الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين 

We will continue in this talk by studying the names of Allah as part of our answer to the fourth question in the series of the topic entitled:” Your Life in Light of Eternity”, as a reminder, this topic addresses the following four questions:

1. What is the purpose of our lives on earth?
2. What is the nature of this life on earth?
3. What is our role on earth to fulfil the purpose of our lives on it?
4. What are the traits and qualities that we must possess to fulfill our role and achieve our purpose on earth?

We already addressed the first three questions, and we started the answer to the fourth question which is adopting in our character elements of the Names/Attributes of Allah, and we started with discussing the names, Allah, Al-Rahman, and Al-Rahime.  Then we proceeded with discussing the names in the last two verses of Surat Al-Hashr (59) and we discussed the names Al-Malik and Al-Quddus and Al-Salaam and today, we will Insha’Allah discuss the name Al-Mu’min.

7 Al-Mu’min (المؤمن) –  The Inspirer of Faith

Allah’s name “Al-Mu’min” was revealed once in the Quran in Surah Al-Hashr (59:23)

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

“He is Allah, there is no god but He, the King, the Holy, the Peace, the Inspirer of faith, the Guardian, the Eminent, the Compeller, the Proud, glory to Allah above the partners they attribute to Him.” (Al-Hashr 59:23)

The interpreters offered several translations of Allah’s name Al-Mu’min (الْمُؤْمِنُ) including: the Inspirer of faith, the Infuser of faith, the Giver of faith, the Guardian of faith, the Keeper of faith, and the supreme Believer. 

The challenge in translating this name is that the attribute Mu’min (مُؤْمِنُ) is used referring to a good Muslim as “believer”. Thus, the simple translation of Allah’s name Al-Mu’min (المؤمن) should be “The Believer”.  But if Allah is described as the Believer, the question is: believe in what?

Because this name came only once in the Quran, we don’t have other verses to give us additional meaning of the name.  Therefore, we can seek the Arabic Lexicon to give us the root of the name of its meanings.  The name Al-Mumin (الْمُؤْمِنُ) is derived from the root [أ م ن] “Amena” which means: to trust, to believe, to bring security.  Examples of the use of words used in the Quran and derived from the root include:

وَمَا أَنْتَ بِمُؤْمِنٍ لَنَا وَلَوْ كُنَّا صَادِقِينَ

“And you will not believe us even if we are truthful”. (Yusuf 12:17)

الَّذِي أَطْعَمَهُمْ مِنْ جُوعٍ وَآمَنَهُمْ مِنْ خَوْفٍ

“He is the one who fed them after being hungry and gave them security after being fearful.”( Quraish 106:4)

وَمِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ مَنۡ إِن تَأۡمَنۡهُ بِقِنطَارٍ۬ يُؤَدِّهِۦۤ إِلَيۡكَ وَمِنۡهُم مَّنۡ إِن تَأۡمَنۡهُ بِدِينَارٍ۬ لَّا يُؤَدِّهِۦۤ إِلَيۡكَ إِلَّا مَا دُمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِ قَآٮِٕمً۬ا‌ۗ

“Among the People of the Book are some who, if entrusted with a ton of gold, will (readily) pay it back; others, who if entrusted with a single silver coin, will not repay it unless you keep demanding it.” (Al-Emran 3:75)

وَقَالَ رَجُلٌ۬ مُّؤۡمِنٌ۬ مِّنۡ ءَالِ فِرۡعَوۡنَ يَكۡتُمُ إِيمَـٰنَهُ ۥۤ أَتَقۡتُلُونَ رَجُلاً أَن يَقُولَ رَبِّىَ ٱللَّهُ

“And said a believer, a man from among the people of Pharaoh, who had concealed his belief, “Will you kill a man because he says `My Lord is Allah’?’ (Ghafer 40:28)

So, when the name Al-Mu’min (الْمُؤْمِنُ)is used to represent the attribute of Allah, it implies three meanings:

1. Allah fully believes in Himself, in His authority and His power and accepts all His glorious names and what they imply.

In surah Al-Imran, Allah testifies that He is the only God:

شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ

“Allah testifies that there is no God but He.” (3:18) 

To make this matter clear, we know that a person gets in deep trouble if he does not know himself and makes commitments that he finds later that he cannot fulfill because they are beyond his capacity to handle.  But in the case of Allah, He Knows Himself fully and thus will never make a commitment that He cannot fulfill and obviously nothing is difficult for Allah as He says:

وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا

“There is nothing in the heavens or on earth that is difficult for Allah.” (Fatir 35:44)

وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرًا

“Allah is always able to do everything. “(Al-Fath 48:21)

2. Allah believes in His messengers and their message that He revealed to them.

 Allah expresses His belief in the truthfulness of the message of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by saying:

لَكِنِ اللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ إِلَيْكَ أَنْزَلَهُ بِعِلْمِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَشْهَدُونَ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا

“Allah bears witness that what He has sent down to you (Muhammad), He has sent with His (Own full) Knowledge and the angels bear witness: though Allah suffices as a Witness” (Al-Nisa 4:166).

When Allah makes it clear that He believes in the truth of the revelations given to Prophet Muhammad, it means that every promise in this revelation is truthful, and Allah will fulfill it. Allah says:

وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقًّا وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ اللَّهِ قِيلًا

“Allah’s promise is the truth and whose word can be truer than Allah’s. (Al-Nisa 4:122)

وَعْدَ اللَّهِ لَا يُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ

 “The promise is from Allah and Allah never fails to fulfill His promise” (Al-Rome 30:6)

Thus, Allah’s name Al-Mu’min means that Allah’s actions will be consistent with every statement and promise made by His messengers. In other terms, the name Al-Mu’min means that Allah is committed to fulfill every promise He made in His revelations through His messengers and every statement made will be proven accurate because Allah’s actions are always consistent with His words.

3. Allah is the provider of security and safety to the world.

Allah, Al-Mu’min, means that security and safety emanates from Him and to Him security and safety are ascribed because He conveys the means to attain them and blocks the paths of dangers. 

If you examine Allah’s creations, you cannot help but be overwhelmed by how Allah ensured our safety by the nature of His design of the creations.   Allah created the matters with fixed properties. if Allah made the properties of matters variable, no one would ever feel safe and secure because you may build your house of steel frame and then the steel changes its property and becomes like rubber and collapses. 

Allah made the rotational speed of all stars and galaxies are so accurate to maintain positions that are safe for mankind.  Can you imagine what would happen if the rotational speed of the earth which is 30 km/sec were variable and it accelerated and decelerated!  If this happened, no building would be standing on the earth, and no one would ever feel secure and safe. 

When we examine our own bodies, we note that Allah designed all the systems to ensure our safety and security.  Just think about the senses that Allah created for us, our sight, smell, touch and hearing; they make us able to identify dangers and protect ourselves from them.

But a fair question would be, if Allah is the Mu’min from whom security and safety emanates, why does Allah create fear in the hearts of some people. The answer is that Allah creates fear in the hearts of those people to ensure their safety from the temptations of this world and to ensure their security in the eternal life.

Examples of the Manifestation of Allah’s Name Al-Mu’min in the Character of the Prophet (PBUH):

When we study history of the Prophet (PBUH) we realize that he manifested this name. Al-Mu’min, in his life through his believe in himself as both the seal of the prophets and as a slave of Allah.  Also, he served as a source of security for all, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims. On promoting the safety and security for all citizens, the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عَنْ عَبْدِاللَّهِ بْنِ عمر رضي الله عنهما، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: مَنْ قَتَلَ مُعَاهَدًا لَمْ يَرَحْ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا لَيُوجَد مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ أَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا. أَخْرَجَهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ.

“Whoever kill a Mu‘āhad (non-Muslim citizen and any person protected by a treaty) will never smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance can be found at a distance of forty years (of traveling).

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: ألا من ظلم معاهدًا أو انتقصه أو كلفه فوق طاقته أو أخذ منه شيئا بغير طيب نفس: فأنا حجيجه يوم القيامة )رواه أبو داود(

“Indeed, whoever wrongs a Mu‘āhad (non-Muslim citizen and any person protected by a treaty) or violates his right  or burdens him with work beyond his capabilities, or  takes something from him without permission, I shall be his advocate on the day of Judgment.” (Abu Daoud)

حديث صحيح عن الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم: “. من عادى ذميًا فقد عاداني

“Whoever harms a dhimmī (a non-Muslim citizen), he harms me.”

In addition, the Prophet (PBUH) was fully aware of his superior role and status among the people while he (PBUH) was always aware of him being a slave of Allah and this was demonstrated by his humility.

Regarding believing in special position, Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said,

عن أَبُي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ” أَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يَنْشَقُّ عَنْهُ الْقَبْرُ وَأَوَّلُ شَافِعٍ وَأَوَّلُ مُشَفَّعٍ ” رواه مسلم

“I am the master of the children of Adam on the he Day of Resurrection, and I will be the first to be out of his grave and I will be the first to intercede and whose intercession will be accepted, and it is no boast. The banner of praise will be placed in my hand, and it is no boast.” (Muslim)  

 Abu Abu Sa’id reported a similar hadith in which the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن أَبِي سَعِيدٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ وَلَا فَخْرَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ مَنْ تَنْشَقُّ الْأَرْضُ عَنْهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا فَخْرَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ شَافِعٍ وَأَوَّلُ مُشَفَّعٍ وَلَا فَخْرَ وَلِوَاءُ الْحَمْدِ بِيَدِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا فَخْرَ  

] سنن ابن ماجه[

“I am the master of the children of Adam, and it is no boast. I will be the first for whom the earth is split on the Day of Resurrection, and it is no boast. I will be the first to intercede and whose intercession will be accepted, and it is no boast. The banner of praise will be placed in my hand, and it is no boast.”  (Sunan Ibn Mājah)

While the Prophet realized his superior status and believed in it, this did not cause him to lose his humility.  His humility was well recognized by all people, through his actions and saying.  His humbleness was unique and went beyond the qualities of any leader.

Once, a man came to the Prophet (PBUH) shaking with fear. Upon seeing him the Prophet (PBUH) smiled and comforted him, saying:

عن قيس بن أبي حازم : أن رجلاً أتي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقام بين يديه فأخذته رعدة فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: هوّن عليك فإني لست بملك ، إنما أنا ابن امرأة من قريش كانت تأكل القديد. ]سنن ابن ماجه[

“Be at ease. I am not a king, but I am the son of a woman from Quraish who used to eat dried meat.” [Ibn MAjah]

Both Abu Dhar and Abu Hurairah said:

عن أبي ذرٍّ وأبي هريرة رضي الله عنهما قالا: “كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يجلس بين ظهري أصحابه فيجيء الغريب فلا يدري أيُّهم هو حتى يسأل” ]أبو داود في سننه[

“The Prophet would sit with his companions in any vacant spot, So, when a stranger come would not distinguish him until he asks, “Which one of you is the Prophet?”  (Abu Dawud)

The Prophet (PBUH) prohibited his companions from standing up when he enters their gathering and said: 

(من أحب أن يتمثل له الرجال قياماً فليتبوأ مقعده من النار) رواه أحمد والترمذي و أبو داوود.

“Let him who likes people to stand up before him prepare his place in Hell.” [Abu-Dawud]

Elements to Adopt in our Character

When the name Mu’min (مُؤْمِنُ) is applied to us, it does not only mean the belief in Allah, the prophets, the revelations, the Day of Judgment, and the destiny, but it also means the belief that Allah Al-Mu’min (المؤمن) is the fortress that provides us with the safety and security, and this has to be projected on us by two key attributes.

1. To be a Mu’min, you should believe in yourself that you have been placed by Allah on this earth to serve as His representative, as His Khalifa. Therefore, the Mu’min’s actions must be in harmony and consistent with his words.  It is not befitting for a Mu’min to have duplicity in his personality, or to have an inside character that is not consistent with his external image.  A Mu’min is the one who does not project an external image of piety while his heart is filled with envy and hatred.
2. To be a Mu’min, you must serve as source of security and safety to all who are around you.  A Mu’min is the one from whom all creatures are safe, and every fearful person can anticipate help.  A Mu’min is a trustworthy person in his words, his promises, and his actions.  A Mu’min is the one who does not know how to deceive or trick or lie. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

عن أَبي هريرة : أَن النَّبيَّ ﷺ قَالَ: واللَّهِ لا يُؤْمِنُ، واللَّهِ لا يُؤْمِنُ، واللَّهِ لا يُؤْمِنُ، قِيلَ: مَنْ يا رسولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: الَّذي لا يأْمنُ جارُهُ بَوَائِقَهُ مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَي

 “By Allah, he does not believe; by Allah, he does not believe; by Allah, he does not believe.”  So, the people asked:  O’ Messenger of Allah, who is that? He said: “He is the one whose neighbor is not safe from his evils.”  This is why you will find that Allah, in the Quran, always says those who believe do righteous deeds because belief in itself is meaningless if it is not associated with righteous deeds. 

In the next talk, we will Insha’Allah discuss Allah’s name Al-Muhaymin.

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

“He is Allah, there is no god but He, the King, the Holy, the Peace, the Inspirer of faith, the Guardian, the Eminent, the Compeller, the Proud, glory to Allah above the partners they attribute to Him.” (Al-Hashr 59:23)

(DUA)