Investigating the Place of Musta`thara, Divinely Chosen, Names in the Mystical Ontological System

Musta`thara Names, namely Names Demanding no theophany, are common topics between mysticism and Sharia. In Shari'ah, these Names are considered as being exclusive to Hazrat Haqq. In mystical works, there are various contents about these Names, especially about their place. In this article, we will examine the place of these Names and Their works and results in a descriptive-analytical way. Among the mystics, there are four views about the place of the Divinely chosen Names: the position of Essence, maqami dhat, the essential modes, shu`uni dhati, included in the position of Essence, the position of Indivisible Unity, ahadiyat, and the Essential Names, asma`I dhati. According to the first two views, the interpretation of "Name" and the interpretation of "Divinely chosen" mentioned in the hadiths may not be taken in a fixed meaning. In addition, swearing by these Names mentioned in some hadiths cannot be justified on the basis of mysticism, unlike the last two views which do not meet such objections. Determining the place of Divinely chosen Names is effective in solving several other problems: first, the problem of unity or plurality of these Names; according to the two viewpoints of the position of Essence, maqami dhat, and the position of Indivisible Unity, maqami ahadiyat, the affected Name and the affecting One are the same; but according to the other two views, there are many related Names. Second, the problem of knowledge of Divinely chosen Names; according to the two viewpoints of the position of Essence and the things inherent in the position of Essence, knowledge of these Names is not possible; but based on the viewpoint of unity and the inherent Names of a perfect human being, one can have knowledge of it. The third issue is the existence of a metaphor for this Name. According to the two viewpoints of the position of Essence and essential modes, these Names do not have a theophany, unlike the other two viewpoints that these Names have Divinely chosen theophanies.