Al-Awwal and Al-Akhir: Allah is the First and the Last (UK Guide to the Divine Names)

Among the 99 names of Allah are Al-Awwal (the First) and Al-Akhir (the Last). Together they describe the eternal nature of Allah's existence: He has no beginning and no end. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught these two names paired in a single supplication that should be on every British Muslim's lips at the start and end of the day. This UK guide explains what these two names mean, the Quranic and Sunnah evidence, and how British Muslim families can use them in daily duʿaʾ.

The core Quranic verse

"He is the First (Al-Awwal) and the Last (Al-Akhir), the Apparent (Az-Zahir) and the Hidden (Al-Batin), and He has knowledge of all things." (Surah Al-Hadid 57:3)

This single ayah lists four divine names in a precise theological pattern: First and Last describe Allah's existence in time; Apparent and Hidden describe His existence in mode. Together they paint a complete picture of an eternal, all-encompassing existence that is impossible for any created thing.

What does Al-Awwal mean?

Al-Awwal (الأول) means "the First". Classical scholars (al-Bayhaqi, Ibn al-Qayyim in Madarij as-Salikin, al-Ghazali in Al-Maqsad al-Asna) explain it three ways:

• Temporally first: Allah existed before all created things. There was nothing before Him.
• Logically first: All other existence depends on His prior existence. He is the cause; everything else is effect.
• Necessarily first: Allah's existence is necessary; created existence is contingent. He could not "not have existed".

The Prophet ﷺ explained the meaning in a famous hadith: "You are the First, so there is nothing before You." (Sahih Muslim 2713)

What does Al-Akhir mean?

Al-Akhir (الآخر) means "the Last". Classical theologians explain:

• Temporally last: When all creation has perished, Allah remains.
• Logically last: Everything returns to Him. He is the destination of all matters.
• Permanently last: No future state can ever supersede Him.

The Prophet's ﷺ continuation of the same hadith: "You are the Last, so there is nothing after You." (Sahih Muslim 2713)

The full Prophetic supplication

Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ taught Fatimah (RA) and Ali (RA) this supplication for moments of fatigue:

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، رَبَّنَا وَرَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَالِقَ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَى، وَمُنْزِلَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالْفُرْقَانِ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهِ. اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْأَوَّلُ فَلَيْسَ قَبْلَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْآخِرُ فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ فَلَيْسَ دُونَكَ شَيْءٌ. اقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ وَأَغْنِنَا مِنَ الْفَقْرِ

Translation: "O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the great Throne, our Lord and the Lord of everything, the Splitter of the seed and the kernel, the Revealer of the Tawrat (Torah), the Injil (Gospel), and the Furqan (Quran), I seek refuge with You from the evil of every creature whose forelock is in Your hand. O Allah, You are the First, so there is nothing before You. You are the Last, so there is nothing after You. You are the Apparent, so there is nothing above You. You are the Hidden, so there is nothing beneath You. Settle our debt for us and enrich us from poverty." (Sahih Muslim 2713)

Why these names matter for British Muslim families

1. Comfort in change

UK life is full of change — jobs, schools, postcodes, friendships, even mosques shift over the years. The names Al-Awwal and Al-Akhir remind us that the One we are calling on was here before all of this and will be here after. Stability in our lives comes from the relationship with Allah, not from our changing circumstances.

2. Perspective on the dunya

Surah Al-Qasas 28:88 says: "Everything will perish except His Face." The names Al-Awwal and Al-Akhir reinforce this perspective. Every shiny worldly thing — the new car, the bigger house, the social media validation — was not there before Allah brought it and will not be there after Allah takes it. Only Allah remains, and only what we did for His sake remains with Him.

3. Healing in grief

When a British Muslim family loses a parent, child, or close friend, sitting with the names Al-Awwal and Al-Akhir is healing. The deceased has gone to the Lord of all firsts and lasts. Their relationship with Allah continues. Yours does too. Death is not the final word; Allah is.

Five practical British Muslim applications

1. Recite the Prophetic supplication before sleep. Aisha (RA) reported the Prophet ﷺ saying it in the last third of the night. UK Muslim families with younger children might say a shortened form before bedtime.
2. Use the names in moments of stress. "Ya Awwal, Ya Akhir, You who were before all my problems and will be after them — settle this for me."
3. Teach children the meaning, not just the words. Explain in simple English: "Allah was before everything. He'll be after everything. He's the First. He's the Last."
4. Memorise the full Surah Al-Hadid 57:3. Eight Arabic words, four divine names — one of the most theologically dense ayahs in the Quran.
5. Connect to other divine names. Al-Awwal and Al-Akhir relate closely to Al-Baqi (the Everlasting), Al-Qayyum (the Self-Subsisting), and As-Samad (the Eternal Refuge). Studying them as a group deepens understanding.

How Eaalim teachers help build British Muslim children's aqeedah through the divine names

Eaalim's one-to-one online lessons integrate the divine names into Quran study. When teaching Surah Al-Hadid, the teacher walks the child through the four names of ayah 3 with simple English explanations. Lessons are 30 minutes (15-20 for under-7s), GMT/BST, in pounds, free real trial. Start here.

Frequently asked questions