:8), and the Prophet Sulayman used it when asking for a kingdom (38:35).
Is Al-Wahhab mentioned in the Quran?
Yes. Al-Wahhab is mentioned as a name or description of Allah in Surah Ali 'Imran 3:8 and Surah Sad 38:35.
The list of 99 names follows the order of the narration in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3507, without the name “Allah”, and adds Al-Ahad from Sunan Ibn Majah 3861. The hadith that Allah has ninety-nine names is in Sahih al-Bukhari 2736 and Sahih Muslim 2677. Quran text: Tanzil (Uthmani); translation: Marmaduke Pickthall (1930, public domain).