The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved of your names to Allah are ʿAbd Allah and ʿAbd al-Rahman” (Muslim 2132), and scholars add to them all names formed on a name of Allah. The name al-Nur occurs once in the Quran; its page in the 99 Names section gives its meaning and verse.
ʿAbd al-Nur joins ʿabd with al-Nur, from the root n-w-r of light: the One who illuminates the heavens and the earth and guides hearts. The Quran: “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth” (24:35). The name is very common in Algeria (Abdennour).
Allāh 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. Allāh guides to His light whom He wills. And Allāh presents examples for the people, and Allāh is Knowing of all things.
