99 Attributes of Allah: Al Wakil - The Trustee

Continuing with our series of posts on 99 Attributes of Allāh, today we share yet another powerful attribute of Allāh: Al Wakīl " ٱلْوَكِيلُ  " (pronounced Al Wakeel) which means The Trustee, The Dependable, The Advocate, The Guardian and The dispenser of Affairs.

اَلَّذِيۡنَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ اِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدۡ جَمَعُوۡا لَـكُمۡ فَاخۡشَوۡهُمۡ فَزَادَهُمۡ اِيۡمَانًا  ۖ وَّقَالُوۡا حَسۡبُنَا اللّٰهُ وَنِعۡمَ الۡوَكِيۡلُ‏

"When people said to them: 'Behold, a host has gathered around you and you should fear them', it only increased their faith and they answered: 'Allah is Sufficient for us; and what an excellent Guardian He is!' " (Surah Al i Imran 3:173) 

No doubt Allāh, the Al Wakīl, is the One who can be entrusted with all affairs. He is the ultimate Trustee, guardian and administrator of all things and we can trust in the fact that Al Wakīl will provide the perfect resolution for every matter. 

"...... To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. Allāh is sufficient for a guardian." (Surah An Nisa 4:171)

The root w-k-l  in classical Arabic connotation means: (1) to appoint or entrust for the care or management of something, (2) to have a commissioned agent, a guardian of one's interests, (3) to rely upon, confide in, lean upon, submit to. This same root w-k-l also gives rise to the word tawakkul, which indicates submitting to Allāh, relying upon Allāh, putting one's trust in Allāh.

رَبُّ الۡمَشۡرِقِ وَالۡمَغۡرِبِ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ فَاتَّخِذۡهُ وَكِيۡلًا‏  

"He is the Lord of the East and the West; there is no god but He. So take Him alone for your Guardian" (Surah 73. Al-Muzzammil: 9) 

Wakīl is a person in whom one has complete faith; so much so that one can entrust all his affairs to him with full satisfaction of the heart. Thus, the verse means: Do not feel distressed at the hardships that you are experiencing at the storm of opposition that has been provoked by your invitation to the faith. Your Lord is He Who is the Owner of the East and the West, (i.e. of the whole universe) besides Whom no one else possesses the powers of Godhead. Entrust your affair to Him and be satisfied that He will fight your case, He will deal with your opponents, and He will look after all your interests well.

وَيَقُوۡلُوۡنَ طَاعَةٌ فَاِذَا بَرَزُوۡا مِنۡ عِنۡدِكَ بَيَّتَ طَآئِفَةٌ مِّنۡهُمۡ غَيۡرَ الَّذِىۡ تَقُوۡلُ​ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَكۡتُبُ مَا يُبَيِّتُوۡنَ​ ۚ فَاَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡهُمۡ وَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى اللّٰهِ​ ؕ وَكَفٰى بِاللّٰهِ وَكِيۡلًا‏

"They say (in your presence): 'We obey', but when they leave your presence a party of them meets by night to plan against what you have said. Allah takes note of all their plots. So, let them alone, and put your trust in Allah. Allah is sufficient as a guardian." (Surah 4 An Nisa: 81) 

Allāh, the Allāh takes charge of everything and He benevolently looks after His pious servants. He is the One to Whom all affairs are referred, Who makes the truth manifest; so, whoever relies on Him will be self-sufficient, and whoever seeks sufficiency from Him will be independent and pleased.

ذٰ لِكُمُ اللّٰهُ رَبُّكُمۡ​ۚ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ​ۚ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ فَاعۡبُدُوۡهُ​ۚ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ وَّكِيۡلٌ‏ 

"Such is Allah, your Lord. There is no god but He - the Creator of all things. Serve Him alone - for it is He Who is the guardian of everything." (Surah 6. Al-An'am: 102) 

Allāh, thus, expects all His sincere and faithful servants to trust Him in all circumstances, specially when confronted with all odds. Remember all Messengers and Prophets of Allāh faced stiff resistance from the non believers when they tried to put across the message of Allāh to them. They were not only vocally abused but even physically assaulted and isolated so as to desist them from spreading the message of Allāh. Yet, the Messengers and Prophets were reassured of Allāh's guardianship and help so that they could put up a brave resistance to the enemies of Allāh and continue spreading the ultimate truth. Allāh's reassurance in trying times made them strong.

Remember what Prophet Ya`qoob (Jacob) said to his sons when they wanted to take him away with them and the Prophet doubted their intentions:

قَالَ لَنۡ اُرۡسِلَهٗ مَعَكُمۡ حَتّٰى تُؤۡتُوۡنِ مَوۡثِقًا مِّنَ اللّٰهِ لَـتَاۡتُنَّنِىۡ بِهٖۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ يُّحَاطَ بِكُمۡ​ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اٰتَوۡهُ مَوۡثِقَهُمۡ قَالَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مَا نَقُوۡلُ وَكِيۡلٌ‏ 

"Their father said: "I shall never send him with you until you give me a solemn promise in the name of Allah that you will bring him back to me, unless you yourselves are surrounded." Then after they had given him their solemn promise, he said. "Allah watches over what we have said." (Surah 12. Yusuf: 66)

Allāh, Al Wakīl, has always stressed upon His faithfuls to trust Allah once they have taken a rightful decision and then leave rest to Him for He is the best disposer of affairs and loves those who put their trust in Him:

"And when you are resolved on a course of action place your trust in Allah; surely Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)." (Surah 3. Al-i'Imran: 159)

We too should always put our firm trust in Allāh and be rest assured that Allāh, the Al Wakil be our trustee and guardian provided we follow His commandments with a sincere heart and unwavering strong belief that no matter how odd the circumstances may be, we shall be protected being under the umbrella of the best disposer of the affairs.

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

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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99 Attributes of Allah: Al-Hafīz - The Preserver, the All Watching

One of the 99 attributes of Allah is Al Ḥafīẓ " ٱلْحَفِيظُ " (pronounced Al Hafeez), which means The Preserver, the Protector, the Guardian, the Oft-Conservator and the All Watching.

وَمَا كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن سُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِالْآخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِي شَكٍّ ۗ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَفِيظٌ

"And he has no authority over them, but so that We may distinguish the one who believes in the hereafter from the one who is in doubt concerning it, and your Lord preserves all things" (Quran, 34:21)

The above verse from Surah Saba explains the attribute of Allah wherein it is being said that Allah is the One whose power preserves the heavens and the earth. The One who is the guardian and preserver of all the worlds.

Al Ḥafīẓ  comes from the verb ‘hifz – to preserve’ and literally means ‘to preserve, to guard and to protect’. In Surah 11 Hud, verse 57, it is said:

فَاِنۡ تَوَلَّوۡا فَقَدۡ اَبۡلَغۡتُكُمۡ مَّاۤ اُرۡسِلۡتُ بِهٖۤ اِلَيۡكُمۡ​ؕ وَيَسۡتَخۡلِفُ رَبِّىۡ قَوۡمًا غَيۡرَكُمۡۚ وَلَا تَضُرُّوۡنَهٗ شَيۡـئًا​ ؕ اِنَّ رَبِّىۡ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ حَفِيۡظٌ‏ 

"If you, then, turn away (from the truth), know that I have delivered the message with which I was sent to you. Now my Lord will set up another people in place of you and you shall in no way be able to harm Him. Surely my Lord keeps a watch over everything."

وَالَّذِيۡنَ اتَّخَذُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِهٖۤ اَوۡلِيَآءَ اللّٰهُ حَفِيۡظٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ​ۖ وَمَاۤ اَنۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ بِوَكِيۡلٍ‏ 

"Those who have taken others than Him as their protectors beside Him, it is Allah Who oversees them; you are no guardian over them." (Surah 42. Ash-Shura: 6)

Al-Hafīz is the One who protects that which He has created, and Whose knowledge encompasses that which He has brought into existence. He protects His servants from falling into sin and disaster, and He takes care of them in all situations. He records the deeds of His slaves and the reward or punishment for that.

Al-Hafīz has two meanings: One is the opposite of oversight or forgetfulness, and its meaning is derived from knowing. When we say that the Almighty safeguards things, we mean that He knows them in all their quantities and intricacies, and that such knowledge is not altered by diminution, oversight, negligence, or forgetfulness. The other is that al-Hafeez safeguards things against loss: He guards them, and all His characteristics and perfection are above extinction. He has also said: "Attend constantly to prayers and to the middle prayers, and stand up truly obedient to Allah" (Quran, 2:238), and, "His Dominion overspreads the heavens and the earth, and their upholding wearies Him not. He is All-High, All-Glorious." (Quran, 2:255).

Related names:

• Raqīb refers to the One who has the attribute of watchfulness.
• Wakīl refers to the One who is the trusted administrator.
• Māni' - the One who protects and defends against harmful situations.
• Muhaymin refers to the One who is the ever-watchful guardian and protector.

Thus one who contemplates on the meanings of al-Hafeez and eagerly longs for Him with all his heart is one in whose heart the love for His Lord is borne; the Lord Who protects His servant even when the latter is disobedient to Him, falling short of worshiping Him, lagging behind in adoring Him.

He reawakens his heart from its inattentiveness. It is then that Allah makes his heart like a preserved treasure of secrets, so he takes courageous stands, safeguarding his senses against committing sins, protecting his heart against spiritually harmful insinuations. 

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

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran

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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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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.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

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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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