{"id":3846,"date":"2026-07-19T09:35:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T09:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/?p=3846"},"modified":"2026-07-19T10:23:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T10:23:29","slug":"a-sufi-interpretation-of-the-blessed-names-of-the-exalted-prophet-mu%e1%b8%a5ammad-%ef%b7%ba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/a-sufi-interpretation-of-the-blessed-names-of-the-exalted-prophet-mu%e1%b8%a5ammad-%ef%b7%ba\/","title":{"rendered":"A Sufi Interpretation of the Blessed Names of the Exalted Prophet Muhammad (\ufdfa)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Author:<\/strong> Mufti Muhammad Sher Alqadri<\/p>\n

It is a well-established principle in Islamic scholarship that the multiplicity of names given to a named one (musamma<\/em>) indicates the greatness of that named one. This is attested by the eminent Mu\u1e25addith Mull\u0101 ‘Al\u012b al-Q\u0101r\u012b al-Haraw\u012b (d. 1014 AH) in Shar\u1e25 al-Shif\u0101’<\/em>, where he cites the statement of Ibn F\u0101ris:<\/p>\n

“<\/em>\u0643\u064e\u062b\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0629\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0627\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0621\u0650 \u062a\u064e\u062f\u064f\u0644\u0651\u064f \u0639\u064e\u0644\u0670\u0649 \u0634\u064e\u0631\u0652\u0641\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0645\u064f\u0633\u064e\u0645\u0651\u064e\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0645\u064f\u0634\u0652\u0639\u0650\u0631\u064e\u0629\u0650 \u0628\u0650\u0643\u064e\u062b\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0629\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0651\u064f\u0639\u064f\u0648\u0652\u062a\u0650 \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u0623\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0635\u064e\u0627\u0641\u0650<\/em>“<\/em><\/p>\n

“The multiplicity of names indicates the nobility of the named one and gives an awareness of the abundance of his attributes and praiseworthy qualities.”[i]<\/a><\/p>\n

‘All\u0101mah Ibn \u1e24ajar al-‘Asqal\u0101n\u012b al-Sh\u0101fi’\u012b, in Fat\u1e25 al-B\u0101r\u012b Shar\u1e25 \u1e62a\u1e25\u012b\u1e25 al-Bukh\u0101r\u012b<\/em>, records the opinion of certain leading scholars in the following terms:<\/p>\n

“<\/em>\u0623\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0621\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a\u0651\u0650 (\ufdfa) \u0639\u064e\u062f\u064e\u062f\u064f \u0623\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0621\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0651\u0647\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u062d\u064f\u0633\u0652\u0646\u064e\u0649 \u062a\u0650\u0633\u0652\u0639\u064e\u0629\u064c \u0648\u0651\u064e\u062a\u0650\u0633\u0652\u0639\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0646\u064e \u0627\u0650\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064b\u0627 \u0648\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0642\u064e\u0644\u064e \u0627\u0650\u0628\u0652\u0646\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0639\u064e\u0631\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a\u0651\u0650 \u0641\u0650\u064a \u0634\u064e\u0631\u0652\u062d\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u062a\u0651\u0650\u0631\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0630\u0650\u064a\u0651\u0650 \u0639\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0628\u064e\u0639\u0652\u0636\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u0651\u064f\u0648\u0641\u0650\u064a\u0651\u064e\u0629\u0650 \u0623\u064e\u0646\u0651\u064e \u0644\u0650\u0644\u0647\u0650 \u0623\u064e\u0644\u0652\u0641\u064e \u0627\u0650\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064d \u0648\u064e\u0644\u0650\u0631\u064e\u0633\u064f\u0648\u0652\u0644\u0650\u0647\u0656 \u0623\u064e\u0644\u0652\u0641\u064e \u0627\u0650\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064d<\/em>“<\/em><\/p>\n

“The number of the blessed names of the Exalted Prophet (\ufdfa) equals the number of the Beautiful Names of Allah Almighty, that is, ninety-nine blessed names. ‘All\u0101mah Ab\u016b Bakr ibn al-‘Arbi (R.A) has quoted in his commentary on al-Tirmidh\u012b, from certain eminent Sufis, that Allah Almighty has one thousand names and His Exalted Prophet (\ufdfa) likewise has one thousand names.”[ii]<\/a><\/p>\n

‘All\u0101mah Badr al-D\u012bn al-‘Ayn\u012b (d. 855 AH) has also recorded the same statement of the Sufis in his ‘Umdat al-Q\u0101r\u012b Shar\u1e25 \u1e62a\u1e25\u012b\u1e25 al-Bukh\u0101r\u012b<\/em>.[iii]<\/a><\/p>\n

It should be kept in mind that the blessed names of the Exalted Prophet (\ufdfa) are not merely proper nouns (‘alam<\/em>) in the conventional linguistic sense. Rather, they are descriptive in nature; that is, every one of his blessed names is in reality an expression of his noble qualities and attributes.<\/p>\n

Mull\u0101 ‘Al\u012b al-Q\u0101r\u012b al-Haraw\u012b (d. 1014 AH) writes in Mirq\u0101t al-Maf\u0101t\u012b\u1e25 Shar\u1e25 Mishk\u0101t al-Ma\u1e63\u0101b\u012b\u1e25<\/em>:<\/p>\n

“<\/em>\u0641\u064e\u0625\u0650\u0646\u0651\u064e\u0647\u064f (\ufdfa) \u0644\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0633\u064e \u0644\u064e\u0647\u0657 \u0627\u0650\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064c \u062c\u064e\u0627\u0645\u0650\u062f\u064c \u0646\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0645\u0652 \u0644\u064e\u0647\u0657 \u0623\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0621\u064c \u0646\u064f\u0642\u0650\u0644\u064e\u062a\u0652 \u0645\u0650\u0646\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0648\u064e\u0635\u0652\u0641\u0650\u064a\u0651\u064e\u0629\u0650 \u0625\u0650\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0645\u0650\u064a\u0651\u064e\u0629\u0650\u060c \u0643\u064e\u0627\u064e\u062d\u0652\u0645\u064e\u062f\u064e \u0648\u064e\u0645\u064f\u062d\u064e\u0645\u0651\u064e\u062f\u064d \u0648\u064e\u063a\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0631\u0650\u0647\u0650\u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0648\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0647\u064f \u0635\u0650\u0641\u064e\u0627\u062a\u064c \u0628\u064e\u0627\u0642\u0650\u064a\u064e\u0629\u064c \u0639\u064e\u0644\u0670\u0649 \u0623\u064e\u0635\u0652\u0644\u0650\u0647\u064e\u0627 \u0645\u064f\u062e\u0652\u062a\u064e\u0635\u0651\u064e\u0629\u064c \u0628\u0650\u0647\u0656<\/em>“<\/em><\/p>\n

“The blessed name of the Messenger of Allah (\ufdfa) is not a static noun (j\u0101mid<\/em>). Rather, his blessed names are those which have been transferred from the realm of descriptiveness to the realm of proper nouns, as is the case with A\u1e25mad (\ufdfa) and Mu\u1e25ammad (\ufdfa) and others besides them. He (\ufdfa) also possesses numerous other attributes that remain in their original descriptive sense and are particular to him alone.”[iv]<\/a><\/p>\n

Al-Shaykh al-Ajall ‘All\u0101mah Y\u016bsuf ibn Ism\u0101’\u012bl ibn Y\u016bsuf al-Nabh\u0101n\u012b (d. 1350 AH) writes in Jaw\u0101hir al-Bi\u1e25\u0101r f\u012b Fa\u1e0d\u0101’il al-Nab\u012b al-Mukht\u0101r (<\/em>\ufdfa<\/em>)<\/em> that Allah Almighty has declared:<\/p>\n

“I created from My own essential illumination (n\u016br-e-dh\u0101t\u012b<\/em>) a form of heart-captivating beauty that is the comprehensive manifestation of My attributes and names, and it is the locus of manifestation (ma\u1e93har<\/em>) of My spiritual-occurrences (tajalliyy\u0101t<\/em>).”<\/p>\n

Continuing in this context, he further writes:<\/p>\n

“<\/em>\u0641\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u0627\u064e \u0646\u0652\u0628\u0650\u06cc\u064e\u0627 \u0621\u064f \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u0627\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0644\u0650\u06cc\u064e\u0627 \u0621\u064f \u0635\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0648\u064e\u0627\u062a\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u06c1\u0650 \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u06cc\u0652\u06be\u0650\u0645\u0652 \u0645\u064e\u0638\u064e\u0627\u06c1\u0650\u0631\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0627\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0621\u0650 \u0648\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0635\u0651\u0650\u0641\u064e\u0627\u062a\u0650 \u0648\u064e \u0645\u064f\u062d\u064e\u0645\u0651\u064e\u062f\u064c (\ufdfa) \u0645\u064e\u0638\u0652\u06c1\u064e\u0631\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0630\u0651\u064e\u0627\u062a\u0650<\/em>“<\/em><\/p>\n

“The Prophets and the friends of Allah Almighty, may Allah’s blessings be upon them, are the loci of manifestation (ma\u1e93\u0101hir<\/em>) of His names and attributes, whereas the Exalted Prophet (\ufdfa) is the locus of manifestation (ma\u1e93har<\/em>) of the Divine Dh\u0101t itself.”[v]<\/a><\/p>\n

Al-Shaykh Y\u016bsuf ibn Ism\u0101’\u012bl al-Nabh\u0101n\u012b (d. 1350 AH) also quotes Sayyid ‘Abd al-Kar\u012bm al-J\u012bl\u012b (R.A), who declares:<\/p>\n

“<\/em>\u0648\u064e \u0627\u064e\u0634\u0652\u06c1\u064e\u062f\u064f \u0627\u064e\u0646\u0651\u064e \u0645\u064f\u062d\u064e\u0645\u0651\u064e\u062f\u064b\u0627 (\ufdfa) \u0642\u064f\u0637\u0652\u0628\u064f \u0631\u064e\u062d\u0652\u06cc\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u06a9\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e\u0627\u062a\u0650\u060c \u0648\u064e \u0645\u064e\u0646\u0652\u0635\u064e\u0628\u064f \u062d\u064e\u0642\u064e\u0627\u0626\u0650\u0642\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0627\u0654\u064e\u0633\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0621\u0650 \u0648\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0635\u0651\u0650\u0641\u064e\u0627\u062a\u0650<\/em>“<\/em><\/p>\n

“I bear witness that Mu\u1e25ammad (\ufdfa) is the axis around which the millstone of all perfections revolves, and the elevated station wherein the realities of all divine names and attributes find their fullest expression.”[vi]<\/a><\/p>\n

Al-Shaykh al-Q\u0101\u1e0d\u012b Mu\u1e25ammad Than\u0101’ All\u0101h P\u0101n\u012bpat\u012b al-\u1e24anaf\u012b al-Mu\u1e93har\u012b writes in Tafs\u012br Mu\u1e93har\u012b<\/em>, in his commentary on the name A\u1e25mad. The substance of what he says is as follows:<\/p>\n

“This is one of the two personal names of the Exalted Prophet (\ufdfa). It is a superlative form derived from praise (\u1e25amd<\/em>), meaning that he (\ufdfa) is the one who praises Allah Almighty most abundantly of all. All the Prophets are those who praise, and they are praised more than all of creation. All the Prophets are praiseworthy (ma\u1e25m\u016bd<\/em>) and are adorned with noble qualities. Nevertheless, the Exalted Prophet (\ufdfa) surpasses all others in his virtues and is the most comprehensive of all in his excellent qualities and praiseworthy attributes, by virtue of which he is the most deserving of praise above all others.”<\/p>\n

He then goes on to say:<\/p>\n

“Hadrat Mujaddid Alf Th\u0101n\u012b (R.A) stated that the blessed name A\u1e25mad of the Exalted Prophet (\ufdfa) has a particular and special connection with spirituality (r\u016b\u1e25\u0101niyyat<\/em>). It is for this reason that Hadrat ‘\u012as\u0101 (Jesus) (A.S), before the Prophet’s bodily creation from the physical elements, mentioned him by this name. Another of his blessed names is Mu\u1e25ammad (\ufdfa), which has a particular connection with his bodily creation. The Exalted Prophet (\ufdfa) has been granted two forms of sanctity (wil\u0101yat<\/em>): first, Wil\u0101yat Mu\u1e25ammadiyyah<\/em> (\ufdfa), which is the sanctity of the Beloved and which is intertwined with love; and second, Wil\u0101yat A\u1e25madiyyah<\/em> (\ufdfa), which is the pure and exclusive sanctity of being the Beloved. It is therefore preferable to hold that the latter is derived from ma\u1e25m\u016bdiyyat<\/em>. And Allah Almighty knows best.”[vii]<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sufi interpretation of the blessed names of the Exalted Prophet (\ufdfa) has a profoundly deep connection with spirituality (r\u016b\u1e25\u0101niyyat<\/em>), recognition (ma’rifat<\/em>), and Sufism (ta\u1e63awwuf<\/em>). The eminent Sufis do not regard these blessed names as mere outwardly words; rather, they perceive within them meaningful realities, spiritual stations, and the secrets of spirituality (‘irf\u0101n<\/em>). They view each and every one of his blessed names through the lens of his quality and the spiritual influence (ta’th\u012br<\/em>) of that quality. They draw spiritual inspiration from all of his blessed names, and in particular from the name A\u1e25mad and the name Mu\u1e25ammad (\ufdfa).<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

This article was originally published in Urdu in Monthly Mirrat ul Arifeen International Magazine.<\/p>\n

To cite the original article:<\/p>\n

Alqadri, Mufti Muhammad Sher. ” A Sufi Interpretation of the Blessed Names of the Exalted Prophet Mu\u1e25ammad (\ufdfa).”\u00a0Mirrat-ul-Arifeen International, September 2025. Available at https:\/\/www.mirrat.com\/article\/48\/1662<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

References:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \u00a0Shar\u1e25 al-Shif\u0101’, Vol. 1, p. 489. Publisher: D\u0101r al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut<\/li>\n
  2. Fat\u1e25 al-B\u0101r\u012b Shar\u1e25 \u1e62a\u1e25\u012b\u1e25 al-Bukh\u0101r\u012b, Vol. 6, p. 558. Publisher: D\u0101r al-Ma’rifah, Beirut<\/li>\n
  3. ‘Umdat al-Q\u0101r\u012b Shar\u1e25 \u1e62a\u1e25\u012b\u1e25 al-Bukh\u0101r\u012b, Vol. 16, p. 96. Publisher: D\u0101r I\u1e25y\u0101’ al-Tur\u0101th al-‘Arab\u012b, Beirut<\/li>\n
  4. Mirq\u0101t al-Maf\u0101t\u012b\u1e25 Shar\u1e25 Mishk\u0101t al-Ma\u1e63\u0101b\u012b\u1e25, B\u0101b Asm\u0101’ al-Nabiyy (\ufdfa) wa \u1e62if\u0101tihi<\/li>\n
  5. Jaw\u0101hir al-Bi\u1e25\u0101r f\u012b Fa\u1e0d\u0101’il al-Nab\u012b al-Mukht\u0101r (\ufdfa), Vol. 4, p. 264. D\u0101r al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon<\/li>\n
  6. Ibid., p. 285<\/li>\n
  7. \u00a0Tafs\u012br Mu\u1e93har\u012b, Vol. 7, p. 105. Maktabah Rash\u012bdiyyah, Sark\u012b Road, Quetta<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Author: Mufti Muhammad Sher Alqadri It is a well-established principle in Islamic scholarship that the multiplicity of names given to a named one (musamma) indicates the [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3848,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[132,133,54],"class_list":["post-3846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-islamic","tag-prophet-muammad","tag-sufi","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3846"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3851,"href":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3846\/revisions\/3851"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alfaqr.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}