the Prophet ﷺ, that some Sufis have said that the Prophet has a thousand names. Ibn al-Faris includes 2020 in his Tafsir Asma al-Rasul, while Abu al-Hasan al-Subki states that they number 4000. Qastallani relates just over 500 in his work al-Mawahib al-ladunniyya. Qadi Iyad, in al-Shifa, his classic treatise on the Prophet ﷺ, limits himself only to those names ascribed clearly to him; he also says that the Prophet ﷺ has 30 names which are also among the Names of Allah. Other authorities, such as Nawawi, Suyuti, and Sakhawi, derived his names not only from names clearly ascribed to him, but also from various actions attributed to him as well. Imam al-Jazuli collected 201 according to the collection of Abu Imran al-Zannati al-Fasi. Imam al-Ghazali relates that the learned are in agreement that it is not permissible to give the Prophet ﷺ a name unless either Allah has given it to him in the Quran or else it has come to us from previous scriptures, or from his father Abd Allah or his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, or he gave it to himself. Any name we attribute to him must have been related through some valid source. Scholars consider it permissible to extrapolate names not only from rigorously authenticated or sound traditions but also from ‘weak’ ones, because they do not believe this to be one of the matters of tenets of faith (i’tiqad) which require definitive knowledge concerning which there is no doubt. We are not allowed to devise or invent names for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, even if they allude to a perfection fitting for him. The reason why it is not permitted is that it is only fit for us to ascribe to him qualities which are fit for man. If we were to ascribe any perfection to him, beyond those that have come to us through the Qur’an and Hadith, we could unwittingly lapse by ascribing to him attributes which are only fit for Allah, and thus fall into the unlawful. Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Fasi in his commentary on Dalail al-Khayrat says about the benefits of knowing the names of the Prophet ﷺ: One of his many merits, Allah bless him and give him peace, is that mentioning his names enables one to visualise him and bring him to mind and to gain true knowledge of him, his names, his attributes and the glorious station he has with his Creator. Qadi Iyad says in al-Shifa: “One of the things Allah has made unique to him is that He has made it so that his names incorporate praise of him, and by remembering him one shows the gratitude that is his due. The purpose behind them is to gain greater knowledge of him. Knowing that his many names indicate his greatness brings about veneration for him and increases one’s love for him. Knowing each specific name also increases one’s respect and adoration for him and encourages one to invoke abundant blessings upon him. Many of these names are mentioned in the following chapters, which concern the way to invoke blessings upon him; but they are collected together here beforehand. This is in order that anyone reciting the blessings on him in the subsequent chapters will be aware of these qualities enumerated in regard to him, and know they are truly his names, Allah bless him and give him peace. Likewise, Sheikh Ibn al-Fakihani compiled a chapter dedicated to his names in his book al-Fajr al-munir, as did Abu al-Khayr al-Sakhawi in al-Qawl al-badi’; and Allah knows best the intention of them all (Matali al-masarrat [3], 89). Shaykh Yusuf al-Nabhani explains why some gatherings of the Dalail al-Khayrat include a recitation of the Prophetic names and titles in addition to the actual text of the Dalail itself by saying: The commentator said: The reason for the mentioning of his ﷺ names…is because his ﷺ names single him out and describe him, and by means of them one gains a complete understanding of him ﷺ his names, attributes and his great rank with his Creator… Then knowing that he has many names indicates to his greatness and by means of this his honouring is achieved; and love of him increases. Then knowledge of them in detail results in increase in the love of him and also honouring of him resulting in sending abundant salat upon him ﷺ. Many of the mentioned names are scattered amongst books regarding the formulas of sending salat upon him ﷺ. They have been presented at the beginning so that the reciter of the faṣl al-kayfiyyah sending salat should know these attributes mentioned regarding the Prophet ﷺ and knows that they are his names ﷺ. This is how al-Fakihani authored a chapter in his book Fajr al-Munir regarding his names ﷺ; likewise Abul Khayr al-Sakhawi in Qawl al-Badi’, and Allah knows best all of their objectives.