names of allah
Al-Muizz: The Bestower of Honour — Name 24 of Allah
Al-Muizz: The Bestower of Honour — Name 24 of Allah — sourced from authentic Quran and hadith references.
Allah has named Himself Al-Muʿizz, the One who bestows honour, might, and dignity upon whom He wills. To truly understand this name is to recognise that all honour belongs to Him alone, and that He raises and lowers according to His perfect wisdom and justice.
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Linguistic Meaning of Al-Muʿizz
The name Al-Muʿizz is derived from the Arabic root ʿayn-zāy-zāy (ع-ز-ز), which conveys strength, might, and honour. Linguistically, al-ʿizz means power, invincibility, and exalted status. Al-Muʿizz is the active participle, meaning “the One who bestows honour, might, and victory.” Its counterpart, Al-Mudhill, appears paired with it in the Qur’an, signifying the One who humiliates whom He wills.
The name appears in the famous supplication taught to the Prophet ﷺ: “O Allah, Possessor of the Kingdom, You give honour to whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will…” (though this is a verse from Qur’an 3:26, not a hadith). A similar dual expression is found in the hadith where the Prophet ﷺ said: “You are al-Muʿizz, and You are al-Mudhill”
Ibn Fāris writes that the root ʿizz signifies “a state of power and invincibility, such that one cannot be overcome or subdued.” Accordingly, Al-Muʿizz is the One who grants His creation honour that cannot be taken away except by His will.
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Al-Muʿizz in the Qur’an
The name Al-Muʿizz does not appear explicitly in the Qur’an as a standalone name, but its meaning is embedded in the divine attribute expressed in several verses. For example, in Sūrat Āl ʿImrān (3:26), Allah says:
> “Say, ‘O Allah, Owner of all dominion. You give dominion to whom You will and take dominion away from whom You will. You honour whom You will and humiliate whom You will.’”
This verse directly connects al-izz (honour) with Allah’s absolute sovereignty. Honour here is not limited to worldly status but includes spiritual elevation, victory in truth, and dignity in this life and the Hereafter.
Another powerful confirmation is in Sūrat Fāṭir (35:10):
> “Whoever desires honour, all honour belongs to Allah.”
This verse teaches that true ʿizz is not something humans can create or possess independently; it is entirely Allah’s to give. Seeking honour from anyone other than Him is a form of misguidance.
The name Al-Muʿizz is explicitly recorded in the authentic hadith listing the ninety-nine names. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Verily, Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred less one; whoever enumerates (and believes in) them will enter Paradise.” In that extended narration, the name Al-Muʿizz appears alongside Al-Mudhill
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How Allah Bestows Honour
Honour from Al-Muʿizz takes two primary forms: material and spiritual, each serving a distinct purpose in the divine plan.
Honour Through Faith and Obedience
The greatest honour a creature can attain is the honour of īmān (faith) and tawḥīd (monotheism). When a person submits to Allah sincerely, Allah elevates them—even if they are poor, weak, or oppressed in the eyes of the world. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed Allah honours some people and humiliates others”
This is why Bilāl ibn Rabāḥ, a formerly enslaved person, was honoured by being appointed the first caller to prayer, and why the early Muslims, persecuted and marginalised, were granted victory and honour on the day of Badr. Honour, in the divine scheme, is not wealth or lineage but closeness to Allah.
Honour Through Provision and Status
Al-Muʿizz also grants worldly honour as a test and mercy. Allah gives wealth, authority, and respect to people—believers and disbelievers alike—as part of His divine wisdom. In Sūrat al-Baqarah (2:236) , Allah commands: “Provide for them—the wealthy according to his means, and the constrained according to his means—a fair provision.”
Similarly, Sūrat al-Nūr (24:47) uses the same root in a different sense: “He is the One who has made the night an apparel for you, and the sleep a means of rest, and has made the day a means of revival.”
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Connecting Al-Muʿizz to Human Responsibility
Knowing that Al-Muʿizz is the sole source of honour transforms how Muslims live. It frees them from the obsession with human praise or social ranking. The Prophet ﷺ taught: “Whoever seeks honour through other than Allah, Allah will humiliate him.”
This does not mean a Muslim must be passive. Rather, a Muslim seeks honour through righteous actions, good character, and steadfastness in the truth. In Sūrat al-Munāfiqūn (63:8) , Allah declares: “And honour belongs to Allah, to His Messenger, and to the believers.”
Thus, when the believer is tested with lowliness or poverty, they remember that honour is not defined by worldly status. When they are given authority or abundance, they remain humble, knowing that Al-Muʿizz can take it away in an instant.
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Practical Implications of Believing in Al-Muʿizz
Believing in Al-Muʿizz has direct spiritual benefits:
1. Humility in honour: When a Muslim achieves prominence—through knowledge, wealth, or position—they recognise it as a trust from Al-Muʿizz and remain grateful. 2. Patience in humiliation: If a believer is insulted or oppressed, they know that true honour is with Allah and that worldly dishonour does not diminish their worth if they are faithful. The Qur’an says: “Whoever has abundant means, let him spend according to his means; and he whose means are straitened, let him spend out of what Allah has given him. Allah does not burden any human being beyond the means that He has bestowed upon him.”
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Sources
- Qur’an 3:26 — https://quran.com/3/26
- Qur’an 35:10 — https://quran.com/35/10
- Qur’an 63:8 — https://quran.com/63/8
- Qur’an 2:236 — https://quran.com/2/236
- Qur’an 24:47 — https://quran.com/24/47
- Qur’an 65:7 — https://quran.com/65/7
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2736 — https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2736
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1497 — https://sunnah.com/muslim:1497
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2721 — https://sunnah.com/muslim:2721
- Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3003 — https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3003
- Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3529 — https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3529