99 Names of Allah

An-Nur, the Light.

Name 93 of the 99 Names of Allah. See its root and meaning, the verse where it appears, and how to use it in your dua.

Name 93 of 99

النُّوْرُ

An-Nūr

The Light

Root ن و ر n-w-r

A recording of this Name is coming: our reciter is recording the Names we do not have yet.

Meaning

An-Nur explained.

An-Nur (النُّوْرُ) means The Light. It is name 93 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. An-Nūr is the Light of the heavens and the earth. He gives physical light, and the light of guidance in the hearts of believers.

The root and its meaning

An-Nur comes from the Arabic root ن و ر (n-w-r), which carries the sense of light.

Where it is in the Quran

Surah An-Nur is named after the verse of light, 24:35.

Surah An-Noor 24:35

۞ ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشْكَوٰةٍۢ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ ٱلْمِصْبَاحُ فِى زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌۭ دُرِّىٌّۭ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍۢ مُّبَٰرَكَةٍۢ زَيْتُونَةٍۢ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍۢ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍۢ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِىٓءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌۭ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍۢ ۗ يَهْدِى ٱللَّهُ لِنُورِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَٰلَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۭ

Allaahu noorus samaawaati wal ard; masalu noorihee kamishkaatin feehaa misbaah; almisbaahu fee zujaajatin azzujaajatu ka annahaa kawkabun durriyyuny yooqadu min shajaratim mubaarakatin zaitoonatil laa shariqiyyatinw wa laa gharbiyyatiny yakaadu zaituhaa yudeee'u wa law alm tamsashu naar; noorun 'alaa noor; yahdil laahu linoorihee mai yashaaa'; wa yadribul laahul amsaala linnaas; wallaahu bikulli shai'in Aleem

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.

Quran 24:35. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.

Calling on Allah by this Name

Allah says: "And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them" (7:180). Begin your dua with يَا نُوْرُ (Yā Nūr) and ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "Yā Nūr, fill my heart and my grave with light."

"O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my sight, light in my hearing, light on my right and on my left, light above me and below me, light in front of me and behind me, and make me light."

Sahih al-Bukhari 6316; Sahih Muslim 763
  1. Quran 24:35, translation by Sahih International.
  2. Sahih al-Bukhari 6316; Sahih Muslim 763.

Our teachers will check the Arabic, transliteration and meanings on this page before launch.

The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.

Questions

Good to know.

What does An-Nur mean?

An-Nur (النُّوْرُ) means The Light. An-Nūr is the Light of the heavens and the earth.

Is An-Nur in the Quran?

Surah An-Nur is named after the verse of light, 24:35.

How do I use An-Nur in dua?

Say Yā Nūr (يَا نُوْرُ) at the start of your dua, then ask for what suits the Name, for example: "Yā Nūr, fill my heart and my grave with light."

Can a child be named after An-Nur?

Yes, as Abdun-Nur, "servant of An-Nur", which is a beautiful choice. Nur on its own, without "al", is also used for people as a description, because people can have this quality in a small, limited way.