13. Al-Musawwir, The Bestower of Forms

I tried to use people who are such public figures that they wouldn't mind the use of their images.

Al-Musawwir, the Bestower of forms (and some say colors), the Shaper.  When I thought about this name, the image that first came to my mind was diatoms, the miniscule organisms whose skeletons make the diatomaceous earth that is white dust in swimming pool filters:

Picture courtesy of Wikicommons

Don't they look like buttons or beads?  I love the amazing variety.  God is an awesome designer.

The connotations of the root of this word:  s - w - r  ض و ر according to the Wahiduddin Web are

to make something incline, lean or bend towards

to form, fashion, sculpt, imagine or picture something

to have an inclination or desire towards something

This is supposed to be the most specific of the three names that have to do with God as creator, and as I thought about that I found myself thinking  particularly about the way God has made each and every person unique.  Of course, this applies not just to our bodies but also to our hearts and minds and spirits. And of course, Allah has shaped many many things other than people.  Lots of things to celebrate.

Al-Musawwir

Al-Musawwir

You give the shape to everything that's shaped

And everything is shaped

Al-Musawwir.

Every little snowflake that drifts from the sky

Has a form and fashion that you did supply.

Every person's body and each person's face,

Bears a special signature that You stamped in place.

The path of every river that flows

The shape of every flower that grows

Fancy guppy tails and the swirling shells of snails

The track of every planet spinning out in space

Each bump and every wrinkle on each rhino's face

Are crafted by the Great Engineer

Al-Musawwir