Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan now begins to explain the mystical importance of names. The previous post in the series is here.

The variety of things and beings and the peculiarities which make them differ, cause the necessity of name. Name produces the picture of a form, figure, color, size, quality, quantity, feeling and sense of things and beings, not only perceptible and comprehensible, but even of those beyond the perception and comprehension; therefore its importance is greater than all things. There is a great secret hidden in a name, be it the name of a person or a thing, and it is formed in relation to the past, present and future conditions of its object; the right horoscope tells you therefore about the conditions of a person.

All mystery is hidden in name. The knowledge of everything rests on first knowing its name, and knowledge is not complete which is devoid of name. Mastery depends upon knowledge; man cannot master a thing of which he has no knowledge. All blessings and benefits derived from earth or heaven are gained by mastery which depends upon knowledge, knowledge depending upon name. Man without the knowledge of the name of a thing is ignorant, and the one who is ignorant is powerless, for man has no hold over anything of which he has no knowledge.

The reason of man’s greatness is the scope of the knowledge with which he is gifted, all the mystery of which lies in his recognition of the differences between things and beings. This gives man superiority not only over all creatures of the earth, but it even makes him excel the angels, the hosts of heaven. The Quran explains it in the following words, ‘When thy Lord said unto the angels, ‘We are going to place a substitute on earth’ they said, ‘Wilt Thou place there one who will do evil therein and shed blood, while we celebrate Thy praise and sanctify Thee?’ God answered, ‘Verily We know that which ye know not;’ and He taught Adam the names of all things, and then presented them to the angels, and said, ‘Declare unto Me the names of these things if ye say truth.’ They answered, ‘Praise be unto Thee, we have no knowledge but what Thou teachest us, for Thou art all-knowing and wise’. God said, ‘O! Adam, tell them their names’. And when Adam came he told their names.’

Every name reveals to the seer the past, present, and the future of that which it covers. Name is not only significant of form but of character as well. The meaning of name plays an important part in man’s life, and the sound, the vowels in the name, the rhythm, number, and nature of the letters which compose it, the mystical numbers, symbol and planet, as well as the root from which it is derived and the effect which it produces, all disclose their secret to the seer.

To be continued…