الْبَرُّ
Al-Barr
The Source of Goodness
What Al-Barr Means
Al-Barr is built on birr — goodness, kindness and gracious giving. The Quran gives the name once, on the tongues of the people of Paradise as they look back over their worldly lives: ‘Indeed, we used to call upon Him before. Indeed, He is Al-Barr, the Merciful’ (52:28). Scholars explain that Al-Barr is the One whose goodness reaches His servants continuously and gently: He gives before being asked, gives without being diminished, and treats His worshippers with a kindness far beyond what their deeds could earn. Notice that in the verse, this name is itself the reason the people of Paradise used to call on Him — His known goodness drew their prayers. For the believer, this name fills supplication with hope: you are not pleading with a reluctant giver; you are calling the Source of all goodness, who loves to be generous to those who turn to Him.
Al-Barr in the Quran
إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلُ نَدْعُوهُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْبَرُّ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
“We used to pray to Him before. He is surely the Most-Kind, the Very-Merciful.”
What the Prophet ﷺ Taught Us
THE FOUNDATION OF THE 99 NAMES
“Allah has ninety-nine names, i.e. one-hundred minus one, and whoever knows them will go to Paradise.”
Calling Upon Allah by This Name
Allah Himself commands us to call upon Him by His beautiful names:
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا ۖ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِىٓ أَسْمَـٰٓئِهِۦ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
“For Allah there are the most beautiful names. So, call Him by them, and leave those who deviate in (the matter of) His names. They shall be recompensed for what they have been doing.”
The people of Paradise testify that calling on Al-Barr was their habit in the world and is their joy in the next (52:28). Make it yours: in your own words say, ‘Ya Barr — O Source of all goodness — pour on me from Your kindness what my deeds could never earn, and shield me, by Your grace, from the punishment of the Fire.’ Ask largely; His goodness is not measured by your record.
Quran translations: Mufti Taqi Usmani. Hadith texts and gradings: the DeenHub hadith library. Every reference on this page is from the Quran or from hadith graded Sahih or Hasan.