Allah’s name Al-Hayy (الْحَيُّ) (The Ever Living) is a unique name because Allah’s life is different from the life of anything else.  Allah is eternally Living, there is no start point for Allah’s existence and there is no end point. Allah has no beginning because there was nothing before Him and has no end because there is nothing after Him.  Allah existence all the time and before the existence of anything means that He is completely self-sustaining and has no need for anything or anyone to maintain His existence. This is an element of Allah’s name Al-Qayyum.

Allah’s name Al-Qayyum (القيوم) has two elements:

1. Allah is self-sustaining, He needs no help ever from anything or anyone. Therefore, there is nothing that can influence Allah’s existence or the perfection of his attributes.
2. Allah is ever-sustainer; everything that exists needs Allah’s help and support for their existence and He is the only One Who has the authority for the decisions that impact and control everything that exists.

Linguistically Al-Qayyum (القيوم) means that Allah is the One who:

1. Stands alone as the master with full authorities and responsibilities for everything under His control, For Allah, everything in the universe and beyond is under His control.
2. Stands on his own and does not need any outside help to maintain his attributes
3. Stands without any change and cannot be eliminated or removed
4. Stands for justice and enforcer of His just judgement.

The name Al-Qayyum (القيوم) is related to Allah’s other names such as Al-Samad (ٱلْصَّمَدُ) (The needing of none and the satisfier of needs for all), Al-Muhaymin (ٱلْمُهَيْمِنُ) (the Guardian) and Al-Razzaq (ٱلْرَّزَّاقُ) (the Provider).

The combined names Al-Hayy and Al-Qayyum came in the Quran 3 times:

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡحَىُّ ٱلۡقَيُّومُ‌ۚ لَا تَأۡخُذُهُ ۥ سِنَةٌ۬ وَلَا نَوۡمٌ۬‌ۚ لَّهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۗ  [البقرة : 255].

Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever Living, the Self-Sustaining and the Ever Sustainer. Neither dozing overtakes Him not sleep.  To Him belongs all that in the heavens and all that in the earth.” (Al-Baqara 2: 255)

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡحَىُّ ٱلۡقَيُّومُ (٢) نَزَّلَ عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ [آل عمران].

“Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever Living, the Self-Sustaining and the Ever Sustainer. (2) He has revealed to you the book in truth.” (Al-Emran 2:2-3)

وَعَنَتِ ٱلۡوُجُوهُ لِلۡحَىِّ ٱلۡقَيُّومِ‌ۖ وَقَدۡ خَابَ مَنۡ حَمَلَ ظُلۡمً۬ا  [طه : 111]

“All faces shall be humbled before (Allah)― the Ever Living, the Self-Sustaining and the Ever Sustainer, and the loser will be the one who bears (the burden of) injustice.” (Taha 20:111)

While Allah’s name Al- Qayyum came only in the Quran in these three places, Allah’s name Al-Hayy came by itself in two additional places:

وَتَوَڪَّلۡ عَلَى ٱلۡحَىِّ ٱلَّذِى لَا يَمُوتُ [الفرقان : 58].

“Put your trust in the Ever-Living who does not die.” (Al-Fourqan 25:58)

هُوَ ٱلۡحَىُّ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَٱدۡعُوهُ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَۗ [غافر : 65].

“He is the Ever-Living, there is no God but He.  Call upon Him, making (the practice of) the religion exclusive for Him.” (Ghafir 40:65)

Allah is the only One who can be described as Al-Hayy because everything else starts their life from a state of non-existence and end their life to a state of nonexistence. Also, Allah Al-Hayy is the source of life for all living things, and He is the One who created both life and death as He said:

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً)  سورة الملك(

“He who created death and life, so that He may test as which of you is better in his deeds.” (Al-Mulk 67:2)

The life of all human beings started from non-existence; Allah says:

هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى الْإِنْسَانِ حِينٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْئاً مَذْكُوراً   )الإنسان(

“There has come upon man a period in which he was nothing worth mentioning.” (Al-Insan 76:1)

Also, everything that exist will end to nothing and only Allah will remain:

كُلُّ مَنۡ عَلَيۡہَا فَانٍ۬ (٢٦) وَيَبۡقَىٰ وَجۡهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلۡجَلَـٰلِ وَٱلۡإِكۡرَامِ  )الرحمن(

“All that is on earth will perish. (26) And only your Lord’s Face will remain, Full of Majesty, Full of Honor.” (Al-Rahman 55:26-27)

كُلُّ شَىۡءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجۡهَهُ ۥ‌ۚ لَهُ ٱلۡحُكۡمُ وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ  )  القصص)

“Everything (that exists) is going to perish except His Face. To Him belongs the Command, and to Him you (all) will return.” (Al-Qasas 28:88)

If you put your trust on anyone other than Allah, such a person will die someday and leave you.  But intelligent people put their trust on Allah because He will always be there because He is Al-Hayy, the Ever-Living:

وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ )سورة الفرقان)

“Put your trust in the Ever-Living who does not die.” (Al-Fourqan 25:58)

Allah Al-Qayyum (القيوم) is responsible for all phases of the life of all creations. He decides when they come into existence and when they die and as long as they are living, He is responsible for providing them with all that is necessary for their survival.  Allah says:

وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ )سورة هود(

“There is no moving creature on earth, but its sustenance depends on Allah: He knows its permanent and its temporary place. Everything is in a clear Record.” (Hud 11:6)

To appreciate Allah, Al-Qayyum (القيوم), let us consider that you were given the responsibility of being a Qayyum over your street. This means that you are responsible for everyone’s food, water, and air.  You are also responsible for operating everyone’s bodily functions such as breathing, digestion, blood filtration and blood circulation systems, etc. In addition, you are also responsible for the air composition and the ozone protection.  And don’t overlook that you are also responsible for every pregnant woman to protect her fetus and ensure that when she delivers, she will have milk that is suitable for the infant.  Be sure to also take care of every inspect, bird, animal, and plant in your street. These are some of the responsibilities that you will have to take care of if you are Qayyum over one street.  To fulfill this responsibility, you obviously, can never die or even get sick. Now, consider Allah who is Qayyum over all the universe whether they reside on earth, in earth, in seas, in other planets at the same time and all the time.

أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَى كُلِّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْ أَمْ تُنَبِّئُونَهُ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَمْ بِظَاهِرٍ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ

“Is He Who Qayyum (standing, watchful) over every soul and over all that it does (equal to their false deities)?  Yet, they ascribe partners to Allah. Say: “Give their names.  Is it that you will inform Him of something He does know on earth, or is it (just) empty words?” (Al-R’ad 13:33)

 

In order for Allah Al-Qayyum (القيوم), to control all things all the time, He must have the additional and very unique attribute: (﴿لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ “slumber does not overtake Him, nor does sleep.”

Nothing in the universe but is under Allah’s control all the time and nothing is out of His sight even for a split second.  If Allah ignores things for a split second, the whole universe will be destroyed.   Bani Israel asked Prophet Moses: Does your God sleep?  Allah inspired Moses to bring two glass bottles and let one of the people to hold them in his hands and ensure that he does not drop them.  When the man slept, the glass bottles fell and broke.  This is what will happen if the one standing in control over the earth and heavens dozes even a little, the whole universe will be destroyed.

It is known that most car accidents happen because the driver gets distracted for a mere second and therefore the 3 second rule for safe following distance is established to allow the car driver one second to react under good driving conditions at about 30 miles per hour.   Imagine if you are driving a vehicle whose weight is 6 billion trillion metric tons at a speed of 67,000 miles/hr.  This is the weight of the earth and the speed of the earth around the sun.  So, if Allah dozes a split second the earth moves off its track or even if the speed is not held constant and changes a little, nothing will be stationary on earth.

To appreciate the nature the role and the relationship between us and Allah, Allah is the master, and we are His slaves. Who should be staying up all the time taking care of the other’s affairs?  Should the master be staying up all night to meet the needs of his slave or the slave should be the one staying up all night to meet the needs of his master?

But Allah, the Master stays awake all the time to take care of all our needs while we, His slaves, sleep.   Who is running your heart while you are sleeping, who is running your lungs while you are sleeping, who is controlling the very complicated chemical plant in your body while you are sleeping, who ensures that all your defensive systems are ready to repel any foreign attack against your body while you are sleeping.

The slaves go to sleep and have dreams while the Master does not even doze for a split second.  Shouldn’t we be honored by being His slaves! Our Master, Allah Al-Hyy Al-Qayyun is telling us go to sleep, have a rest because I am standing and awake all the time for you.  Allah, Al-Qayyum is not only awake all the time, but He has full control over all things that exist in the universe because (لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ); to Him belong all things that are in the heavens and on earth.  This should make you comfortable that nothing will ever be out of His control because He is the creator of all that exists and in control of all that exists all the time. Allah says:

اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ )  الزمر(

“Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the trustee of all things.” (Al-Zumur 39:62)

Allah is Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum, is there anyone who deserves to be worshipped other than Him!  Is there anyone that should be loved more than Him!   True Monotheism means that we cannot associate anyone or anything “with” Allah.   A true believer cannot love anything “with” Allah.  Yes, we can love many things “for” Allah (الحب في الله) but not “with” Allah (الحب مع الله). We love the Prophet (PBUH), the companions, the scholars, the righteous people, we love the House of Allah, the Book of Allah, we love Ramadan, and we love every good deed for Allah but not with Allah.

The love with Allah (الحب مع الله) is the core of shirk. If you violate Allah’s commands because of your love of someone or because you expect a benefit from someone, you will be loving that person with Allah, and this is Shirk.   When Allah selects special times, spaces, or people, it is not intended to make them unique but rather to make them examples for all times, all places, and all people. We love these times, spaces and men for Allah but not with Allah.

When you go to Mecca and enjoy the spirituality and nearness to Allah, you should feel similarly in other places because Allah is everywhere.  When we come regularly to the House of Allah in Ramadan, is it because of our love of Ramadan or because our love of Allah. If we love coming to Masjid because of Allah, the Masjid is the house of Allah in Ramadan and in other than Ramadan.  But if you love coming because of Ramadan, this is love with Allah and this is Shirk.

The one person who loved the Prophet (PBUH) more than anyone else and the Prophet (PBUH) loved him more than anyone else is Sayedna Abu Bakr, but when the Prophet (PBUH) died, he said:

من كان يعبد محمداً (من دون أي لقب) فإن محمداً قد مات ومن كان يعبد الله فإن الله حي لا يموت

“Whoever worshipped Mohammad, Mohammad died (without giving any title for him) but whoever worships Allah, Allah is Ever-Living and will never die”.

This shows the true level of Abu-Bakr’s belief in Allah.  He knew exactly who the Prophet is and who Allah is.  He loved the Prophet (PBUH) greatly, but he never had any element of Shirk, even a small or hidden one in his heart.  Abu Bakr loved the Prophet (PBUH) but He worshipped the Ever-Living God. The Prophet (PBUH) warned us of the hidden shirk as he said:

أخوف ما أخاف على أمتي الشرك الخفي

“My worst fear on my nation is the hidden shirk”.

But Allah is not only Ever-Living, He is also Qayyum who has control over all things. Therefore, how can a believer in Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum ever fear.   In fact, fear is caused by shirk.  Allah says:

سَنُلۡقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ٱلرُّعۡبَ بِمَآ أَشۡرَڪُواْ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمۡ يُنَزِّلۡ بِهِۦ سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا‌ۖ

“We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve because they ascribe unto Allah partners, for which He had sent no authority.” (Al-Imran 3:151)

If you are with Allah, Al-Hayy, your heart will be alive, and you will always be in a state of tranquility and comfort.  Allah says:

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ أَلَا بِذِڪۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ )الرّعد(

“Those who believed and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (Al-Ra’d 13:28)

Since the death that we know is just a transition to another life, the question is whether, we will be with the Ever-Living God, Al-Hayy, to see Him

وُجُوهٌ۬ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ نَّاضِرَةٌ (٢٢) إِلَىٰ رَبِّہَا نَاظِرَةٌ۬

“Some faces that Day shall be shining and radiant. (22) Looking at their Lord.” (Al-Qiyamah 22-23)

Or will be of those who will be shielded from Him.

كَلَّا‌ۖ بَلۡۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِہِم مَّا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ (١٤) كَلَّآ إِنَّہُمۡ عَن رَّبِّہِمۡ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ لَّمَحۡجُوبُونَ

“Nay, but that which they have earned is rust upon their hearts. (14) Nay, but surely on that day they will be veiled from seeing their Lord” (Al-Mutafifeen 83:14-15)

 

In our lives, we may make things but lose control over them either by us getting rid of them or by us dying and leaving them.  But Allah creates everything and maintains the control over them all the time. For Allah, everything is under His full control

وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُحِيطًا

What is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Allah. Allah encompasses all things. (Al-Nisa 4: 126)

We should never forget that whatever happens to us does so by Allah’s will and is surely ordained for a purpose. We have no recourse other than taking refuge in Him because there is no protector or helper other than Him:

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ

Do you not know that Allah is He to Whom the kingdom of the heavens and the earth belong and that, besides Allah, you have no protector and no helper? (al-Baqara 2: 107)

We can only assure our protection by seeking it from Allah because He is in full control over all things, and He does not share this control with anyone.

وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا  ) الكهف (

He does not share His Command with anyone”. (Al-Kahf 18:26)

The belief that Allah is in control of all things and that He does not share this control with anyone else is very critical because it differentiates between pure Monotheism and shirk.  You should know that nothing will ever happen to you except by the will of Allah because there is no place or moment in the universe independent of Allah. Therefore, relying on and putting our trust in the One Who is in control is key in facing anything in your life, Allah teaches us to say:

قُلْ لَنْ يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَانَا وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

Say: “Nothing can happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is Our Master. It is in Allah that the believers should put their trust.” (At-Tawba 9:51)

 Allah’s names Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum is considered by interpreting the hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) to be the greatest name of Allah if He is called upon thereby, He answers and if He is asked thereby, He gives.

The Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن أبي أمامة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : ( اسْمُ اللَّهِ الأَعظَمُ فِي سُوَرٍ مِنَ القُرآنِ ثَلَاثٍ : فِي ” البَقَرَةِ ” وَ ” آلِ عِمرَانَ ” وَ ” طَهَ ” ) .رواه ابن ماجه

“The greatest name of Allah is in three surat of the Qur’an: al-Baqarah, Aal ‘Imran and Ta-Ha.” (Ibn Maajah) (The name in these three Surat is Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum)

It was narrated from Anas that he was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), and a man was praying then he said in supplication:

عن أنسٍ رضي الله عنه أن رجلًا دعا فقال : اللهمَّ إني أسألُك بأنَّ لك الحمدُ، لا إله إلا أنت المنَّان، بديعُ السماوات والأرضِ، يا ذا الجلال والإكرام، يا حيُّ يا قيوم، فقال النبي ﷺ : «لقد دعا باسمِه الأعظم الذي إذا دُعيَ به أجاب، وإذا سُئل به أعطى ».

“O Allah, I ask You by virtue of the fact that all praise is due to You; there is no god but You, the Bestower, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the Possessor of majesty and honor, Ya Hayy, Y Qayyum”.

The Prophet (PBUH) said: “He has asked Allah by His greatest name which, if He is called upon thereby, He answers and if He is asked thereby, He gives.” (Al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, Al-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah)

Elements to Adopt in our Character

1/ By understanding the meaning of Allah Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum, you should call upon him with these names when you face any hardship. Whenever the Prophet (PBUH) faced any hardship, he used to supplicate to Allah with these two names.  It is reported by Anas Ibn Malik that whenever anything happens that distresses the Prophet (PBUH), He would say:

“كان النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم إذا كربه أمر قال: يا حي يا قيوم برحمتك أستغيث”

“Ya Hayy – Ya Qayyum, I take refuge in Your mercy.” (Ibn Hibban)

The Prophet (PBUH) advised his daughter Fatima to make the following Dua every morning and every evening:

عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال : قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لفاطمة رضي الله عنها : قولي إذا أصبحت وإذا أمسيت : يا حي يا قيوم برحمتك أستغيث ، أصلح لي شأني كله ، ولا تكلني إلى نفسي طرفة عين.  ]رواه النسائي والحاكم في المستدرك والبيهقي في الأسماء والصفات ، وغيرهم.[

‘Ya Hayy Ya Qayyum by Your mercy I seek assistance, rectify for me all of my affairs and do not leave me to myself, even for the blink of an eye.

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “Asking Allah by His names Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum has a great effect in Him answering your supplications, and in relieving any difficulties or hardships.  Therefore, ask Allah with these names to restore any weakness of your life, meaning any weakness in your health or to remove any pain that affects your abilities and actions”.

2/ Invoke Allah’s name Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum to give spiritual life to your heart because our hearts need to be alive to know the truth when one commits a sin or any bad act. If the heart is dead, it will not feel this pain of regret.

3/ Have firm trust that Al-Hayy Al–Qayyum will take care of your affairs and bring ease to you by always reflecting on His greatness, and perfection and the extent of what He provides to you and every one of His creations.

4/ Do your best to be Qayyum on others, extend a helping hand to others. Bring ease to others whenever you can.