Al-Musawwir (الْمُصَوِّرُ) means The Fashioner. It is name 13 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Al-Muṣawwir gives every creature its form and features, so that no two faces are the same. He shapes us in the womb as He wills.
The root and its meaning
Al-Musawwir comes from the Arabic root ص و ر (ṣ-w-r), which carries the sense of form and shape (ṣūrah).
Where it is in the Quran
As a name it comes once, in 59:24. 3:6 and 64:3 describe Him shaping us.
Surah Al-Hashr 59:24
هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُ ٱلْبَارِئُ ٱلْمُصَوِّرُ ۖ لَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Huwal Laahul Khaaliqul Baari 'ul Musawwir; lahul Asmaaa'ul Husnaa; yusabbihu lahoo maa fis samaawaati wal ardi wa Huwal 'Azeezul Hakeem
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.
Quran 59:24. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:6
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَآءُ ۚ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Huwal lazee yusawwirukum fil arhaami kaifa yashaaa'; laa ilaaha illaa Huwal 'Azeezul Hakeem
It is He who forms you in the wombs however He wills. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Quran 3:6. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Calling on Allah by this Name
Allah says: "And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them" (7:180). Begin your dua with يَا مُصَوِّرُ (Yā Muṣawwir) and ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "Yā Muṣawwir, You made my form beautiful, so make my character beautiful too."
In sujūd the Prophet ﷺ said: "My face prostrates to the One who created it and shaped it, and brought forth its hearing and sight."
Sahih Muslim 771
- Quran 59:24, translation by Sahih International.
- Quran 3:6, translation by Sahih International.
- Sahih Muslim 771.
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