The 99 Names of Allah: Al-Awwal (The First)
Discover the meaning of Al-Awwal, the 73rd Name of Allah. Learn about Allah's uncreated priority, why He existed before time itself, and how to put Him first in all affairs.
The Holy Quran Team
Author
The 99 Names of Allah: Al-Awwal (The First)
Think back in time as far as your mind can go.
Go past your childhood, past your grandparents, past the founding of ancient human civilizations, past the formation of Earth, past the birth of stars, and past the very beginning of the physical universe billions of years ago.
What was there before the universe? What was there before space, matter, energy, and time itself were created?
Human physics hits a wall at the Big Bang, calling the state before it a "singularity" or unknown void. Science cannot explain what initiated existence itself.
The seventy-third Beautiful Name of Allah — Al-Awwal (The First, The Beginningless, The Pre-Existent, The Alpha) — gives the ultimate, eternal answer.
Al-Awwal is the One who existed before all creation, before time, space, atoms, or light. His existence has no beginning, no origin, and no preceding cause. He is the absolute First from whom all existence originated.
1. The Linguistic Roots of Al-Awwal
Al-Awwal (الأَوَّلُ) comes from the Arabic root A-W-L (أ-و-ل), which carries primary meanings of precedence, coming first, being the origin, returning to the source, and having no predecessor.
From this root:
- Awwal (أَوَّل) = First, primary, initial, front
- Awl (أَوْل) = Returning to the original source or foundation
- Ta'wil (تَأْوِيل) = Interpretation or returning a text to its original meaning
- Awwaliyyah (أَوَّلِيَّة) = Priority, precedence, foundational principle
- Al-Awwal = The First — whose existence has no beginning (la bidayata li-wujudih), who precedes all things, and to whom all origins trace back
In classical Arabic, when something is the first link in a chain that sets everything else in motion, it is called Awwal. Al-Awwal is the Uncaused Cause, the Uncreated Creator.
2. The Four Quads of Surah Al-Hadid
The primary Quranic anchor for Al-Awwal appears in one of the most profound, intellectually sublime verses in divine revelation — Verse 3 of Surah Al-Hadid:
"He is the First (Al-Awwal) and the Last (Al-Akhir), the Manifest (Az-Zahir) and the Hidden (Al-Batin), and He is, of all things, Knowing." (Quran 57:3)
These four names form two perfect, complementary pairs that encompass all dimensions of time and space:
- Al-Awwal & Al-Akhir (Time): He is before all time (Al-Awwal - no beginning) and remains after all time (Al-Akhir - no end).
- Az-Zahir & Al-Batin (Space/Reality): He is above all creation in His evident signs (Az-Zahir - no height above Him) and closer than your jugular vein in His intimate awareness (Al-Batin - no depth hidden from Him).
Together, these four names encompass the total reality of God's relationship to time and space.
3. The Prophetic Explanation of Al-Awwal
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ went to sleep or prayed during Tahajjud, he would recite a famous, authentic supplication that directly explains Al-Awwal:
"Allahumma Antal-Awwalu fa-laysa qablaka shay'..."
"O Allah! You are the First (Al-Awwal), and there is nothing before You! You are the Last (Al-Akhir), and there is nothing after You! You are the Manifest (Az-Zahir), and there is nothing above You! You are the Hidden (Al-Batin), and there is nothing beyond You!" (Sahih Muslim)
Notice the Prophet's definition: "There is nothing before You!" (fa-laysa qablaka shay').
This single sentence cures all philosophical paradoxes about the origin of God. If someone asks: "Who created God?", the answer is: God is Al-Awwal. By definition, the First has nothing before Him. He is the uncreated Creator.
Before the throne was built, before angels were formed, before galaxies spun — there was only Al-Awwal.
As the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Allah existed when there was nothing else besides Him, and His Throne was upon the water." (Sahih al-Bukhari)
4. How Al-Awwal Transforms Your Priorities
Understanding Al-Awwal is not just an abstract philosophy — it is a practical blueprint for organizing your daily life:
A. Putting Allah First (Taqdim Allah)
If Allah is Al-Awwal in the universe, He must be Al-Awwal (Number 1) in your heart, schedule, and decisions.
- When the Adhan sounds for prayer → Put Al-Awwal first before your work, TV, or sleep.
- When making a career or financial decision → Put Al-Awwal's approval ahead of human profit.
- When starting your morning → Give your first conscious thoughts and words to Al-Awwal through Remembrance (Dhikr).
When you put Al-Awwal first in your life, He puts your success, peace, and safety first in the universe!
B. Every Good Deed Starts with His Favor
When you pray, give charity, or do a good deed, you might feel proud of your effort. But Al-Awwal reminds you:
- Who gave you the health to pray? Al-Awwal.
- Who placed the desire for good in your heart? Al-Awwal.
- Who provided the wealth you gave in charity? Al-Awwal.
He was Al-Awwal in granting you the ability to do good long before you performed the deed. Your good deeds are simply a response to His initial grace.
5. Lessons for Every Age
For children: When you line up for school or a game, someone has to be at the very front of the line. Allah Al-Awwal is at the very front of everything in the universe! He was there before anything else was made. So always make Him number one in your heart!
For teenagers: Social media and culture tell you to put yourself first ("Me First"). But self-centeredness leads to anxiety and loneliness. Put Al-Awwal first. When your morning begins with prayer and your choices honor Allah first, your whole day gets blessed.
For adults: Don't let your daily routine be dominated by worldly urgencies while Allah gets whatever leftover time you have at night. Make Al-Awwal the anchor of your daily schedule. Schedule your work around your Salah, not your Salah around your work.
For the elderly: You have seen many "firsts" in your life — your first job, first home, first child. Now, as you approach the end of your earthly life, reflect on Al-Awwal. You are returning to the original Source of all love, beauty, and existence.
6. How to Live with Al-Awwal Daily
- Start Every Task with "Bismillah": Saying Bismillah (In the Name of Allah) before eating, driving, working, or studying acknowledges Al-Awwal at the initiation of every action.
- Give Allah Your First & Best Energy: Pray your Salah at the beginning of its prescribed time (Awwal al-Waqt), rather than delaying it to the last minute.
- Make Allah Your First Thought in Distresses: When trouble hits, make du'a to Al-Awwal FIRST before calling friends or venting on social media.
- Recite the Prophetic Bedtime Du'a:
"Allahumma Antal-Awwalu fa-laysa qablaka shay'..." (O Allah, You are the First and there is nothing before You...) (Sahih Muslim)
Key Takeaways Summary
- Name Meaning: Al-Awwal — The First, Beginningless, Pre-Existent One who existed before all creation, time, space, and matter without predecessor or cause.
- Quran 57:3: Paired with Al-Akhir, Az-Zahir, and Al-Batin to encompass all dimensions of time, space, and reality.
- Prophetic Definition: "You are the First, and there is nothing before You" (Sahih Muslim) — solving all philosophical questions about origin.
- Primary Priority: Because Allah is Al-Awwal in existence, He must be Al-Awwal in your heart, daily schedule, and moral decisions.
- Mindset Shift: You didn't initiate your good deeds on your own — Al-Awwal gave you the health, desire, and guidance first. Give Him all the credit.