AL-MUBDI-The Originator The Initiator

The One who is the originator of all creation. The One who is the founder of creation.

The One who begins all things. The One who initiates all creation.

From the root b-d-‘ which has the following classical Arabic connotations:

to begin, create, make something new
to make something be first, have precedence
to contrive a new thing
to invent, to do first
to commence, start, at the beginning

The term Mubdi’ is not specifically used as a Beautiful Name in the Qur’ān.

The terms al-Mubdi’ (the Starter) and al-Mu’īd (the Restorer) are often used together in the hadith, and are also paired together by many commentators including al-Ghazālī who described them as:

al-Mubdi’ (the Beginner) al-Mu’īd (the Restorer) – these terms mean the One who bestows existence, and when this origination is not preceded by something like it, it is called a beginning; but when it is preceded by something like it, then it is called restoration…. all things began with Him and are restored to Him; began in Him and in Him are restored.

And similarly, the two attributes al-Mubdi’ al-Mu’īd are defined together in the lexicon Tāj al-‘Arūsas:

He who createth mankind, and who returneth them after life to death…

In some Classical Arabic literature, the participles Mubdi’ andBadī’ are used interchangeably. However, in many Qur’ān commentaries, these terms are used to describe slightly different attributes, with the name Mubdi’ emphasizing the initiation of creation, while Badī’ emphasizes the awesome innovation of such creation.

Related names:

Mubdi’ is the One who initiates, starts or begins the production or creation of all things.

Badī’ is the One who creates in awesome, wonderful, amazingly original ways that have no precedent whatsoever.

Mu’īd is the One who repeats, restores and revives that which had been previously invented.

Bāri’ is the way the One works with substances, often creating from existing matter, making and evolving that which is free and clear of imperfections, free and clear of any other thing.

Khāliq is the One who continues to plan, measure out and create and who has the power to change things from one state to another, in and out of existence.

Musawwir is the One who arranges forms and colors, and who is the shaper of beauty.