God

The supreme Name that gathers all the Names.

The tongue

According to al-Kāfījī, this is the proper Name of the Essence (ism al-dhāt), reserved for Him alone; no being has ever borne it, in the past or in the future. The grammarians differ: for some (الأُنْس) it is derived from al-ilāh (الإِلَه) (the worshipped), for others it is underived — a pure Name of the Essence.

The reason

It gathers all the attributes of perfection. Whoever says “Allāh” has, without knowing it, named all the beauties and all the majesties at once.

The Sufi meaning

The invocation of this Name, says al-Kāfījī, opens the door; the other Names are its rays. The heart that takes root in it has no other dwelling.

The servant's portion

Let the servant pronounce this Name only with reverence, and let his life become silent worship.