The Quran, the 'Word of God' (I'll explain the quotation marks later on), refers to Him using 99 different names, usually in what we call in arabic 'exaggerative tenses'. An example of this is "Ghafoor" (most forgiving) and "Raheem" (most merciful). Arabic has always been the essence of Book and the platform from which the Quran could realistically thrive and be subject to esoteric interpretation. Arabic has also always been the essence of pre-Islamic culture (yes, the Peninsula did indeed have culture at some point in history), a culture that placed great value and emphasis on articulation and mastery of the written and spoken word. As we all know the Book wasn't actually written till the Second Khalipha, it had remained in the memory of the inhabitants of the Peninsula for the interim period after Prophet Muhammad's 'wa7y' (from 'i7a2' - inspiration). The connection P. Muhammad formed with Angel Gabriel (a powerful 'package' or energy or Light) revealed the Quran at different stages and in several chunks. The connection was manifested in the spoken Arabic word.
There is therefore an unmistakable emphasis in Islamic practice on recitation- be it prayers, words, or the actual Quran. If you follow my train of though on this, uttering the 99 Names is therefore there to inspire you into a connection with God, the Light (An-Nur).
On the other hand, a fundamental tenant of Kabbalah is the revelation of the 72 Names of God. These aren't actually names, they are non-sensical sequences of Hebrew letters (3 letters to each sequence), methodologically derived from the passage in the Zohar describing Moses fleeing Egypt and parting the Red Sea. It is believed that this passage provides a mystic code to miracles, and that the 72 Names are the ultimate decryption.
Emphasis here as it has been in kabbalah is not on the spoken word, but rather on the power of Hebrew letters. The eyes are considered the true mirrors of the soul, and therefore scanning the letters imprints not only images but a certain type of energy.
As a native Arabic speaker, and as Muslim, I find this approach slightly difficult. The culture I come from is overly articulate and the language tends to be ornate and almost rhythmic. To discard all this and try to focus on meditation through sight has been a challenge. Still, I do feel the force of the Hebrew language when I actually attend Shabbat. Or maybe I'm just picking up on the energy that surrounds me there, or the actual singing (in Hebrew).
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