The Greatest Name according to theologians and Sufis

Abstract

This study examines the concept of the Greatest Name (al-Ism al-Aʿẓam) in Islamic thought through a comparative analytical approach that brings together three major intellectual perspectives: Islamic theology (kalām), Islamic philosophy, and theoretical mysticism (ʿirfān). The research seeks to clarify the methodological differences among these approaches in their understanding of the Greatest Name, particularly with regard to its meaning, function, and scope of influence in supplication, divine emanation, and spiritual authority. The significance of the study lies in the central position of the Greatest Name within Islamic intellectual heritage, where doctrinal, philosophical, and mystical dimensions intersect, raising fundamental questions concerning the relationship between God and humanity, the limits of divine action, and the ontological status of the Perfect Human. Moreover, the study addresses a noticeable lack of comprehensive comparative research that systematically integrates these three perspectives within a unified analytical framework. the study adopts a comparative analytical method, based on the analysis of Qurʾānic and narrational texts, the examination of theological, philosophical, and mystical viewpoints, and a systematic comparison of their underlying assumptions and conclusions, with the aim of elucidating the epistemological and ontological dimensions of the concept of the Greatest Name in Islamic thought.