99 Attributes of Allah: Al-Muhaymin - The Overall Guardian

Al Muhaymin " ٱلْمُهَيْمِنُ " The Overall Guardian, The Controller, the One Who has Absolute Authority Over All.

In the verse 23 of Surah 59 - Al-Hashr of the Holy Qur'an, this powerful attribute of Allah appears along with a few other attributes of Allah:

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ ۚ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ۝

"He is Allah, besides Whom there is no god; the King " الْمَلِكُ ", the Holy " الْقُدُّوسُ ", the Giver of peace " السَّلَامُ ", the Granter of security " الْمُؤْمِنُ ", Guardian over all " الْمُهَيْمِنُ " , the Mighty " الْعَزِيزُ ", the Supreme " الْجَبَّارُ ", the Possessor of every greatness " الْمُتَكَبِّرُ " Glory be to Allah from what they set up (with Him)."

Muhaymin comes from the root haa-meem-noon which points to three main meanings: (1) The Guardian and Protector, (2) The Observer who sees what everyone does, and (3) The Being Who has taken up the responsibility to fulfill the needs and requirements of the people.

This root appears two times in the Quran in one derived form. Examples of this form are wamuhayminan (“and a guardian”) and al-muhayminu (“the Guardian”).

In the verse above, since the word Al-Muhaimin has been used absolutely, and no object has been mentioned of this subject, therefore, it by itself gives the implied meaning that He is guarding and protecting all creatures, is watching the acts and deeds of everyone, and has taken up the responsibility of sustaining and providing for every creature in the universe with its needs and requirements. Thus, "Al-Muhaimin" means that He is the One Who oversees His servants' actions, Who provides them with sustenance, and decrees their life-spans. It also becomes manifest by saving His creatures from dangers and protecting them.

Taken in the meaning of the One Being Watchful of His Creations,it is impossible for the His creations to be concealed from Allah. For, everything is under His observation. Nothing escapes Allah's observation.

“And He is with you wheresoever ye may be. And Allah sees well all that ye do” (Surah 57 al-Hadid: 4)

In Surah 10. Yunus, verse 61 Allah tells His Prophet: 

"(O Prophet!) Whatever you may be engaged in, whether you recite any portion of the Qur'an, or whatever else all of you are doing, We are witnesses to whatever you may be occupied with. Not even an atom's weight escapes your Lord on the earth or in the heaven, nor is there anything smaller or bigger than that, except that it is on record in a Clear Book."

This clearly explains the attribute Al Muhaymin, the Overall Guardian the Watchful and the Witness, for unless a Creator has complete watch over His subjects, the affairs of the universe would go out of control, creating utter confusion and destruction. The smooth functioning and movement of countless galaxies, billions and millions of stars, all moving in  a precise timed direction is because Allah is All Watchful. Allah's watching over also means He knows what is harmful and what is beneficial for us. Allah covers us with His Mercy and Protection. Therefore, His criteria of good and bad have are to be followed.

Another meaning of al-Muhaymin is “the One Who is responsible for the care of something, the One Who has charge over it”. In Surah Ar-R`ad Ayah 33, He says, “Then is He who is a maintainer of every soul, [knowing] what it has earned, [like any other]?” 

“Seest thou not that Allah doth know (all) that is in the heavens and on earth? There is not a secret consultation between three, but He makes the fourth among― them nor between five but he is the sixth nor between fewer nor more, but He is with them, wheresoever they be.” (Surah 58 Al-Mujadila: 7)

While this attribute is exclusive for Allah, in verse 48 of Surah 5. Al-Maida, Quran is also being mentioned as "muhaymin":

وَاَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اِلَيۡكَ الۡكِتٰبَ بِالۡحَـقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ الۡكِتٰبِ وَمُهَيۡمِنًا عَلَيۡهِ​ فَاحۡكُمۡ بَيۡنَهُمۡ بِمَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ اَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ عَمَّا جَآءَكَ مِنَ الۡحَـقِّ

"Then We revealed the Book to you (O Muhammad!) with Truth, confirming whatever of the Book was revealed before,78 and protecting and guarding over it."

In Arabic, haymana, yuhayminu, hayamanah signify 'to protect, to witness, to keep trust, to back and to support'. The expression 'haymana al-rajul al-shay' means that the man protected and guarded the thing. Likewise, 'haymana al-ta'ir 'alafirdkhih' means that the bird took its young ones under the protection of its wings. Once 'Umar said to the people: 'Inni da'in fa hayminu' ('I am praying; support me by saying amen'). To say that the Qur'an is muhaymin of al-kitab means that it preserves all the true teachings of the earlier divine books; that it has secured them from loss. The Qur'an also confirms those Books in that the contents of the Qur'an testify to the truth of those parts which are indeed from God. The Qur'an is, further, a witness over those Books in the sense that, with its help, the elements which embody true revelations from God can be distinguished from the accretions which have corrupted them. Whatever in these Books accords with the Qur'an is from God, and whatever is not in conformity with it is from human beings. The Quran is muhaymin, trustworthy in highness, and a witness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Verily, Allah elevates some people with this Quran and abases others. [Muslim] That is, those who fulfill the rights of the Quran will be raised high in this world and in the hereafter; those who leave it will be put down. Make the Quran a witness for you and not against you.

Related names:

• Raqīb refers to the One who has the attribute of watchfulness.
• Wakīl refers to the One who is the trusted administrator.
• Hafīz refers to the One who protects and preserves.
• Māni' - the One who protects and defends against harmful situations.
• Muhaymin refers to the One who is the ever-watchful guardian and protector.
• Mu'min - The One who grants security and freedom from fear.

So whenever in distress or in want of something, do not forget Allah, the Guardian - the Al Muhaymin: Call upon al-Muhaymin and seek His help and protection from harm or innate desires.

Also the mere fact that He is watching us, should keep us from committing sins, harming others or usurping others' rights. This would lead men to live a clean, honest and helpful life 

We should also seek guidance from Qur'an and live our life exactly as enunciated in the Divine Commandments as spelt out in the Quran and never ever deviate form the True Path that Quran shows us. May Allah help us to be true believers. Aameen.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allah" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

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99 Attributes of Allah: Al Latif - The Benignant

Al-Latif " ٱلْلَّطِيفُ " (pronounced as Al Lateef) The Benignant is one of the 99 attributes of Allah which means The Most Subtle,  The Gracious,  The Refined and Benevolent and the Most Kind. 

اَلَا يَعۡلَمُ مَنۡ خَلَقَؕ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيۡفُ الۡخَبِيۡرُ‏ 

Would He not know, He Who has created, when He is All-Subtle, All-Aware? [Surah 67. Al-Mulk - 14]

In the verse above, two attributes of Allah come together:  Al Latif " اللَّطِيۡفُ ", the All Subtle, and al Khabir " الۡخَبِيۡرُ ", the All Aware.

In the verse above Al Latif is used in the original, meaning the One Who works in imperceptible ways as well as the One Who knows the hidden truths and realities.

While many non Muslims try to find excuses that Allah is mostly talking of His wrath on the disbelievers, they forget that Allah in His very nature is Most Subtle and Gracious. The One whose nature is gentle, affectionate, courteous and refined. And His instilling fear into the hearts  of the disbelievers in fact mean to lead them to path of righteousness so that they are saved from the Hell Fire when the world comes to an end and every soul who was ever born will awarded rewards or punishments for their deeds in the worldly life.

And time and again Allah reminds the mankind that He is the Ever Forgiver and those who sincerely repent their sins shall be forgiven.

Allah’s name Al Latif occurs seven times in the Quran, expressing the notion that Al Latif is the One Who disposes of our affairs to the best of our benefit without us even perceiving it.

Al Latif continuously pours His blessings unto His servants; while Al Latif has combined in Him terse and wise compassion. Al Latif pleases His servants when He removes the clouds of His wrath away from them, the One Who is compassionate towards His servants even in matters related to His decree. 

Al Latif is derived from the root l-t-f which in the classical Arabic language means (1) to be gentle (gracious, courteous, kindly), (2) to be most soothing and refined in manner, and (3) to treat with kindness (goodness, gentleness, benevolence, affection). 

In Surah 12. Yusuf, verse 100, the attribute Al Latif appears at the end of a long verse:

وَرَفَعَ اَبَوَيۡهِ عَلَى الۡعَرۡشِ وَخَرُّوۡا لَهٗ سُجَّدًا​ۚ وَقَالَ يٰۤاَبَتِ هٰذَا تَاۡوِيۡلُ رُءۡيَاىَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُقَدۡ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّىۡ حَقًّا​ؕ وَقَدۡ اَحۡسَنَ بِىۡۤ اِذۡ اَخۡرَجَنِىۡ مِنَ السِّجۡنِ وَجَآءَ بِكُمۡ مِّنَ الۡبَدۡوِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ اَنۡ نَّزَغَ الشَّيۡطٰنُ بَيۡنِىۡ وَبَيۡنَ اِخۡوَتِىۡ​ؕ اِنَّ رَبِّىۡ لَطِيۡفٌ لِّمَا يَشَآءُ​ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ الۡعَلِيۡمُ الۡحَكِيۡمُ‏ 

"And after they had entered the city, Joseph raised his parents to the throne beside himself, and they (involuntarily) bowed in prostration before him. Joseph said: "Father! This is the fulfillment of the vision I had before - one that My Lord has caused to come true. He was kind to me when He rescued me from the prison, and brought you from the desert after Satan had stirred discord between me and my brothers. Certainly my Lord is Subtle in the fulfillment of His will; He is All-Knowing, All-Wise."

The above verse is from Surah Yusuf (Joseph) and the context is when after years of separation, parents of Prophet Yusuf are finally united with him and he is quoted praising Allah for the favours He has done to him and for Him being The Benignant. 

It would be seen from above verse, the usage of "Al-Latif" is expressive of Allah's extreme kindness and compassion in a way which no human faculty can ever fathom, for the Fulfillment of His Will is always towards forgiving and sincerely showing the path of truth to those who believe inn Him and strive for it.

In Surah 31 Luqman, verse 16, Luqman the wise man who ever lived is advising his son about many attributes of Allah and how Allah sustains His servants:

يٰبُنَىَّ اِنَّهَاۤ اِنۡ تَكُ مِثۡقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنۡ خَرۡدَلٍ فَتَكُنۡ فِىۡ صَخۡرَةٍ اَوۡ فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ اَوۡ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ يَاۡتِ بِهَا اللّٰهُ ​ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَطِيۡفٌ خَبِيۡرٌ‏ 

(31:16) (Luqman said):27 “Son, Allah will bring forth everything even if it be as small as the grain of a mustard seed even though it be hidden inside a rock or (anywhere) in the heavens or earth. Allah is Most Subtle, All-Aware [ Khabeer, " خَبِيۡرٌ " another attribute of Allah - The Inner-Aware, The Reality-Knower ].

The attributes Al Qahhār (ever-dominating, overpowering) and Al Latīf (subtle, refined) are sometimes used together to honor and appreciate the opposing, yet complementary, ways of the One.

While we expect Allah to be subtle and kind to us, we in return should also inculcated such attributes into our personality so that when it comes to dealing with our brethren, we too are kind and gracious to them. 

Please listen to an enlightening commentary on the explanation of attribute Al Latif by prominent Muslim scholar and teacher Nouman Ali Khan:

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allah" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

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99 Attributes of Allah; Al-Mutakabbir - The Possessor of Greatness

Al-Mutakabbir " ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرُ "   The Possessor of Greatness, the supremely Great. This attribute of Allah grandeur in everything. The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures and from resembling them.

The following verse from [Surah 59. Al-Hashr: 23] is one unique verse in which many attributes of Allah, eight to be exact, have been spelt out together, of which Al-Mutakabbir " ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرُ " is the one:

هُوَ اللّٰهُ الَّذِىۡ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ​ۚ اَلۡمَلِكُ الۡقُدُّوۡسُ السَّلٰمُ الۡمُؤۡمِنُ الۡمُهَيۡمِنُ الۡعَزِيۡزُ الۡجَـبَّارُ الۡمُتَكَبِّرُ​ؕ سُبۡحٰنَ اللّٰهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُوۡنَ‏ 

"He is Allah: there is no god but He: the King, the Holy, the All-Peace, the Giver of security, the Overseer,40 the Most Mighty, the Overpowering, the All-Great [Al-Mutakabbir " ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرُ "]. Exalted be He from whatever they associate with Him."

The word Al-Mutakabbir has two meanings: (1) The one who is not actually great but poses as great. (2) The one who is actually great and sets himself up as such.

Whether it is man or Satan, or some other creature, since greatness does not, in fact, belong to it, its posing itself as great and claiming superiority over others is, a false claim and a vice. Contrary to this, Allah Almighty is truly Great and greatness actually belongs to Him, and everything in the universe is low and insignificant as against Him. Therefore, His being Great and setting Himself up as Great is no false claim but reality; it is a virtue and excellence, which no one else has but Allah.

This the attribute Al-Mutakabbir describes that Allah is the One Who is greater than all of creation,  the One Who manifests greatness in everything  and in all ways, the One Who is the Most Privileged in attributes which others have not, for no doubt He is the supremely great.


You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allah" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

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99 Attributes of Allah: Al Wahid - The Manifestation of Unity

Al Wāhid " ٱلْوَاحِدُ " is that attribute of Allah that is indicative of The Manifestation of Unity, the One unique starting point from which all else has arisen. 

وَاِلٰهُكُمۡ اِلٰهٌ وَّاحِدٌ  ۚ لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ الرَّحِيۡمُ

"Your God is One God, there is no god but He; the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate." [Al Quran, Surah Al Baqarah 2:163] 

There have been many a people in the bygone days, and even till date, who add many wordly deities and gods with Allah. Some even talk of God in Three and each one of these to be God. To counter such false faiths, the above verse makes it amply clear that there is only One God and there cannot be any associates that could dare His Godliness. 

In verse 73 of Surah 22 Al Hajj, a parable has been cited to impress upon the idol worshipers that their deities are absolutely powerless, for even if they all collaborated to create an insignificant thing like a fly, they could not; nay, even if a fly snatched away anything from them they could not prevent it. This shows how weak they themselves are and how powerless are the idols they supplicate. 

"O people, a parable is set forth: pay heed to it. Those who call upon aught other than Allah shall never be able to create even a fly, even if all of them were to come together to do that. And if the fly were to snatch away anything from them, they would not be able to recover that from it. Powerless is the supplicant; and powerless is he to whom he supplicates."

The above quoted verse exhibits the manifestation of the Unity of Allah for there cannot be more than one deities to manage the affairs of the universe, for if there were more than one, there would have been a chaos rather than absolute harmony in the running of affairs of the universe as we witness today. And herein is a stern rebuke to those who talk of associates of God, who do not even have the power to create a small creature like a fly on their own.

From this attribute of Al Wāhid, the concept of "Tawhid" emanates. Tawhid means recognition of the Unity of the One Who alone manages the affairs of the entire Universe. None creates, nor sustains, nor grants, nor withholds, nor brings back to life, nor causes death, nor manages the affairs of the domain outwardly or inwardly, except Allah.

And what better explanation of the Attribute Al Wāhid could be, and in fact an eye opener for the followers of the concept of Trinity, as described in verse 171 of Surah 4. An-Nisaa:

"People of the Book! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and attribute to Allah nothing except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a Messenger of Allah, and His command that He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him (which led to Mary's conception). So believe in Allah and in His Messengers, and do not say: (Allah is a) trinity :

 ​ۚ وَلَا تَقُوۡلُوۡا ثَلٰثَةٌ​ ؕ اِنْتَهُوۡا خَيۡرًا لَّـكُمۡ​ؕ اِنَّمَا اللّٰهُ اِلٰـهٌ وَّاحِدٌ​ ".

Give up this assertion; it would be better for you. Allah is indeed just one God. Far be it from His glory that He should have a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. Allah is sufficient for a guardian."

In this verse, it is clearly stated that God endowed Jesus with a pure, impeccable soul. He was therefore an embodiment of truth, veracity, righteousness, and excellence. This is what the Christians had been told about Christ. But they exceeded the proper limits of veneration for Jesus. The 'spirit from God' became the 'spirit of God', and the 'spirit of holiness' was interpreted to mean God's own Spirit which became incarnate in Jesus. Thus, along with God and Jesus, there developed the third person of God - the Holy Ghost. It was this unjustified exaggeration which has led the Christians to a grave error. 

On the Day of Judgment, when all humans ever created would be presented before Allah, they would then realize in shame that how utterly wrong were their their worldly beliefs  for there sits high on the throne One True God they had been denying all along their lives: 

يَوۡمَ تُبَدَّلُ الۡاَرۡضُ غَيۡرَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَالسَّمٰوٰتُ​ وَبَرَزُوۡا لِلّٰهِ الۡوَاحِدِ الۡقَهَّارِ‏ 

"(Do warn them of the) Day when the heavens and the earth shall be altogether changed;57 when all will appear fully exposed before Allah, the One, the Irresistible!" [Al quran Surah 14. Ibrahim, 48]


Even those wordly deities whom their followers have been worshipping will disassociated them from their followers, for they too knew that there was no god but He, the One True God.

The same theme is repeated in verse 16 of Surah 13. Ar-Ra'd:

"Ask them: "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?" Say: "Allah." Tell them: "Have you taken beside Him as your patrons those who do not have the power to benefit or to hurt even themselves?" Say: "Can the blind and the seeing be deemed equals? Or can light and darkness be deemed equals?" If that is not so, then have those whom they associate with Allah in His Divinity ever created anything like what Allah did so that the question of creation has become dubious to them? Say: "Allah is the creator of everything. He is the One, the Irresistible."

In the verse above, the question is intended to impress on the disbelievers that there is absolutely no reason why they should practice shirk. When they themselves admit that their gods did not create even an iota in the universe and that they do not have even the smallest and most insignificant share in the creation, there remains no ground for them to cherish any doubts about it. Why should, then, their false gods and deities share the rights and powers of the Real Creator?

This fact that He is “the One, the Prevailing” follows naturally from the fact that “Allah is the Creator of all things” for this fact was also acknowledged by the mushriks and was never denied by them. This is so because the Creator of everything should logically be Unique, and every other thing or being must necessarily be His creation. Therefore nothing could be the equal of the Creator or partner in His Being, attributes, powers and rights. Likewise, the Creator must have complete power and control over His Creation.

"Ahad" is a closely related attribute of Allah with Wahid. Ahad is used to refer to the One, the sole One, the One who was not begotten and who has ever been alone, the One who has no second, the Indivisible. While Wāhid indicates the solitary Starting Point, the One Source, the First of the Many, from which all of creation has arisen as manifestations of Unity. From a human point of view, the manifestations may appear separate and diverse, but in reality they are One.

Al-Wahid cannot be counted. He Alone is Creator; the Only One Who creates from naught and all His creations are unique, poles apart from other creations, for it is Only He Who can create diversity in His creations. His existence has neither duration nor a limit, nor can anyone carry out a decision against Him, nor can His Essence ever suffer any decrease or increase whatever. 

Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him), the last Messenger of Allah, has been quoted as saying: 

"Allah is One, and He loves oneness." 

That is Allah loves the heart that is solely dedicated to Him, Glory and Exaltation is His. Al-Wahid, the One and Only God, protects you, the individual that you are, against the group, a number of individuals, whereas the latter cannot protect you against Him.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allah" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

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99 Attributes of Allah: Al-Ghafūr - The Ever Forgiver

Allah is Al-Ghafūr " ٱلْغَفُورُ " - The Ever Forgiver. There is none but He Who is the sole Forgiver of Sins and Faults of His servants. It is only Him Who is The Ultimate Pardoner, the Oft Forgiving. When a believer repents, there is none but He Who accepts repentance and pardons sins, no matter how grave these may be.

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ ۝

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." [ Al Quran, Surah Az Zumar 39:53 ]

This verse says it all and sends a clear message to those who think that any deity other than Allah is empowered to forgive one's sins. Here in this verse, the Prophet of Allah has been instructed to tell the believers that when someone errs and transgresses and commits a sin, they should not be in despair, rather hopeful of mercy of Allah, for it is Only He Who can forgive sins of those who sincerely repent their sins and ask forgiveness. And indeed He is the Most Forgiving and Merciful (Ar Raheem " الرَّحِيمُ " The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate]

Al-Ghafūr is from the root gh-f-r which in classical Arabic means: (1) to cover, veil, conceal, hide, (2) to pardon, to forgive, to set aright, and (3) to cover a thing to protect it from dirt.

Many instances of such people, who sincerely repented and reformed their lives, have been related in the traditions. For instance, Ibn Jarir and Tabarani have related an incident from Abu Hurairah, who savs: One day when 1 returned home after offering the lsha / night prayer in the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Mosque, I saw a woman standing at my door. I saluted her and walked into my room, closed the door and busied myself in voluntary worship. After a while she knocked at the door. I opened the door and asked what she wanted. She said that she had come with a problem: She had committed zina, had become pregnant, given birth to a child and then killed it. She wanted to know if there was any chance of her sin being forgiven. I replied in the negative. She went back grief stricken, exclaiming, Ah! this beautiful body was created for the fire! The next morning, after the prayer, when I related the night’s incident before the Prophet (peace be upon him), he said: You gave a very wrong answer, Abu Hurairah: Haven’t you read the Quranic verse which says: (Those) who do not invoke any deity other than Allah...except the one who may have repented (after those sins) and have believed and done righteous deeds? Hearing this from the Prophet (peace be upon him), I went out in search of the woman, and had her traced again at the Isha time. I gave her the good news and told her what the Prophet (peace be upon him) had said in reply to her question. She immediately fell prostrate on the ground and thanked Allah, Who had opened a way for her forgiveness. Then she offered repentance and set a slave-girl, along with her son, free. 

In Qastalānī's commentary on Bukhārī, it is said that the root gh-f-r means a covering or protection which is either between man and the commission of sin [protecting, or watching over], or between sin and the effects of that sin [forgiving, veiling or concealing].


In al-Nihāyah (a dictionary of hadīth), it is said that Ghāfir refers to the One who protects us from the commission of sins, and that Ghafūr refers to the One who forgives our sins and faults.

The Holy Quran has referred quite often to forgiveness, and Allah has diversified it so that the hearts of those who disobey Him may not lose hope of His mercy, and so that no criminal will despond of the mercy of Allah. He forgives the sins and accepts the repentance. Allah gives good tidings to His servants in Surah 40. Al-Mu'min verse 3:

غَافِرِ الذَّنۡۢبِ وَقَابِلِ التَّوۡبِ شَدِيۡدِ الۡعِقَابِ ذِى الطَّوۡلِؕ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَؕ اِلَيۡهِ الۡمَصِيۡرُ‏ 

"the Forgiver of sins, the Acceptor of repentance, the Stern in retribution, the Bountiful. There is no god but He. To Him are all destined to return."

This attribute of Allah is in fact a veil and shielding of our sins and faults. Without divulging our sins to anyone else, we only confide it with Allah and seek His forgiveness, for He is the Only One who veils our sins and  forgives our misdeeds and sins such that they are not seen by anyone else, not even the angels.

We Muslims have been often asked to keep asking forgiveness of our sins by reciting "Astaghfirullāh" which is from this same gh-f-r root, and is an invocation of Divine Protection having a range of possible connotations that include Allāh please forgive me, Allāh please hide away my faults, Allāh please watch over me and protect me from faults.

So do not ever lose hope and be in state of despair when you err or sin. Be quick to repent and earnestly ask Allah, the Al-Ghafūr for forgiveness. And rest assured you will be forgiven if your are true in your faith.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allah" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

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99 Attributes of Allah: Ar-Razzaq - The Sustainer

Ar Razzāq " ٱلْرَّزَّاقُ ", pronounced as Ar Razzaaq, is that attribute of Allah which exhibits His immense ability to Sustain his creations by Providing them means of substance and easing the life and living on them. Indeed He is the sole Bestower, The All Provider and Sustainer.

Besides, He is the Only One who looks after physically and spiritually.

The Arabic word ٱلْرَّزَّاقُ  is from the root word " رِزْق " rizq, which literally means sustenance, and has a linguistic sense of, “giving” or “apportionment, thus Ar Razzaq is the One Who bestows or gives means of subsistence. Rain is also called rizq; it helps sustain every living being on our planet. The warmth of the sun is also rizq for it helps germinate plants and ensure their growth that when mature and ripe are means of sustenance for all type of living creatures. Even the air that we breathe is a form of rizq from Allah. 

The word " رِزْق " rizq in normal understanding is taken as wages, income, money, wealth, for the earning of something good, be it during the life of this world or in the life to come, or it may be applied to one's lot or fortune, or even to anything eaten.

الَّذِيۡنَ يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِالۡغَيۡبِ وَ يُقِيۡمُوۡنَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنٰهُمۡ يُنۡفِقُوۡنَۙ‏ 

"for those who believe in the existence of that which is beyond the reach of perception,4 who establish Prayer and spend out of what We have provided them" [Al Qur'an Surah Al Baqarah 2:3]

The attribute The Provider (Ar Razzāq) thus means “the One who has created provision and those provided for, and He has conveyed that provision to them. And He has created the means whereby they may enjoy and benefit from these blessings.” [Ghazali, al-Maqsad al-Asna fi Sharh Asma’ Allah al-Husna]

إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ

"Surely Allah is the One Who bestows sustenance, the Lord of Power, the Strong One." (Al Qur'an, Surah Az-Zariyat 51:58)

And the beauty of this attribute of Allah is that Allah provides sustenance to all of humankind, whether they are believers or non-believers, and all of His creations including animals and plants:

“And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register.”  [ Al Qur'an, Surah Hud verse 6 ]

Rizq in fact is an all encompassing word which can be defined as anything that brings benefits or goodness to us. Thus, rizq besides wealth, also encompasses family ties, spirituality, our faith, intellect, health and everything else that are beneficial to us and can help us fulfil our duties and obligations to serve and obey Allah, and care for this earth. 

And what has been earmarked for a creature or a living being in its lifetime will be given to him, whether all at once, or in bits and pieces. Prophet of Allah has been quoted as saying: “A soul will not die until it gets all of the provision that has been apportioned for it”.

وَمَا مِنۡ دَآ بَّةٍ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ اِلَّا عَلَى اللّٰهِ رِزۡقُهَا وَ يَعۡلَمُ مُسۡتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسۡتَوۡدَعَهَا​ؕ كُلٌّ فِىۡ كِتٰبٍ مُّبِيۡنٍ‏ 

There is not a single moving creature on the earth but Allah is responsible for providing its sustenance. He knows where it dwells and where it will permanently rest.6 All this is recorded in a clear Book. [Al Qur'an  Surah Hud 11:6]

It is being emphasized in the above verse of the Qur'an that Allah is the One Who knows the nest where the tiniest sparrow lives and the hole where the smallest insect resides, and provides their sustenance to them wherever they be. Even insects and small creatures have been seen encased in stones and yet found alive, for Allah doesn't forget His creations and sustains them no matter where they may be. Even in vast stretches of deserts, there numerous living being sustained well by Allah.

If we really look around, we will be amazed to find how many means of rizq have been bestowed on to us. Plants and trees, which are being cut mercilessly to make way for houses and buildings, are not useless for these play a role in producing the oxygen we breathe. The deforestation that is taking place around the world is thus causing numerous health issues besides climatic changes, for these have been provided to us for our sustenance. But we are trying to destroy these and still persisting to live.

Ar Razzāq is a superlative of "al-Raziq," the One Who provides rizq. As mentioned earlier, "rizq" is of two types: one that sustains the body, such as food and drink, while the other sustains the soul, which is knowledge and true inspiration. The latter is the best type of sustenance simply because what sustains the soul lasts forever, while what sustains the body has a temporary duration. Offering Salah / prayer is the best means to be spiritually benefitted, just like remembering Allah all the time  and thanking Him fr all His bounties and means of sustenance so provided to us, whether we deserved or did not. This is the great attribute of Allah for He sustains everyone across the board, whether someone believes in Him or not.

What this attribute of Allah expects of us? This simply means that as we have been sustained by Allah and given rizq in abundance, we must not keep this rizq for our use only. But we must dole out a portion of it to the needy so they they also live comfortably. The concept of Zakat in Islam amply ensure distribution of wealth so that everyone has some means of sustenance.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allah" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

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99 Attributes of Allah: Al-Wasi - The All Embracing, The All Encompassing

Al-Wasi‘ "ٱلْوَٰسِعُ" - The All-Embracing, The Boundless, is  an all encompassing attribute of Allah. 

وَلِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ ۚ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ 

"And to Allah belongs the east and the west. So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allah . Indeed, Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing." (Al Quran, Surah Al Baqarah 2:115).

Allah the Almighty is not confined to any particular place or direction. indeed all places and directions are His. Or in other words, Allah' realm is boundless and so is His vision and the range of His benevolence and mercy. Moreover, God's knowledge is all-embracing. He knows who remembers Him, as well as where, when and why he does that.

Allah, the Al-Wasi‘ , is everywhere and He cannot be contained in space. Al-Ghazali stated that “Al-Wasi‘ —the Vast—derives from expansiveness, and expansiveness is sometimes linked to knowledge, when it extends to and comprehends a multitude of objects; and at other times it is linked to charity and widespread blessings, extending as far as possible to whatever they descend upon”.

In the above verse, two attributes of Allah have been mentioned: Al-Wasi‘ "ٱلْوَٰسِعُ" and Al Alim "عَلِيمٌ". For the attribute Al Alim, please visit our earlier post here.

The  attribute Al-Wasi’ appears nine times in the Holy Qur'an to express the boundless magnificence of Allah.  Nothing is beyond Him, and there are no limits to any of His attributes. For Allah is beyond any limits and encompasses the whole of creation with His blessings, care, and kindness. He is All Sufficient and is sufficient for all.

اَلشَّيۡطٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ الۡـفَقۡرَ وَيَاۡمُرُكُمۡ بِالۡفَحۡشَآءِ​ ۚ وَاللّٰهُ يَعِدُكُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَةً مِّنۡهُ وَفَضۡلًا ؕ وَاللّٰهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيۡمٌۚ  ۙۖ‏

"Satan frightens you with poverty and bids you to commit indecency whereas Allah promises you His forgiveness and bounty. Allah is Munificent, All-Knowing." (Al Quran, Surah Al Baqarah 2: 268)

The verse above amply highlight the Munificent of Allah and is very reassuring for those who unnecessarily get scared by the machinations of the Satan who frightens them with shortage of means of living and provokes them to adopt the path of malpractices and indecency to earn the Haram wealth. Allah on the other hands reassures the believers that those who walked the way of Satan will be forgiven, if they earnestly seek Allah's forgiveness and will be given much more than has been in their dreams for Allah's forgiveness and bounty is boundless. He sure is the One who is vast without limit and has limitless capacity and abundance.

"They also say among themselves: 'Do not follow anyone except him who follows your faith.' Say: 'Surely true guidance is Allah's. It is His favour that anyone should be given the like of what you have been given in the past, and that others should have been given firm evidence to proffer against you before your Lord.' Say: 'Surely bounty is in the Hand of Allah; He gives it to whom He wills. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing." (Al Quran, Surah 3. Al-i'Imran: 73)

Al-Waasi` comes from the root w-s-` (و-س-ع), and it is the opposite of constriction and difficulty. It carries three main meanings. The first meaning is that of being vast, sufficient in capacity or size, and spacious. The second main meaning of this root is to be plentiful and bountiful. The third is to embrace, comprehend, and pervade.

When we see the universe through the Hubble Telescope, we are spellbound to see the fathomless and boundless universe. And if the universes cannot be measured and its extents defined, our mind simply can’t grasp the boundlessness of Allah's might and power. That also means that He, the Al-Wasi’ is far more Encompassing than the bounds of the universe to sustain and master the movement and life of billions of galaxies and trillions and trillions of stars.

The Holy Quran has indicated that Allah's knowledge is vast and endless: 

"And his people disputed with him. He said: Do you dispute with me regarding Allah, and He has, indeed, guided me? And I do not fear in any way those that you set up with Him unless my Lord pleases; my Lord comprehends all things in His knowledge; will you not then mind" (Al Quran, Surah al-Ana`m 6:80).

In Surah Al A'raf 7:156, Allah says (part of the whole verse quoted):

 قَالَ عَذَابِىۡۤ اُصِيۡبُ بِهٖ مَنۡ اَشَآءُ​ ۚ وَرَحۡمَتِىۡ وَسِعَتۡ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ​ ؕ

I afflict whomsoever I wish with My chastisement. As for My mercy, it encompasses everything.

In the verse above, the word used here for ‘encompasses’ is from the same root of Allah’s attribute Al-Waasi`. His mercy encompasses everything. So remember Allah, when you sin or in distress. Ask His boundless forgiveness and vastness of bounties, for it is only He Who can redress your grievances and come to your rescue. No wordly deities can be any help to you. Only if we can understand !!

What do we learn from this attribute of Allah? Well to my reckoning, if we expect boundless bounties from allah, which we surely do not deserve, then we must also be ever giving if someone asks for help or mentary assistance. If Allah grants increases His blessings on us, we must resiprocate and give more to others, less blessed than ourselves.

You may refer to our post "99 Attributes of Allah" for complete list of 99 attributes of Allah Almighty with meaning and explanation.

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For more Q&A about understanding Islam click here

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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