Al-Musawwir

Al-Musawwir Details

Definition/Meaning of Al-Musawwir

Allah’s name ‘Al-Musawwir’ refers to how He is the One who created and shaped everything that exists, has existed and will exist. The meaning signals how He not just created everything but also shaped it in the most perfect and correct form for its purpose. His Wisdom is so encompassing that He knows how everything will work best and forms it that way. 

By reciting and remembering this name, Muslims get the lesson that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is without flaws and is the Shaper that creates without flaws as well. Yes, humans may think of certain creations as having flaws–a person born without limbs, for instance. Still, the belief here is that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) knows best and shapes His creations in the best way for their purpose. 

The name’s meaning also makes us reflect upon how the working of the world is so masterful that no human or imperfect deity could have carried it out. For instance, the rising and setting of the sun, the function of our bodies, and so much more. 

We also see many mentions of this attribute in the Holy Quran. Here’s one example:

وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ خَلۡقُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَٰفُ أَلۡسِنَتِكُمۡ وَأَلۡوَٰنِكُمۡۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّلۡعَٰلِمِينَ

English Translation:

"And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed, in that are signs for those of knowledge." — (Qur'an 30:22)

In another place: 

وَٱللَّهُ أَخۡرَجَكُم مِّنۢ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ شَيۡـٔٗا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ

English Translation:

"And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful." — (Qur'an 16:78)

And again: 

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ ٱلۡكَرِيمِ

ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّىٰكَ فَعَدَلَكَ

فِيٓ أَيِّ صُورَةٖ مَّا شَآءَ رَكَّبَكَ

English Translation:

"O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous, Who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you? In whatever form He willed has He assembled you." — (Qur'an 82:6-8)

These Quran examples tell us how Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has made the world perfectly, assembled our bodies perfectly, and how we should understand this perfection as a sign. They are proofs that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the Almighty and that He knows best. When we read these verses in the Holy Quran, we should think about the perfectness of each shape in nature. 

After all, many man-made inventions wouldn’t have been possible without inspiration from natural creations. Airplane construction, as well as flight patterns, have taken inspiration from the way birds fly. Look closely at a ship’s hull, and you’ll notice the similarities to the bodies of whales and dolphins. Many Muslims invoke the name ‘Al-Muswwir’ during their daily prayers. Women may want to recite this name more frequently when they’re expecting a baby and praying for its health. 

How Many Times to Read the Name

There’s only one mention of ‘Al-Musawir’ in the text of the Holy Quran, though the attribute of being the perfect Shaper is mentioned more frequently. While it can be beneficial to habitually recite this name after each prayer, there are some suggested steps that we may use with respect to this name. 

Some sources suggest that women who have frequent miscarriages or lose their children at early ages can try the following wazifa:

• Keep a fast for 7 days.
• Recite ‘Al-Musawwir, Al-Bari, Al-Khaliq’ daily 21 times when breaking your fast.
• After reciting, blow on some water (damm).
• Use the damm water to break your fast before consuming anything else.

Even while you conduct the wazifa, remember that only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) can shape a human any way He wants. When praying for healthy, flawless offspring, keep this fact in mind. The names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) with similar meanings to ‘Al-Musawwir’ are ‘Al-Bari’ and ‘Al-Khaliq’.  Together, these three names are called ‘Isme Bari,’ or the names of creation.

Each of these names reminds us of Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) power to create and invent in the most unique manner.  Of course, they all denote different nuances of Allah’s act of creation:

• First, we have the name Al-Khaliq, which denotes the act of creating something from nothing.
  ‘Al-Bari’ specifically meant the Producer, the one who brings something into existence.
• Finally, ‘Al-Musawwir’, which denotes the attribute or organizing, shaping, and perfect this creation’s arrangement.

More Mentions from the Quran & Hadith about Al-Musawwir

The singular mention of ‘Al-Musawwir’ in the Quran is: 

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ

English Translation:

"He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise." — (Qur'an 59:24)

Here are some more Quranic examples of this attribute of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى): 

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ ۚ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٦

He it is who shapes you in the wombs as He pleases. There is no god but He, the Mighty, the Wise. [Quran, 3:6]

ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا ٱلنُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْمُضْغَةَ عِظَـٰمًۭا فَكَسَوْنَا ٱلْعِظَـٰمَ لَحْمًۭا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَـٰهُ خَلْقًا ءَاخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقِينَ ١٤

Then We made the seed a clot, then We made the clot a lump of flesh, then We made (in) the lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, then We caused it to grow into another creation, so blessed be Allah, the best of the creators. [Quran, 23:14] 

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ فِىٓ أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍۢ

Indeed, We have created the human beings upon the best of forms. [Quran, 95: 4]

إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُۥٓ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيْـًٔا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

فَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِۦ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like of them? Yes Indeed! and He is the Superb Creator (of all), the Ever-Knowing. Surely His Command, when He wills a thing, is only to say to it: ‘Be!’ and it is! Therefore, glory be to Him in Whose hand is the Kingdom of all things, and to Him you shall be brought back. [Quran, 36:82-83].