But this does not mean that there was nothing before. Al-Awwal means He was first or is the first. Tawhid & Tawakkul: The understanding and belief in the name establishes tawheed (oneness of Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ).
XĪrabic Root: From the root hamza-kha-ra (أ خ ر), which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to put back, to put behind, to be latter to postpone, to put at the end to be last, final, ultimate. The next name in this series is Az-Zahir.
NOTE: If you are reading the 99 names of Allah guide in order, then much of what's been written here is the same as Al-Awwal as these names have been explained in pairs.
