Al-Muhaymin
Al Muhaymin is the one who ensures well being and protection over his creation. He is ever watchful and offers peace and security. He is the trustworthy one who proclaims truth.
From the root h-y-m-n which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to watch over, oversee, protect, guard to be a witness to to offer security and peace to determine what is true to extend a wing (like a hen protecting her chicks)
He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. (Holy Quran Surah Al-Hashr 59:23)
And He is the subjugator over His servants, and He sends over you guardian-angels until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him, and they do not fail [in their duties]. (Quran 6:61)
Surely, Allah is witness to all. This is explained in the following verse.
That Day, the people will depart separated [into categories] to be shown [the result of] their deeds. So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it. (Quran 99: 6-8)
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Name: |
Al-Muhaymin |
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Al-Muhaymin in Arabic |
ٱلْمُهَيْمِنُ |
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Arabic root: |
(ه م ن) |
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Al-Muhaymin meaning in English: |
The Preserver of Safety, The Guardian, The Witness, The Protector, The Overseer |
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Al-Muhaymin meaning in Urdu |
نگہبان, محافظ |
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Appearance in the Quran: |
Once |
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Tasbeeh: |
136 times |
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Asma-ul-Husna with similar meaning: |
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The Preserver of Safety, The Guardian, The Witness, The Protector, The Overseer
Al-Muhaymin (ٱلْمُهَيْمِنُ) is among the 99 glorified names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It defines His attribute of ensuring the well-being and serving as the Divine Protector of His creation. It also implies that He is Ever-Watchful and nothing can be hidden from Him. He oversees all our actions and everything within our hearts and minds, and He is the Knower of all our secrets and deeds.
It comes in the Holy Quran:
يَعۡلَمُ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَيَعۡلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعۡلِنُونَۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
He knows whatever is in the heavens and the earth. And He knows whatever you conceal and whatever you reveal. For Allah knows best what is hidden in the heart. (Quran 64:4)
As a name and attribute of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) Al-Muhaymin occurs in the Holy Quran only once:
هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡمَلِكُ ٱلۡقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَٰمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُ ٱلۡمُهَيۡمِنُ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡجَبَّارُ ٱلۡمُتَكَبِّرُۚ سُبۡحَٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ
He is Allah – there is no god except Him: the King, the Most Holy, the All-Perfect, the Source of Serenity, the Watcher of all, the Almighty, the Supreme in Might, the Majestic. Glorified is Allah far above what they associate with Him in worship. (Quran 59:23)
The Arabic root of Al-Muhaymin is ha-meem-noon (ه م ن), the classical connotations of which are to oversee/watch over, guard, protect, and be a witness offering security and peace to establish what is right. It is likened to how a bird takes its young under the protection of its wings. It was narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) that the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the name Al-Muhaymin when narrating the 99 names of Allah to his companions. (Sunan Ibn Majah 3861).
In modern Arabic, the word هيمنة means dominance. In this world, dominance or authority is usually ‘transitory,’ i.e., exchanged between the hands of different owners. However, only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is Al-Muhaymin and possesses Complete and Unlimited Guardianship and Control that will last till eternity.
In terms of dominance, another meaning of Al-Muhaymin is a Trustworthy, Authoritative Figure Who Reigns Supreme. This is similar to a parent or guardian who sets rules and establishes boundaries for their children to protect and discipline them. Despite the children thinking otherwise, it is done for their best interests. The same is Allah’s Protection and Guardianship for us.
The attribute Al-Muhaymin also highlights Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) unique and supreme power as the Absolute Authority over everything in the Heavens and the Earth. Nothing can overtake Him or usurp Him. Unlike mortal beings, His knowledge is not only limited to superficial things; He is the All-Knowing and All-Seeing and is aware of even that which we hide within our hearts and minds.
Al-Muhaymin teaches us to be watchful of not only our deeds but also our actions. We might be tempted to invite negative thoughts into our minds, but we must not identify with them and/or act upon them. Doing the latter can lead to depression, aggression, arrogance, and narcissism. Instead, we must always monitor and be watchful of what is within our hearts and minds and guard them against the whispers of Shai’tan. We should only welcome constructive thoughts and let everything else go.
Another benefit of adopting the attribute Al-Muhaymin is to be mindful of the people around us. Just like Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is Ever-Watchful and the Supreme Guardian, we must identify the pains and troubles of others. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also advised us to care for the needs of others and help those around us. By doing so, we act as the guardians of people in need and act upon the guidance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and His Prophet (ﷺ) by showing support and compassion.
Reciting Al-Muhaymin 136 times during the state of ablution makes the inner being pure and luminous. It also protects the reciter from Shai’tan and all evils among Jinn and men. Additionally, if one recites Al-Muhaymin daily after obligatory Salah, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) appoints angels to protect the reciter from any possible accidents and helps them face difficulties in daily life.
Girls are usually named Muhaymin, meaning guardian. The name Muhaymin imparts the qualities of protection, watchfulness, compassion, and mindfulness in a child. It will also make them inherently pure and empathetic towards the pain and troubles of others.
Ar-Raqeeb – The Watcher
Al-Haafiz – The One who Protects and Guards
Ash-Shaheed – The Witness
Al-Aleem – The All-Knowing
As-Samee – The All-Hearing
Al-Baseer – The All-Seeing
Variations of the word Al-Muhaymin, such as مُهَيْمِنًا occur in the Holy Quran, such as in Surah Mai’dah Verse 48 where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) uses it to declare the Quran as the Book that will be guarded over the previously revealed books:
وَأَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ بِٱلۡحَقِّ مُصَدِّقٗا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَمُهَيۡمِنًا عَلَيۡهِۖ فَٱحۡكُم بَيۡنَهُم بِمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ عَمَّا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلۡحَقِّۚ
And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad SAW) the Book (this Quran) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Mohayminan (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures). So, judge between them by what Allah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging away from the truth that has come to you. (Quran 5:48)