Al-Muntaqim
Allah is Al-Muntaqim, The One who victoriously prevails over His enemies and punishes them for their sins. Allah is most patient, but the time will come where justice must be given. Avoid things which Allah has forbidden for he punishes those when provoked.
From the root n-q-m which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to dislike, disapprove, find fault to punish, exact vengeance to inflict retribution, avenge.
And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord;
then he turns away from them? Indeed We, from the criminals, will take retribution. (Quran 32:22)
And whether [or not] We take you away [in death], indeed, we will take retribution upon them. (Quran 43:41)
The Day We will strike with the greatest assault;
indeed, we will take retribution. (Quran 44:16)
Quran tells the story of Moses (pbuh) and The Pharaoh who disobeyed Allah’s multiple request to the right path:
So, he bluffed his people, and they obeyed him. Indeed, they were [themselves] a people defiantly disobedient [of Allah]. And when they angered Us, we took retribution from them and drowned them all. And We made them a precedent and an example for the later peoples. (Quran 43:54-56)
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Name: |
Al-Muntaqim |
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Al-Muntaqim in Arabic |
ٱلْمُنْتَقِمُ` |
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Arabic root: |
(ن ق م) |
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Al-Muntaqim meaning in English: |
The Avenger, The One Who Inflicts Retribution |
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Al-Muntaqim meaning in Urdu |
انتقام لینے والا |
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Appearance in the Quran: |
Not directly mentioned as a name, but the concept of retribution is present |
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Tasbeeh: |
Reflect on Al-Muntaqim to seek protection from injustice and to remind oneself of divine justice |
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Asma ul Husna with similar meaning: |
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The name Al-Muntaqim originates from the Arabic root "ن ق م. Al-Muntaqim is also taken from the noun (Intiqam) revenge, so its meaning in Urdu is “انتقام لینے والا.” Al-Muntaqim, meaning in English, is to seek revenge or inflict vengeance. It can be translated as the one who inflicts punishment or an avenger. It reflects Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى ability to be just and give punishments to those who cause major crimes and endure wrongdoing.
Al-Muntaqim is a divine quality that demonstrates Allah’s justice and holds people accountable for their good or bad deeds. He is Al-Muntaqim for his authority to punish people who oppress, harm, or disobey his limitations, mainly when they continuously disobey him without asking for repentance.
While Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has various names that describe his kindness, empathy, mercy, and forgiveness, Al-Muntaqim is the name that is not unjust while being kind. This notion of revenge and punishment appears in many passages of the Quran, which describes how Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is cruel with the cruel. The cruel fate is mentioned of Firawn as:
فَانْتَقَمْنَا مِنْہُمْ فَاَغْرَقْنٰہُمْ فِي الْيَمِّ بِاَنَّہُمْ كَذَّبُوْا بِاٰيٰتِنَا وَكَانُوْا عَنْہَا غٰفِلِيْن
"So We took retribution from them, and We drowned them in the sea because they denied Our signs and were heedless of them." (Qur'an 7:136)
In Quran (43:41) Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى say:
فَإِمَّا نَذۡهَبَنَّ بِكَ فَإِنَّا مِنۡهُم مُّنتَقِمُونَ
"And whether [or not] We take you away [in death], indeed, We will take retribution upon them."
This shows the concept of retribution and revenge is present in the Quran and that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى will hold justice against those who will deny Him. People who will not follow the right path of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى will have to face punishments in this world and hereafter. Hence, believers should avoid deeds that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has prohibited because He is just and doesn’t leave unjust unaccounted.
Al-Muntaqim, which translates as “The Avenger,” is one of the 99 names of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. It holds great significance because of its unique meaning, and it explains a unique relationship between Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and His creation. The name Al-Muntaqim is not especially used as a beautiful name of Allah, but it explains the justice of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى outstandingly.
You can incorporate Al-Muntaqim in your daily prayers as using this name can be a way of asking Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى for His help in harsh and unfair times. By reciting this name, one recognizes that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is aware of all the injustice, and He will deal with retribution. Recalling this quality daily can strengthen the belief that nothing will go unnoticed. It can inspire believers to fight for the oppressed and hold cruel people accountable.
It teaches us that we are responsible and answerable for our deeds. It gives the victims of unjust abuses a sense of comfort that the most virtuous judge, i.e., Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى will protect them against the abusers. The discussion of "revenge" occurs in the Holy Qur’an In Surat al-Ma'ida we read:
يٰۗاَيُّھَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَقْتُلُوا الصَّيْدَ وَاَنْتُمْ حُرُمٌ۰ۭ وَمَنْ قَتَلَہٗ مِنْكُمْ مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَــزَاۗءٌ مِّثْلُ مَا قَتَلَ مِنَ النَّعَمِ يَحْكُمُ بِہٖ ذَوَا عَدْلٍ مِّنْكُمْ ہَدْيًۢا بٰلِــغَ الْكَعْبَۃِ اَوْ كَفَّارَۃٌ طَعَامُ مَسٰكِيْنَ اَوْ عَدْلُ ذٰلِكَ صِيَامًا لِّيَذُوْقَ وَبَالَ اَمْرِہٖ۰ۭ عَفَا اللہُ عَمَّا سَلَفَ۰ۭ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَيَنْتَقِمُ اللہُ مِنْہُ۰ۭ وَاللہُ عَزِيْزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ
"O you who believe! Do not kill (any) game while you are on pilgrimage, and whoever among you kills it unintentionally, the compensation (for it) is the like of what he killed from the cattle, as two just persons among you shall judge, as an offering to be brought to the Ka`ba, or the expiation (of it) is the feeding of the poor or the equivalent in fasting, so that he may taste the unwholesome result of his deed; Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has pardoned what is gone by, and whoever returns (to it), Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى will inflict retribution on him, and Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is the Mighty, the Lord of Retribution" (Qur’an, 5:95).
There are a few more names of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى with similar meanings to Al-Muntaqim. These names highlight His quality of being just and holding retribution. Names with similar meanings as Al-Muntaqim are as follows:
Al-Jabbar (The Compeller)
Al-Qahhar (The Subduer)
Al-Adl (The Just)
Al-Muqsit (The Equitable)
Al-Hakam (The Judge)
These names justify Allah’s role as the greatest judge and that He has absolute power over everything. These names reflect His power to implement justice and retribution, showcasing His divine authority. In the Quran in Surah Al-Buruj, He says: “He is Allah, besides whom none has the right to be worshipped but He, the King, the Holy, the One free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him.” (85:15)
The name of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى Al-Muntaqim is not mentioned in the Quran directly. However, the concept of retribution and revenge is mentioned in several verses. A few of them are discussed below:
Allah says,
فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللہَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِہٖ رُسُلَہٗ۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ عَزِيْزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ
“Do not think Allah (to be One) failing in His promise to His prophets; surely Allah is Mighty, Lord of retribution” (Quran, 14:47).
يَوْمَ نَبْطِشُ الْبَطْشَۃَ الْكُبْرٰى۰ۚ اِنَّا مُنْتَقِمُوْنَ
“On the Day when We seize them with the most violent of seizing; surely We will (then) inflict retribution” (Qur’an, 44:16).
مِنْ قَبْلُ ھُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَاَنْزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ۰ۥۭ اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا بِاٰيٰتِ اللہِ لَھُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيْدٌ۰ۭ وَاللہُ عَزِيْزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ
"Before, as guidance for the people. And He revealed the Qur’an. Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of Allah will have a severe punishment, and Allah is exalted in Might, the Owner of Retribution."— (Qur'an 3:4)
وَمَنْ اَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ ذُكِّرَ بِاٰيٰتِ رَبِّہٖ ثُمَّ اَعْرَضَ عَنْہَا۰ۭ اِنَّا مِنَ الْمُجْرِمِيْنَ مُنْتَقِمُوْنَ
“And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the signs of his Lord then he turns away from them? Surely We will punish the guilty.” (Quran-32:22)
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) gives us the lesson of justice by his words and actions. It has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) said:
A commander (of the Muslims) is a shield for them. They fight behind him and are protected by (him from tyrants and aggressors). If he enjoins fear of God, the Exalted and Glorious, and dispenses justice, there will be a (great) reward for him; and if he enjoins otherwise, it redounds on him. (Sahih Muslim 1841)
It has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
Behold! The Dispensers of justice will be seated on the pulpits of light beside God, on the right side of the Merciful, Exalted, and Glorious. Either side of the Being is the right side both being equally meritorious. (The Dispensers of justice are) those who do justice in their rules, in matters relating to their families, and in all that they undertake to do. (Sahih Muslim 1827)