Al-Muiz: The Giver of Honor

1. Quranic Anchor Verse

“You honor whom You will, and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.”

— Sura Al-Imran 3:26, translation: Saheeh International

Al-Muiz is defined as the Bestower of Honor. True honor, is not about status or recognition — it is nearness to Allah. Throughout classical texts, Al-Muiz is described as the One who bestows inner nobility. Saints and seekers may appear humble or even disregarded by society, yet in reality, they are mu’azzaz — truly honored — because Allah has drawn them closer to Himself.

2. Morphological and Etymological Analysis

The name Al-Muiz comes from the root Ain-Zay-Zay (ʿ-Z-Z), which conveys meanings of might, honor, strength, and dignity. From this root emerge multiple names of God, including:

• Al-Aziz – The Mighty
• Al-Muiz – The Giver of Honor
• Al-Mudhill – The Giver of Dishonor

Al-Muiz follows the Arabic morphological pattern muf’il, which implies a causative agent — one who causes or brings about an effect. Here, Al-Muiz means “the one who grants ʿizzah (honor, dignity) to whom He wills.”

Note: Causative – It means “to cause something to happen.”

3. Classical Commentary

In Al-Maqsad al-Asna, Imam Al-Ghazali describes Al-Muiz as:

“The one who grants honor to His obedient servants, clothing them in the garments of obedience and spiritual elevation.”

Al-Ghazali emphasizes that real honor is not merely social or material recognition, but nearness to God through virtue and faith.

Al-Raghib al-Isfahani, in his Mufradat, connects ʿizzah with inaccessibility and strength — suggesting that those whom God honors are protected and elevated.

4. Usage in Arabic and in the Quran

In regular Arabic, ʿizzah refers to personal dignity, social status, or moral strength. The verb aʿazza means “to make someone honored” or “to strengthen.”

Examples in Arabic usage:

• “Huwa fi ʿizzin min qawmihi” – He is honored among his people.
• “Aʿazzahu Allah” – May God grant him honor.

The Quran uses derivatives of the root extensively:

• “…walillahi al-ʿizzah” – “…and to God belongs all honor” (Quran 63:8)
• “Man yashāʾu yuʿizzuhu” – “He honors whom He wills” (Quran 3:26)

The name Al-Muiz itself does not appear directly in the Quran but is derived through understanding these patterns.

5. Translation Table – Renderings of the concept behind Al-Muiz in Quran

The name Al-Muiz (as a proper noun with the definite article) does not appear explicitly in the Quran. However, its verb form (e.g., tuʿizzu man tashāʼ – “You honor whom You will”) and its root (ʿizzah) are used in multiple verses — such as Quran 3:26 and 63:8.

The table reflects how various translators render Quranic verses that convey the meaning of yuʿizzu (“He honors”), especially Quran 3:26, which is the theological basis for the Divine Name Al-Muiz. It shows how the concept of “giving honor” is translated — not a proper noun translation of Al-Muiz itself.

For example:

In 3:26, most translators render tuʿizzu man tashāʼ as “You honor whom You will” — and this meaning underpins the attribution of the name Al-Muiz in Islamic theology and the Asma al-Husna tradition.

6. References in Sufi Spiritual Texts

In classical Sufi literature, Al-Muiz is often invoked in prayers for spiritual elevation and dignity of the soul. Sources like Qushayri’s Risalah and Ibn Ajibah’s tafsir use the name to emphasize that true honor lies in surrender to divine will.

One recurring theme is that Al-Muiz grants internal nobility, not external prestige. Saints are considered muʿazzaz — honored — even if the world sees them as poor or lowly.

7. Conclusion

Al-Muiz reminds us that dignity comes not from worldly status but from divine grace. To seek honor through humility and righteousness is to align with the source of true exaltation.

Just as God can raise the forgotten and honor the meek, this Name teaches reliance not on human applause, but on the One who gives lasting dignity.

Appendix: The Muf’il Pattern and Form IV Verbs in Arabic Morphology

What Is the muf‘il Pattern in Arabic?

In Arabic, words are built from roots (usually 3 letters). Patterns are then applied to these roots to create nouns and verbs with specific meanings.

The muf‘il pattern is a noun pattern that typically means:

“Someone who causes or brings about something.”

How It’s Formed:

• mu + first root letter + second root letter + i + third root letter
• Example: root ʿ-Z-Z (honor) → muʿizz = one who grants honor

Why It Matters

This pattern describes a doer — someone who causes an effect in someone or something else.

Everyday Analogy

Think of it like the English suffix “-er” or “giver of”:

• Teach → Teacher
• Heal → Healer
• Honor → Muʿizz

But with a twist: muf‘il means “giver of X to others”, not just someone who has the quality.

Summary

• muf‘il is a noun form meaning “one who causes or grants something.”
• It’s formed from a 3-letter root.
• Al-Muiz means “The One who causes honor / gives dignity.”

Recap: What is the Muf’il Pattern?

In Arabic, the name Al-Mu‘izz follows the pattern muf‘il — a derived morphological form used for verbal nouns or active participles that carry a causative meaning. This is connected to what Arabic grammar categorizes as Form IV (باب إفعال) verbs.

Understanding Form IV (Bab If‘al)

Arabic verb morphology includes 15 canonical verb forms. Form I is the base form (e.g. fa‘ala), and Form IV builds on this by adding an initial alif (أ) and sometimes using a shadda on the second root letter for emphasis.

Form IV verbs typically have a causative or declarative

• Root: ʿ-Z-Z (ʿizzah = honor)
• Form I: ʿazza – to be mighty or strong
• Form IV: aʿazza – to make someone mighty or to bestow honor
• Active Participle of Form IV: mu‘izz – one who gives honor

More Examples of Form IV and muf‘il

Thus, Al-Mu‘izz means “The One who causes honor” — the Giver of Dignity.

Grammar Notes:
While theoretically, Form IV words could be causative or declarative in practice, most Form IV verbs are better understood as causative.

Causative: To cause someone/something to do or be [the meaning of the base verb].

Declarative: Some grammarians (especially in English-language Arabic studies) have described certain Form IV verbs as “declarative” when they: Declare, announce, or bring into effect a quality or state. For example – aʿlama = to make known / to declare something. In such cases, people sometimes say “declarative” — but really, it’s still just a causative function.

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