66. Al - Waahid

Allah calls Himself Al-Waahid— The One— on five occasions in the Quran. Al-Waahid is the source of everything in existence. Al-Waahid is the One, He is Alone and He is Unique in every single way!

The One, Apart From Others

Waahid comes from the root waw-haa-daal, which points to four main meanings. 
The first meaning is to be one, to be made one and to be called one. 
The second main meaning is to connect, join and unite. 
The third is to be unique and singular and 
The fourth is to be one apart from others.

This root appears 68 times in the Quran in four derived forms. Examples of these forms are waahidan(“one”), waahidatan (“single”) and wahdahu (“alone”).

Linguistically waahid means one who is one, or alone, apart from others.

Tawheed also comes from this root and it means unification or asserting oneness.

Tawheedullaah means to belief that Allah is One without partner in His dominion and His actions (Ruboobiyyah), One without similitude in His essence and attributes (Asmaa wa Sifaat), and One without rival in His divinity and in worship (Uloohiyyah/Uboodiyyah). Disregarding one of these aspects of Tawheed is shirk (literally sharing); the association of partners with Allah. Being One is a quality of Allah ‘azza wajal wich nobody else shares with Him. He is the One and Only in His being, authority, actions and powers!

Al-Waahid Himself says: . . . and all creatures will come out before Allah , the One, the Prevailing [Quran, 14:48].. O [my] two companions of prison, are separate lords better or Allah , the One, the Prevailing? [Quran, 12:39]… Say, [O Muhammad], “I am only a warner, and there is not any deity except Allah , the One, the Prevailing [Quran, 38:65] .. Exalted is He; He is Allah, the One, the Prevailing [Quran, 39:4] ..To whom belongs [all] sovereignty this Day? To Allah , the One, the Prevailing [Quran, 40:16]

A Powerful Combination
Allah ‘azza wajal chose His Name Al-Waahid to be paired with His Name Al-Qahhaar on each occasion in the Quran!
This Beautiful Name illustrates that He has the supreme authority and ultimate power to do anything. Al-Qahhaar can subdue anyone to compel him or her to His will and He does so with perfect knowledge and justice and this great ability belongs to Him only. All that is in the heavens and the earth submits, willingly or unwillingly, to Al-Waahid alone!

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Remind yourself and others of His Oneness.
The Oneness of Allah is a principle you need to keep reminding yourself of. His Oneness is the core message all the Prophets, peace be upon them all, were sent with! If you truly understand Al-Waahid, you will worship Him accordingly. Remind yourself He is the Only One able to do everything, so in your daily life, make dua only to Him, sacrifice only for Him and give sadaqah only for Him. Study tawheed and its meanings and teach this Name to your children and others!

2. Turn to Him first. 
We know we have to believe in Al-Waahid alone, but in daily life when difficulty hits us we often turn to other means to try to relieve ourselves. When you have a problem turn to Him turn to Him first and then to other means to your disposal. When you are ill, don’t just grab a medicine quickly, but first ask Al-Waahid to provide you cure. When you are hurt, don’t immediately vent your heartache to a friend, ask Al-Waahid to mend your heart first. Why turn to anyone else if you can turn to The Sustainer of the Heavens and the earth?

3. See Al-Waahid’s proof all around you.
The integration of the whole universe is a proof for the Oneness of Allah. The orbit of the sun and the moon, the composition of the air, the earth, the sees and the planets, the birth of a child, the perfect works of the human body are all proofs that there is only One Creator Who is the source of all of these diverse manifestations of His Unity. So look around you to increase your awe for His Beautiful Oneness!

4. Trust in Al-Waahid.
Tawheed means you recognize He alone manages the affairs of the creation. Nothing or no one else creates, sustains, grants, withholds, brings back to life, causes death, nor manages the affairs of every single person, nor sees their innermost feelings, except Al-Waahid. So put your trust in Him and know that only He will deal with you with perfect wisdom and justice at all times!

5. Learn how to protect yourself from shirk.
Gain knowledge about shirk and its types so you can protect yourself from it as best as you can. Al-Waahid says: Surely Allah does not forgive that anything should be associated with Him, and forgives what is besides that to whomsoever He pleases; and whoever associates anything with Allah, he devises indeed a great sin. [Quran, 4:48] This shows you beautifully that Al-Waahid forgives all sins, except shirk. However, repentance wipes out each and every sin, even an act of shirk! The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam taught you this comprehensive supplication regarding shirk:

Allaahumma innee ‘aoothu bika an ushrika bika shaiann wa anaa a’lamu, wa astaghfiruka limaa laa a’lamu.
O Allah, I seek refuge in You lest I associate anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I know not [Ahmad] Memorize it and ask Al-Waahid with it each day!

O Allah, Al-Waahid we know that You are the One and Only. Grant us correct and unshakable belief in Your Oneness, allow us to truly understand and appreciate this Beautiful Name, act upon it and spread the message of Your Oneness to others. Make us reflect your Creation and protect and forgive us from all types of shirk, ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best

65. Al - Majid

The root word of this Attribute is "majd," a noun meaning glory and honors.

A man may be said to be majid if he has descended from parents known to have established a deeply rooted reputation of glory and honors. 

A majid person is very highly distinguished; he quite often showers others with his favors.

The Attribute "al-Majid" means absolute perfection and dazzling glory; He is Beautiful in His qualities and actions, Who treats His servants most graciously, most generously, manifesting His Greatness to them through the light of His compassion for them. Among our supplications is this one:

Lord! You are al-Majid al-Majid, the Doer of whatever pleases You! We plead to You to grant us security on the Promised Day; Glory to the One Who has been Gracious unto His servants through His Glory and Honors and is distinguished thereby! Glory to the One Who is Great, Whose Honor is Great, Whose Generosity is vast!

The Attribute "al-Majid" underscores the meaning of the Attribute "al-Wajid", thus stressing their common meaning of independence. Abu Tharr al-Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, has quoted the Messenger of Allah quoting, in turn, his Lord saying, "O servants of Mine! You are all sinners except those whom I have healed from sinning; therefore, seek My forgiveness so that I may forgive you by My might. Whoever among you comes to know that I am capable of forgiving, and he seeks My forgiveness, I shall forgive his sins and overlook them. You are all to perish except those whom I guide; therefore, seek My guidance so that I may guide you.

You are all poor except those whom I enrich; therefore, ask Me so that I may grant you sustenance. O servants of Mine! If the first of you and the last, whatever is moist with you and whatever is dry, the living among you and the dead, should ever unanimously become as pious as the most pious person among My servants, it will not increase My domain as much as the wing of a mosquito.

And if they all become as wretched as the worst wretch among My servants, it will not decrease My domain as much as the wing of a mosquito. If the first of you and the last, the moist with you and the dry, the living and the dead, were to ask Me, it will not decrease what is with Me in anything at all just as any of you may pass by a sea shore and immerse a needle therein then takes it out. This is so because I am al-Majid; I do whatever I please; My giving is only a word: Whenever I desire something, I say to it `Be!' and it is."

This Attribute instills in the hearts of the faithful the sincere desire to treat others with forgiveness, clemency, and patience. 

One should speak kindly to them, smile to them, and remove the dissension from among them. 

He should spend his wealth for the good of the poor, and he should be humble and kind to the weak among them. 

He should treat all people as though they were his own family members and brethren.

And Allah knows Best

64. Al - Wajid

Finder, The All-Perceiving, The Wealthy, The Resourceful

The One who has discovered and obtained everything.

The One who perceives and possesses everything.

The One who has no wants and who lacks nothing.

From the root w-j-d which has the following classical Arabic connotations:
to find, discover, attain what was sought
to become aware of something, to perceive, to experience
to gain or possess wealth, property, resources
to be rich, to have abundance
to be without wants

This name has been translated in two different ways, Allah is the finder/perceiver and Allah is the rich who is never poor.

The Arabic verb “wajada” means: to find. Allah is Al-Wajid, the finder and Allah ordinates, finds and has everything, all things are at his call. Allah is the one who has no wants and lacks nothing. Allah is never a loser but only a finder, Allah is never in lack of anything.

Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?
And He found you lost and guided [you],
93:6-7

The second way to translate the name is that Allah is the Rich who is never poor. Al-Wajid is Richness. Allah is always rich and never poor. When we look at wealth amongst us, we see that it is temporary, no matter how rich you are. You can have money one day and it be gone the next but when it comes to Allah, Allah’s richness is everlasting and vast. Allah is the one who will always be rich in knowledge, power, and sustenance.

And Allah knows Best.

63. Al - Qayyoom

Allah calls Himself Al-Qayyoom— The Sustainer, The Self-Subsisting— on three occasions in the Quran. Al-Qayyoom is the One who is self-existing while every being exists through Him and because of Him. He is completely free of any dependence on anything else, while the whole creation depends entirely on Him!

The Self-Existing, The All-Sustaining

Qayyoom comes from the root qaaf-waw-meem, which points to five main meanings. 
The first meaning is to stand or to rise up. 
The second main meaning is to be or begin, 
The third to be ongoing and to exist. 
The fourth main meaning is to be founded or to be built on, and 
The fifth is to manage and to make right.

This root appears 660 times in the Quran in 22 derived forms. Examples of these forms are qaamoo (“they stand”),aqeemoo (“establish”), istaqaamoo(“remain firm”), al qawma (” the people”) and al qiyaamah (“the Resurrection”).

Al-Qayyoom comes always in combination with the beautiful nameAl-Hayy in the Quran, with Al-Hayyreferring to the attribute of everlasting life and Al-Qayyoom signifying the attribute of self-existing life. Al-Qayyoom is the One who established Himself on His own and is the foundation upon which all things exist. He is the One who sustains and manages the complete creation and at the same time is without any need of any type of sustenance Himself!

Al-Qayyoom Himself says: . . . Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence[Quran,2:255] And [all] faces will be humbled before the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. And he will have failed who carries injustice [Quran, 20:111]

The beautiful concept ofqiyaam

Al-Qayyoom is among the greatest of the names of Allah ‘azza wajal and its origin is the word al-qiyaam. From this root a few of the most important concepts of Islam evolve. The iqaamah, is the call just before the obligatory prayer is established. In our prayer we recite the Quran in the standing position (qiyaam); we do not recite Quran in the sitting position, nor during our ruku (bowing), nor during our prostration. Great importance has the night prayer for the believer, which is referred to as qiyaam ul layl. True believers are adorned with istaqaamah(to remain firm) on the straight path of Islam (siraatul mustaqeem) and ultimately we will all be brought in front of Al-Qayyoom on the Day of Standing,Yawm ul Qiyaamah.

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Establish salah.
Aqeemoo as-salah! Al-Qayyoom instructs you many times in the Quran to establish the prayer. But do you really establish your salah in your daily life, or do you fit your prayers around your daily routine? One of the sahaabah asked: “What is the thing that Allah loves most?” The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:“The thing that Allah loves most is when his people pray salah on time.” [Al-Bukharee] Fit your daily activities around your salah and not your salah around your daily activities. Focus on praying your salah on time for a week and see the difference in youremaan!

2. Recite surah Al-Ikhlaas often.
This surah contains a beautiful description of Allah, His Oneness and His self-existing and sustaining attributes . The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam heard a man reciting ‘Qul huwa Allaahu ahad,’ and said, “It is his right.’ They asked, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, what is his right?’ He said, ‘Paradise is his right.’ [ Ahmad] He salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also said: “Whoever recites Qul huwa Allaahu ahad ten times, Allaah will build for him a house in Paradise.” [Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer] So recite it whenever you can: whenever you have a spare moment, fill it with recitation of surah al-Ikhlaas!

3. Help sustain the needy.
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: If you love the poor and bring them near you . . . Allah will bring you near Him on the Day of Resurrection.[At-Tirmidhi]

4. Humble yourself.
We have no reason to ever be arrogant, and this name should humble us. When you were born your parents needed to do everything for you; you could not even sit by yourself. As you grow, developing your intellect and body, you become less dependent on your parents. Then your body and mind start decreasing in strength, and you go back to the beginning where others need to take care of you again. Even when you feel strong, still remember you are completely dependant on Al-Qayyoom.

5. Help in the cause of Islam.
Even though Al-Qayyoom does not need any of us, nor does He need food, drink or sleep, He made you a beautiful promise in the Quran: O you who believe! If you “help Allah,” He will help you. [Quran, 47:7] This means you should do your best to help in the cause of Allah’s Deen, for Al-Qayyoom is the One Who is in full charge of all things. Ask Him to make you of those who help the Deen by spreading the message of the Quran, teaching and helping others.

6. Think about the Day of Standing.
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, You will surely stand before Allah, no screen between Him and you, no interpreter to translate for you. Then He will say, ‘Did I not bring you wealth?’ He will say, ‘Yes.’ Then He will say, ‘Did I not send you a Messenger?’ He will say, ‘Yes.’ Then he will look to his right and left and see nothing but Hell. So protect yourselves from it even with half a date (in charity), and if not then with a kind word. [Al-Bukharee] Daily remind yourself about this moment and make sure you do a deed of charity each day, even if it’s a kind word to someone!

7. Stand in the night.
The best prayer after the obligatory ones is the night prayer [Muslim]. Abu Sulaimaan Ad-Daaraanie said, Those who pray in the night enjoy when they are observing their night prayer more than what the people of pastime and fun enjoy from their pastime. If not because of the night, I would not have loved to remain in this world. When Umar was dying, he said I do not grieve on anything of this life except the night prayer. Some people think only those who have strong emaan can pray and they are not good enough, but in fact qiyaam ul layl is the opportunity for those who feel far away from Allah to become closer to Him, so go for it and motivate others to gain extra reward!

And Allah knows Best.

62. Al - Hayy

Allah calls Himself Al-Hayy— The Ever-Living— on five occasions in the Quran. 

Al-Hayy is the One who is everlasting and undying, the One from whom all life arises. 

Al-Hayy is the One who was, is, and will always be alive!

The Everlasting, The Living

Hayy comes from the root haa-yaa-yaa, which points to four main meanings. 
The first meaning is to live. 
The second main meaning is to become apparent or distinct. The third is to revive, vitalize and call into being, and 
The fourth main meaning is to be sound, or whole.

This root appears 184 times in the Quran in 12 derived forms. Examples of these forms are yuhyee (“grants life”), hayyan (“alive”) and al hayaatu (” the life”).

Al-Hayy is the One who has a continuous life with no beginning or end. His Life and all His Attributes are perfect. His life is self-sustaining and has no external source, whereas our lives have been granted to us by the Creator. Al-Hayy is the One who calls all life into being and He is the source to which life will return!

Al-Hayy Himself says: . . And [all] faces will be humbled before the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. And he will have failed who carries injustice [Quran, 20:111] And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die..[Quran, 25:58] He is the Ever-Living; there is no deity except Him, so call upon Him, [being] sincere to Him in religion. [Quran, 40:65]

The Perfect Life

Al-Hayy is most often combined with the Name Al-Qayyoom, the Sustainer. This is a beautiful combination of the perfection of Allah’s Attributes and His Actions. Al-Hayy means the One who possesses the perfect living and so all His attributes are perfect: His hearing, His sight, His Beauty etc. Man’s life is imperfect from all sides: our hearing, sight, speech and actions are all imperfect. All the attributes of Allah are perfect, because any defiency in attributes would come from weakness of life and His life is perfect!

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Rely upon the Ever-Living. 
And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die, and exalt with His praise… [Quran, 25:58] Each source of our problems and distress lies in this world, whether it is money, family etc and these will all perish one day. This ayah gives us a beautiful reflection: while you put your trust in Allah, really realize how great the One is in who you trust. Use your imagination, go back in time for 100 years, 1000 years, a million or a billion years and Allah was alive. In the same way think about the future, so feel the glory that belongs to Him.

2. Motivate yourself to do good.
The ayah continues: And sufficient is He to be, with the sins of His servants, Acquainted. [Quran, 25:58] As you leave all your matters to Al-Hayy, realizing His greatness and express this awareness by tasbeeh (saying subhanallah) coming from your lips, also take action with your limbs. Let Al-Hayy motivate you to do good deeds. Whereas people have not been with you all of your life, being able to see and hear all your bad deeds, Al-Hayy was, is and will be there with His perfect hearing and seeing which are part of His perfect life!

3. Recite Ayatul Kursi after each prayer and before going to sleep. 
In this greatest ayah of the Quran the Name Al-Hayy is mentioned and many virtues are narrated about ayatul Kursi. In each sentence one or two attributes of Allah are mentioned:  everytime you recite this ayah reflect on the Attributes of Allah and how they all emerge from His perfect Life: He is Al-Hayy!

4. Ask Al-Hayy. 
When the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was faced with a serious difficulty, he would say: Yaa Hayyu, Yaa Qayyum (O Ever-Living One, O Self-Existing One)! By Your mercy I seek help
سْتَغِيْث أَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ قَيُّوْمُ يَا حَيُّ يَا [Sunan At-Tirmidhee]

5. Be comforted by Al-Hayy.
Be comforted by Al-Hayy and turn to Him only when you lose things around you and know that He will always be there. When you are treated unjustly and see injustice around you, do your best to help according to the laws of Al-Hayy but also know that the injustice of every single person will be a cause of failure in the Hereafter. So guard for injustice from your own hands as well! And [all] faces will be humbled before the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. And he will have failed who carries injustice. [Quran, 20:111]

6. Turn to Al-Hayy for daily-life guidance.
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam once mentioned to Faatimah radiyallaahu ‘anha to recite the following supplication morning and evening: Yaa Hayyu yaa qayyoom bi-rahmatika astagheeth, aslih lee shaa-nee kullahu, wa laa takilnee ilaa nafsee tarfata ‘ayn – O Ever-Living One, O Self-Existing One, I seek assistance through the means of your mercy, correct for me all my affairs and do not entrust me to my nafs (myself) for the moment of a blink of an eye [An-Nasa’i] If Al-Hayy would even leave you to yourself for a split-second, you would perish!

O Allah, Al-Hayy, we know that You are the One who is everlasting and perfect alive. Bless us with reliance on You, make us realize Your Perfection of Life and so of all Your attributes and guide us to live by them. Make our life a source of good and give us a good end of life, inspire us to turn to You only and grant to us eternal life in the Gardens of Jannatul Firdaws, ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best

61. Al - Mumit

The Creator of Death, The Slayer, The Life-Taker

The One who created the inanimate world, to which all living forms return.

The One who ordains what shall become lifeless.

The One who creates the appearance of death, physically or spiritually.

From the root m-w-t which has the following classical Arabic connotations:
to die, pass away, burn out, be lifeless
to be quiet, still, calm
to be inanimate
to be deprived of sensation
to be spiritually dead, lacking spiritual life

The name Mumīt is not specifically used as a Beautiful Name in the Qur'ān.

The names Mumīt (the life-taker) and Muhyī (the life-giver) are opposites.

60. Al - Muhyee

Allah calls Himself　Al-Muhyee—The Giver of Life— on two occasions in the Quran. 

Al-Muhyee is the One who created life and decides what will be brought to life. 

He is the only One who can bring something to life, including the spiritual life to the hearts!

The Bestower of Life, The Reviver

Muhyee comes from the root haa-yaa-yaa, which points to four main meanings. 
The first meaning is to live. 
The second main meaning is to become apparent or distinct. The third is to revive, vitalize and call into being, and 
The fourth main meaning is to be sound, or whole.

This root appears 184 times in the Quran in 12 derived forms. Examples of these forms are yuhyee (“grants life”),hayyan (“alive”) and al hayaatu (” the life”).

Al-Muyhee is the only One who can give life to whomever He pleases, surrounding the creation with the right conditions to survive. Then He decrees death, to restore life and join the soul and body on the Day of Judgement to repay us for what we did in this world and this is an easy task for Him!

Al-Muhyee Himself says: . . . Indeed, He who has given it life is the Giver of Life to the dead. Indeed, He is over all things competent. [Quran, 41:39] So observe the effects of the mercy of Allah – how He gives life to the earth after its lifelessness…[Quran, 30:50]

The Plan of Life

The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam narrated: Verily, each of you is brought together in his mother’s abdomen for forty days in the form of a drop of fluid. Then it is a clinging object for a similar [period]. Thereafter, it is a lump looking like it has been chewed for a similar [period]. The angel is then sent to him and he breathes into him the spirit. He is also commanded to issue four decrees: to record his sustenance, his life span, his deeds and [whether he will be] unhappy [by entering Hell] or happy [by entering Paradise]..[part hadith, Al-Bukharee, Muslim] Al-Muhyee bestows our life in stages and grows our body in a miraculous way, from a drop of fluid into a detailed body clothed with muscles, flesh, veins and skin. But not only physically, Al-Muhyee also gives us life by sending an angel to breath the spirit into us and we remain limited in knowledge of our innerselves. On top of bestowing our lives, Al-Muhyee also commands to issue four decrees which determine the course of our life. Such is the plan of life of Al-Muyee!

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Be convinced Al-Muhyee can make anything happen.
He it is Who gives life and causes death; so, when He decrees an affair, He only says to it: Be, and it is [Quran, 40:68] This is one of the most hope giving ayaat for those who call upon Him. As Al-Muhyee can bring everything to life and even restore life to that which appeared dead to us, so rest assured taking care of your matters is easy for Him, all you have to do is ask Him, wholeheartedly and sincerely. Turn every worry, moment of stress, wish and desire into a dua!

2. Ask for a heart alive with faith.
Scholars have described hearts, just like bodies, to be of three types; the healthy heart, the dead heart and the sick heart. The alive heart is a heart of faith, its services are exclusively reserved for Allah, willingly and lovingly, with total reliance, relating all matters to Him, in fear, hope, and sincere dedication and it is extremely important to work for a healthy heart: The Day on which neither wealth nor sons will be of any use, except for whoever brings to Allah a sound heart. [Quran 26:88-89]

3. Revive the sunnah.
Mankind has many different concepts of success in life. But what is the right way? He brings (beings/things) to life and causes death; therefore, believe in Allah and in His Messenger, the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam who believes in Allah and in His words, and follow him, so that you may walk in the right way [Quran, 7:158]. So make an effort to apply the sunnah in your daily life and for extra reward, revive acts from the sunnah by telling others about them, from the forgotten sunnah like the prostration of gratefullness (sajda us shukr) to the neglected acts, like giving salaam on the street!

4. Cherish life.
Al-Muhyee gave you life and placed you on this earth as an ambassador. Respect your life by using your time wisely and respect other people’s life by benefiting them with your knowledge, skills and emotional support and never harm another life unjustly, not even the life of an animal. If you truly cherish life you constantly strive against lughw – useless activities as mentioned in the Quran – this includes useless conversations, watching things of no benefit etc.

5. Learn from nature.
Study the extremely valuable lessons Al-Muhyee teaches you through His works in nature. Among His Signs is that you see the earth laid bare, and then, when We send down water on it, it quivers and swells. He Who gives it life also gives life to the dead. Certainly He has power over all things. [Quran, 41:39] When you see the change of seasons, from greenery to bareness, reflect on the ups and downs of your life and that after dark(difficult) times, light(easy) times come.

6. Strive for knowledge.
Islamic knowledge is a light, ask Al-Muyhee to walk in light in this life and the next! Is he who was dead then We raised him to life and made for him a light whereby he walks among people like him whose likeness is that of one who is in utter darkness from which he cannot come out? [Quran, 6:122]

7. Remind yourself and others of the After-Life.
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam was asked: “Which of our companions are best?” He replied: One whose appearance reminds you of God, and whose speech increases you in knowledge, and whose actions remind you of the hereafter. [al-Muhasibi]

O Allah, Al-Muhyee, we know that You are the only Giver of Life. Bless us with hearts that are alive with faith encouraging us to righteous actions. Make us of those who live by and revive the sunnah of Your Prophet, guide us in reflecting on Your signs in nature and learn from them. Give us beneficial knowledge, grant us respect for our own life and the lives of others and make us of the best companions, reminding ourselves and others about the Hereafter, ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best

59. Al - Mu'eed

The Restorer

Meaning: The Reproducer, The One who brings back the creatures after death.

Linguistically, the root word of this Attribute means: to return, to go back. We supplicate thus: "Lord! We plead to You to grant us a return to Your House," that is, to go back to the Ka`ba after having visited it or after having been there. 

A man who is mu`eed is one who is knowledgeable of certain issues/topics, etc. 

Al-ma`d means: the Day of Judgment. According to one particular tradition, the Messenger of Allah has supplicated saying, "... and make my abode in the hereafter good, for to it shall I return."

Al-Mu`eed brings life back to the dead. He gathers all beings for the Judgment Day together, lifting the veils from them and rewarding or punishing them, each according to what he/she had said and done. 

He tries them about how they fared with the blessings He bestowed upon them. Allah will cause all things (beings as well as inanimate objects) to come to naught, then He will bring them back again into existence.

We ought to return to Allah regarding everything, and we have to bear in mind that Allah created us when we were nothing at all; He determines our destiny.

58. Al - Mubdi

The Originator, The Starter, The Beginner

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

Al-Mubdi has brought the cosmos into being without a prior model, Who created all the worlds in a perfect manner, Who initiates the giving to and the assistance of His servants, proving Himself as the best to rely on.

One who remembers the Attribute "al-Mubdi" ought to seek His forgiveness whenever he remembers it and to always stay attentive while supplicating to Him.

57. Al - Muhsi

The Reckoner, The Appraiser, The Accountant

The One who knows the details of each and every thing. The One who possesses all quantitative knowledge.

The One who comprehends everything, small or great, inner or outer. The One who registers and records every thought and deed.

From the root h-s-y which has the following classical Arabic connotations:
to number, count, reckon, compute
to collect in an aggregate by numbering
to register or record something
to take an account of something
to comprehend or know altogether
to possess full comprehension

The name Mushī is not specifically used as a Beautiful Name in the Qur'ān.

56. Al - Hameed

Allah calls Himself Al-Hameed— the Most Praiseworthy , the Praised One — on ten occasions in the Quran. 

He is the One who deserves all praise and honour. 

Al-Hameed is the only One who is truly worthy of all praise and thanks!

The Praiseworthy, the object of praise

Hameed comes from the root haa-meem-daal, which points to three main meanings. 
The first main meaning is to praise with a sense of deep adoration and submission. 
The second main meaning is to honor or speak well of, and The third is to praise one for what is done by that one’s own will.

This root appears 63 times in the Quranin five derived forms. Examples of these forms are al hamdu (all praise be to),al-haamidoona (those who praise), and mahmoodan (praiseworthy).

Linguistically, hamd is based on mahabbah (love) and ta’dheem (honour) and it implies admiration and gratitude towards the one who is praised (mahmood). 

Allah is Al-Hameed, He is the One who is always deserving of praise, regardless if He is being praised or not.

Al-Hameed Himself says: And they had been guided [in worldly life] to good speech, and they were guided to the path of the Praiseworthy [Quran, 22:24].. and it guides to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy.[Quran, 34:6] . . . O mankind, you are those in need of Allah , while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.[Quran, 35:15]

Alhamdulillah: an exclusive praise

Believers say alhamdulillah– All praise and thanks are for Allah each day in prayer in Surah Al-Fatiha, the first word of Adam ‘alayhi sallam wasalhamdulillah and alhamdulillah will be the last call of the people of Paradise: وَآخِرُدَعْوَاهُمْأَنِالْحَمْدُلِلَّهِرَبِّالْعَالَمِينَ . . . And the last of their call will be, Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds! [Quran,10:10]

Whereas hamd means praise, the ‘al’ inal-hamd makes the praise definite and implies exclusivity. Al-hamd means all types of praise and every manner of thanks at all times is due to Allah ‘azza wa jall. Abu Ja`far bin Jarir said: The meaning of alhamdulillah is: all thanks are due purely to Allah, alone, not any of the objects that are being worshipped instead of Him, nor any of His creation.[Tafseer ibn Katheer]

Alhamdulillah therefore can be best described by the most complete, perfect, and beautiful praise that is deserved by and for Allah ‘azza wa jallonly!

Alhamdulillah in the Quran

The phrase alhamdulillah occurs 38 times in the Quran and it is the praise Allah ‘azza wa jall praised Himself with. Some suwar (plural of surah) of the Quran begin with hamd, which announces that all praise and thanks belong to Allah ‘azza wa jall, instructs that when we begin something we should begin with praise (like in a sermon or when making dua’) and shows us how to praise Allah– by saying alhamdulillah.

How Can You Live by This Name?

1. Know the virtues alhamdulillah.
Increasing your Islamic knowledge and being aware of different virtues of acts of worship will motivate you to practise them! The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Verily, your Lord likes Al-Hamd [An-Nasaa’i] He salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam mentioned: the best dhikr(remembering Allah) is laa ilaaha illallah and the best supplication is alhamdulillah [At-Tirmidhee] And: The phrase alhamdulillah fills the scale.[Muslim] Realize the virtues of alhamdulillah!

2. Increase in saying alhamdulillah and feel it.
Increase in saying this beautiful praise in your daily life. And say it out of deep love, honour, and with humility and gratitude to your Lord. Remember Paradise when you say alhamdulillah,and ask Allah ‘azza wa jall to make you of those who say: Their call therein will be, ‘Exalted are You, O Allah,’ and their greeting therein will be, ‘Peace.’ And the last of their call will be, ‘Praise to Allah , Lord of the worlds.’ [Quran, 10:10]

3. Say it when you are blessed.
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: No servant is blessed by Allah and says, alhamdulillah except that what he was given is better than that which he has himself acquired. [Ibn Maajah]

4. Know that everything happens for good.
For the believers there is always a win-win situation. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: The affair of the believer is amazing. The whole of his life is beneficial, and that is only in the case of the believer. When good times come to him, he is thankful and it is good for him, and when bad times befall him, he is patient and it is also good for him. [Muslim] Deeply reflect on this hadith and say: alhamdulillah ‘alaa kulli haal– alhamdulillah in every case or situation!


O Allah, Al-Hameed, we know that all praise and thanks belongs to You. Make us of those who praise You as you should be praised, guide us in praising you often and sincerely, and make us of those who say alhamdulillah in Paradise, ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

55. Al - Waliyy

Allah calls Himself Al-Waliy— The Protecting Friend, the Ally — on five occasions in the Quran. 

He is the One who lovingly guards and guides His creation. Al-Waliy is the lord and protector of creation, showing the path to righteousness. 

He is the One who protects, guards, and supports the believer in this world and the next!

The Ally, The Protector, the Loving Guardian

Waliy comes from the root waaw-laam-yaa, which points to four main meanings. 
The first main meaning is to be near and to be a friend and supporter. 
The second is to defend and guard (in a loving way)  
The third main meaning is to turn towards something,and 
The fourth main meaning is to be master and lord.

This root appears 232 times in the Quran in 12 derived forms. Examples of these forms are tawallaw (“they turn away”), awlaa (“is nearer or woe”), al-mawlaa (“the protector”) and awliyaa(“allies”).

Linguistically waliy (plural awliyaa) comes from the root word of wilaya,which is the opposite of enmity (adawaa). 

A ‘waliy amr’ is for example used referring to a child’s guardian, who looks after his or her affairs, someone who is close and who takes care of the child.

Al-Waliy combines the near, loving, protective, and guarding attributes of the One who is also the lord and master of the universe! Al-Waliy Himself says:And Allah is the ally of the believers [Quran, 3:68] and Or have they taken protectors [or allies] besides him? But Allah – He is the Protector [Quran, 42:9]

The Allies of Allah and the Allies of Shaytan

Al-Waliy has awliyaa among the people and Shaytan also has his allies. Indeed there is no fear upon the awliyaa of Allah, nor shall they grieve; those who believe and used to fear Allah much. For them are glad tidings in this life and the Hereafter. [Quran, 10:62]

The allies of Allah ‘azza wa jall will have no fear nor sadness in this world or the next. And Al-Waliy will bring light into their lives: Allah is the protector of those who believe, He takes them out of darkness into light [Quran, 2: 257] and the allies of Allah will have victory:Whoever takes a Wali of Mine as an enemy, I will wage war on him.[Hadith Qudsi, Al-Bukharee]

Al-Waliy also mentions the allies of Shaytan and the conseqences of their deeds: As for those who disbelieve, their allies are the taaghoot who take them out of the light and into the darkness. Those are the people of fire, and they will be in it forever [Quran, 2: 257] and We have made the devils allies of those who do not believe.[Quran,7:27]

How Can You Live by This Name?

1. Strive to be Allah’s wali.
Al-Waliy says in a hadith qudsi: Nothing endears My servant to Me than doing of what I have made obligatory upon him to do. And My servant continues to draw nearer to Me with the supererogatory (nawafil) so that I shall love him. When I love him, I shall be his hearing with which he shall hear, his sight with which he shall see, his hands with which he shall hold, and his feet with which he shall walk. And if he asks (something) of Me, I shall surely give it to him, and if he takes refuge in Me, I shall certainly grant him it [Al-Bukharee]

Don’t think only scholars can be awliyaa; know that you too can be awali of Allah ‘azza wa jall! How? By focusing on your obligatory acts of worship first, e.g. give priority to your prayer, like studying ways of how to concentrate better, pray on time, etc. Then complement them by doing as many voluntary deeds as you can, studying the sunnah so you can apply the daily ways of the prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to your life. The result is, Al-Waliyy will love you, and when He loves you He will guide you in using your limbs righteously. He will grant your wishes and protect you!

2. Strive for taqwa.Unquestionably, [for] the awliya of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Those who believed and had taqwa of Allah.. [Quran, 10:62]. If you want to be a wali of Allah, build a relationship with the Quran and ask Al-Waliy to give you understanding of its ayaat so you will be inspired to live by them Al-Waliyy describes the risk of turning away from the Quran: Whoever turns away from the reminder of the Merciful, we will assign to him a devil, who will be a partner to him [Quran, 43: 36] Another great motivator to increase your taqwa is daily remembering and visualising Paradise. Study the names and attributes of Allah ‘azza wa jall to increase your fear and love for Him and pray to be included in the above ayahas one of His awliyaa.

3. Be a righteous friend.
Be a loving friend to others, protecting their rights. The prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother. [Muslim] Take any responsibility you have seriously in representing someone or supporting someone with their affairs.

4.Trust that Allah is the best ally.
Remind yourself that Al-Waliy is the best ally to turn to at all times and put your trust in Him. When two parties from among you were about to lose heart, but Allah was their Waliy. And in Allah let the believers put their trust[Quran, 3:122] Take comfort in the fact that He knows your enemies and He is your best Helper: Allah is full of knowledge of your enemies, and Allah is Sufficient as a Waliy; and Allah is sufficient as a Helper [Quran, 4:45]

5. Ask Al-Waliyy.
You will always be in need of the support and protection of Al-Waliy so ask Him to protect and assist you in this life, at the time of death, in the grave, and on the Day of Reckoning.

O Allah, Al-Waliy, we know that You are the most loving Guardian. Make us of your awliyaa and guide us to complement our obligatory acts of worship with abundant voluntary deeds. Bless us with righteous friends, make us pious friends to other believers and assist us in turning to You and trusting in You only as our best Ally at all times, ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

54. Al - Mateen

Allah calls Himself Al-Mateen— The Firm, The Steadfast— once in the Quran. 

Al-Mateen is the One of whom in addition to His unconquerable power, His nature is to be firm.

This combination of possession of the perfect strength and complete firmness of nature means no one can ever object to His actions or prevent His orders from being carried out!

The Utmost Firm, The Steadfast and Determined One

Mateen comes from the root meem-taa-noon, which points to four main meanings. 
The first meaning is to be strong, firm, and hard. 
The second main meaning is to be solid or robust. 
The third to be steadfast, determined, and sure, and 
The fourth main meaning is to possess any quality to a strong degree. 

This root appears three times in the Quran in one derived form. An example of this form is mateenun (“[is] firm”).

Linguistically, mateen means something very strong and very stable; its foundation is unshakeable. 

Al-Qawiyy is the One who possesses the attribute of inexhaustible strength, whereas Al-Mateen is the One whose nature it is to be firm, steadfast, and determined. 

He is the One who can easily overcome anything through supreme firmness and strength of determination!

Al-Mateen Himself says: . . . Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength. [Quran, 51:58]

The Plan of Al-Mateen

Al-Mateen says: And I will give them time. Indeed, My plan is firm [Quran, 68:45]. Allah ‘azza wajal says He lets people go free for a long time, as this is all part of His plan and according to His wisdom. This way people can decide through different events to turn to the truth of Islam or not.

Some might disbelieve and oppose Islam for years and eventually find guidance. 

Other times Al-Mateen gives the disbeliever a long time to live and the disbeliever carries on doing more evil, so he or she is punished more. 

This also means that believers have the chance to get more reward and higher ranks in Paradise through their struggles and good deeds throughout the long period of time Al-Mateen gave them. The plan of Allah is firm!

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Be firm in following the right path.
Let the attribute of firmness inspire you to stick to your Deen at all times and be determined to follow the straight path with understanding. The means to staying firm on Islam are: to hold on tight to the Quran and strive to understand what you read so you can apply the orders and prohibitions and motivations in your daily life, and; to do as many good deeds as you can; to study the lives of the prophets, peace be upon them, follow their examples, and think about the delights of Paradise, the torture of Hellfire and the agony of death.
Al-Mateen says: Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah will cause to go astray those who are dhalimun(polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.), and Allah does what He wills. [Quran, 14:27]

2. Call others to Al-Mateen.
The soul that is not active will stagnate. Giving da’wah can save you from punishment and cause Al-Mateen to make you stand firm yourself. Now then, for that (reason), call (them to the Faith), and stand steadfast as you are commanded . . . [Quran, 42:15]
Being busy with good will help you against Shaytan’s temptations to lead you astray, plus being challenged by obstacles and stubborn people on your journey of calling others to Allah can make you a stronger person in faith.

3. Study the seerah for strength.
To strengthen your Islamic identity, follow your roots: study the seerah. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Among the people who came before you, there was a man who was taken and put into a hole dug for him in the earth, then a saw was put on his head and he was cut into two pieces, and an iron comb was used to tear the flesh from his bones, but this still did not turn him away from his religion. [Al-Bukhaaree]

4. Be confident in the plan of Al-Mateen.
Allah’s plan is mateen— know that nothing or no one can defeat His plan. Even though people might plot against you, the reality is Al-Mateen will support the believers as long as they are sincere and the ultimate victory will be theirs. So trust in Al-Mateen and strive for sincerity in each deed you do.
Al-Mateen says: And they said nothing but: ‘Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk.’ So Allah gave them the reward of this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter . . . [Quran, 3:147-148]

5. Keep close to firm people.
Surround yourself with people who are firm upon Islam, seek their advice and be someone who inspires others to stay firm too.

6. Ask Al-Mateen.
Being able to be steadfast in good and bad times should be one of your dailyadiyah (plural of dua)! The Prophetsalallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said about your heart: It changes more than a pot of rapidly boiling water. [Ahmad, al-Hakim]

Memorize this dua the Prophetsalallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam made and ask Al-Mateen from the bottom of your heart: 
يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِى عَلَى دِينِكَ – 
Yaa Muqallibal quloob thabbit qalbee ‘alaa deenik. 
Which means: 
Oh Turner of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion. Be determined to get into Paradise and keep reminding yourself this world is only temporary!

O Allah, Al-Mateen, we know that You are the most firm. Let us benefit from the Quran and Sunnah. Make us firm in our faith, lead us on the straight path, and make us steadfast in good and bad times. Make us of those who call others to Islam and bless us with righteous company. Adorn our hearts with a strong determination to strive for Your Paradise, ameen!

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.

53. A l- Qawiyy

Allah calls Himself Al-Qawiyy— The All-Strong, The Powerful— on nine occasions in the Quran. 

Al-Qawiyy is the only One Whose strength is unlimited, inexhaustible, and neither preceded by weakness nor followed by a loss of strength. 

He affects everything yet nothing can affect Him!

The Supremely Strong, The Perfect in Strength

Qawiyy comes from the root qaaf-waw-yaa which points to three main meanings. 
The first meaning is to be strong or to have sufficient power. The second main meaning is to be robust, hardy, or sturdy, and 
The third is to prevail.

This root appears 42 times in the Quran in three derived forms. Examples of these forms include bi quwwatin (“with strength”) and lil-muqween (“for the wayfarers in the desert”).

Linguistically, qawiyy is derived from quwwa, the attribute of strength. Al-Qawiyy is the Ultimate in Strength; His attributes of strength never decrease and never have to be followed by a period of rest. 

The perfect strength of Al-Qawiyy is irresistible, and nothing and no one in the heavens and the earth can help but submit to it!

Al-Qawiyy Himself says: . . . They disbelieved in the signs of Allah , so Allah seized them for their sins. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and severe in penalty. [Quran, 8:52] And sufficient was Allah for the believers in battle, and ever is Allah Powerful and Exalted in Might.[Quran,33:25]

Al-Qawiyy and other names
Al-Jabbaar, Al-Qahhaar, Al-‘Azeez, and Al-Qawiyy are all names of power, strength, and dominance. Allah’s name Al-Qawiyy is most often paired with His beautiful name Al-Azeez, The All-Mighty. Strength is not suited except to those who are honorable; Al-Qawiyy uses His Strength in the most honorable ways to show His perfect might. This combination is used in the context of Allah ‘azza wajal using His strength to support the believers against the tyrants and unjust while using His might to punish them.

How Can You Live By This Name?

1. Be a strong believer.
Just as Allah is The All-Knowing and loves to see you knowledgeable, and just as and He is The Just and loves to see you being just, Allah ‘azza wajal loves to see the quality of quwwa in you as a believer. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, though both are good. Hasten to what benefits you, seeking Allah’s help, and do not feel defeated. If some misfortune befalls you, do not say: “If only I had done such-and-such…” but say: “It is what Allah decreed, and He does as He wills.” The words “If only…” open the doors for Satan’s machinations. [Muslim] Have quwwa in your faith, in your determination to enjoin good and forbid evil, in your war against shaytan, in your character and in your will to seek knowledge!

2. Strive for justice and rest assured against the unjust.
Al-Qawiyy detests strength based on tyranny and injustice. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: No nation is blessed unless its weakest members can demand their rights without hesitation. [Sunan Ibn Maajah] Be a person in your community who finds it important to be just in even the smallest matters, and inspire others to be just and to stand up for the rights of the weak. Rest assured in the promise of Al-Qawiyy to those who support His cause: Allah will certainly aid those who aid His (cause), for verily Allah is Strong, Mighty. [Quran, 22:40]

3. Fear Al-Qawiyy.
Al-Qawiyy gave one angel the strength to overturn a whole city or uproot a mountain, and this angel and all others, despite their enormous strength, tremble out of awe and fear of His greatness. So what about us— which powers do we have? Fear Al-Qawiyy and recall His strength to motivate yourself when you’re about to do something wrong.

4. Reflect the creation of Al-Qawiyy.
Look at the strength of the heat of the sun: in hours it can melt huge ice surfaces which could not be demolished by mankind’s strongest machines. Reflect on the power of the wind, which can lift up whole villages and blow them in the air like a feather. Contemplate the might of the oceans, swallowing complete countries. Reflecting on creation will help you understand the greatness and mind-blowing strength of the creator. Contemplate the signs of Al-Qawiyy and act upon them by obeying His commands and staying away from His prohibitions.

5.Take comfort in Al-Qawiyy.
Despite His enormous might and strength, Allah ‘azza wajal is extremely gentle and subtle with His servants. Allah is Subtle with His servants; He gives provisions to whom He wills. And He is the Powerful, the Exalted in Might. [Quran, 42:19] Take comfort in Him, your protector, your perfect beloved, in times when you feel weak and overcome by worries and difficulties.

O Allah, Al-Qawiyy, we know that Your Strength is perfect and complete . Make us strong believers and aid us to use our strength to strive for justice. Adorn us with reliance on your promise against the unjust and enable us to be comforted by Ameen

Wallahu ta’alaa ‘alem.

And Allah knows Best.