The Noble Name Al-Haasib is mentioned in the Noble Qur’an twice in the plural form. Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-An’aam [6:62]:
اَلَا لَهُ الۡحُكۡمُ وَهُوَ اَسۡرَعُ الۡحَاسِبِيۡنَ
“Surely, for Him is the judgement and He is the Swiftest in taking account.“
Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) also said in Surat al-Anbiya’ [21:47]:
وَكَفىٰ بِنا حاسِبينَ
“And Sufficient are We to take account.“
As regards the Name Al-Haseeb, it is mentioned three times in the Noble Qur’an. Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat an-Nisa’ [4:6] and Surat al-Ahzaab [33:39]:
وَكَفىٰ بِاللَّهِ حَسيبًا
“And Allaah is All¬Sufficient in taking account.“
Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) also said in Surat an-Nisa’ [4:86]:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كانَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَيءٍ حَسيبًا
“Certainly, Allaah is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things.“
THE MEANING OF THESE NAMES:
Az-Zajaj said: “Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) is Muhsib i,e, Sufficient and also Account Taker. All of Allaah’s Favors and Blessings are accounted.“ [Tafseer al-Asma’]
Ibn Jarir said regarding Allaah’s Statement in Surat an-Nisa’ [4:6]:
وَكَفىٰ بِاللَّهِ حَسيبًا
“And Allaah is All¬Sufficient in taking account.“
Meaning, Allaah is Sufficient as Witness and Watcher over the sponsor of the orphan when he gives back or releases the money to him (the orphan).
And he (Ibn Jarir) said regarding the Statement of Allaah in Surat al-Ahzab [33:39] that “Allaah is Sufficient as a Guardian over the deeds of His creation and as a Reckoner for them.” [At-Tafsir]
Ibn Jarir is of the opinion that the meaning of Allaah’s Name Al-Haseeb, in Surat an-Nisa’ [4:86], is Al-‘Hafeedh (The Guardian). He said: “Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) is Guardian over everything that the people do of actions, good or evil, until He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) recompenses them.“
Shaikh as-Sa’dee (Rahimahullaah) said: “Al-Haseeb is the One Who is All-Knowing of His slaves and Sufficient for those who put their trust in Him. He is the One Who recompenses His slaves with either good or bad in accordance with His Wisdom and His Knowledge of the minutest and greatest of their actions.“ [Tayseer al-Kareem]
Accordingly, the Names of Al-Haasib and Al-Haseeb mean:
- He is the Sufficient One, Who suffices those who put their trust in Him.
- He is the Reckoner, Who takes account of everything.
THE IMPACT OF BELIEVING IN THIS NAME:
1- Indeed, Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) is All-Sufficient for His slaves who depend on Him and are in continuous need of Him. He is their Creator and Sustainer, Who suffices them in this life and the Hereafter; no one shares with Him in this matter. If people think that other than Allaah can suffice them, then this is a false thought and absolutely wrong. Everything exists and happens by His creating, command and decree.
Al-Qurtubi said in his book “Al-Asna“: “Don’t think that when you need food, drink, earth, sky, sun etc. you need other than Him and that He doesn’t suffice you. In fact, He is the One Who suffices you by creating the food, the drink, the earth, etc.
Don’t think also that the baby who needs his mother to breastfeed and look after him, that Allaah does not suffice him; nay, Allaah is the One Who suffices him by creating his mother, and the milk in her breasts. He is the One Who creates for him the guidance to suck the milk. He is the One Who creates the mercy and the love for him in the heart of his mother.
Sufficiency occurs by these means, and Allaah is the Only One Who creates these means for him and this is out of His Grace and Bounty.
Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) is the Only One Who suffices everyone, and no one shares with Him in that, and this is the correct meaning for Allaah’s Statement in Surat al-Anfal [8:64]:
يا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَسبُكَ اللَّهُ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ المُؤمِنينَ
“O Prophet (Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam))! Allaah is Sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you.“
This is the meaning that most of the Scholars have chosen, which is also supported by many evidences.“
Ibn al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) said, after mentioning the previous verse: “Allaah (Alone) is Sufficient for you and your followers. So you do not need with Him anyone else. As He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat az-Zumar [39:36]:
أَلَيسَ اللَّهُ بِكافٍ عَبدَهُ
“Is not Allaah Sufficient for His slave?“
The Sufficiency of Allaah and His allegiance for His slave will be according to the obedience of the slave. How much the slave keeps his duty and obeys Allaah and His Messenger, that much will be the Sufficiency and Allegiance of Allaah for him.“
Ibn al-Qayyim (Rahimahullaah) added: “The meaning, according to how one follows the Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) will be the honor, support and sufficiency. Similarly, according to how one follows the Messenger will be the guidance, success and salvation. Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) made attainment of happiness in this life and the Hereafter conditional to following him (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and made wretchedness in this life and the Hereafter a result of opposing him (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). For his (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) followers will be guidance, security, success, honor, support, sufficiency, allegiance and good life in this life and the Hereafter, whereas for his (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) opponents will be disgrace, fear, straying and wretchedness in this life and the Hereafter.” [Zad al-Ma’ad]
2- Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) is Al-Haasib, Who takes account of everything; nothing escapes Him, not even the weight of an atom in the heavens nor in the earth.
Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Jinn [72:28]:
وَأَحاطَ بِما لَدَيهِم وَأَحصىٰ كُلَّ شَيءٍ عَدَدًا
“And He (Allaah) surrounds all that which is with them, and He (Allaah) keeps count of all things (i.e. He knows the exact number of everything).“
And He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) also said in Surat Maryam [19:93-94]:
إِن كُلُّ مَن فِي السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ إِلّا آتِي الرَّحمٰنِ عَبدًا
لَقَد أَحصاهُم وَعَدَّهُم عَدًّا
“There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Gracious (Allaah) as a slave. Verily, He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting.“
He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) has written all that in the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh al-Mahfoudh) before the creation of the heavens and the earth by fifty thousand years, as is mentioned in a narration reported by Abdullah bin ‘Amr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) in Sahih Muslim.
It is also affirmed in the Noble Qur’an that Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat Ya-Seen [36:12]:
وَكُلَّ شَيءٍ أَحصَيناهُ في إِمامٍ مُبينٍ
“And all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Book.“
He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) also said in Surat al-Hadid [57:22]:
ما أَصابَ مِن مُصيبَةٍ فِي الأَرضِ وَلا في أَنفُسِكُم إِلّا في كِتابٍ مِن قَبلِ أَن نَبرَأَها ۚ إِنَّ ذٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسيرٌ
“No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz), before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allaah.“
Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) also said in Surat an-Naba’ [78:29]:
وَكُلَّ شَيءٍ أَحصَيناهُ كِتابًا
“And all things We have recorded in a Book.“
3- Man should bear in mind that all his deeds are counted; nothing is lost of them nor will any be increased for him. He will be recompensed for them and will not be oppressed (or wronged).
Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Anbiya’ [21:47]:
وَنَضَعُ المَوازينَ القِسطَ لِيَومِ القِيامَةِ فَلا تُظلَمُ نَفسٌ شَيئًا ۖ وَإِن كانَ مِثقالَ حَبَّةٍ مِن خَردَلٍ أَتَينا بِها ۗ وَكَفىٰ بِنا حاسِبينَ
“And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And Sufficient are We to take account.“
And He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Mujadalah [58:6]:
أَحصاهُ اللَّهُ وَنَسوهُ
“Allaah has kept account of it, while they have forgotten it.“
Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) ordered the recorders (the angels) to write every minor and major matter.
He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat Qaaf [50:18]:
ما يَلفِظُ مِن قَولٍ إِلّا لَدَيهِ رَقيبٌ عَتيدٌ
“Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).“
This precise counting, preserving and taking account of everything will perplex the criminals who do not care whether their actions are good or evil. They commit sins without any consideration, thinking that they will be left without being punished or taken to account.
Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Kahf [18:49]:
وَوُضِعَ الكِتابُ فَتَرَى المُجرِمينَ مُشفِقينَ مِمّا فيهِ وَيَقولونَ يا وَيلَتَنا مالِ هٰذَا الكِتابِ لا يُغادِرُ صَغيرَةً وَلا كَبيرَةً إِلّا أَحصاها ۚ وَوَجَدوا ما عَمِلوا حاضِرًا ۗ وَلا يَظلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
“And the Book (one’s Record) will be placed (in the right hand for a believer in the Oneness of Allaah, and in the left hand for a disbeliever in the Oneness of Allaah), and you will see the Mujrimûn (criminals, polytheists, sinners), fearful of that which is (recorded) therein. They will say: “Woe to us! What sort of Book is this that leaves neither a small thing nor a big thing, but has recorded it with numbers!” And they will find all that they did, placed before them, and your Lord treats no one with injustice.“
Therefore, we should take account of ourselves in this life before we will be taken to account and our deeds are weighe
4- It is not difficult upon the Creator to take account of the creation, rather it is easy for Him.
Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-An’am [6:62]:
ثُمَّ رُدّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ مَولاهُمُ الحَقِّ ۚ أَلا لَهُ الحُكمُ وَهُوَ أَسرَعُ الحاسِبينَ
“Then they are returned to Allaah, their Maulâ [True Master (God), the Just Lord (to reward them)]. Surely, for Him is the judgement and He is the Swiftest in taking account.“
Ibn Jarir said: “The angels who pull the soul from its body, return the souls to its True Master. His is the Judgment and none else, and He is the swiftest in taking account. He is swift in taking account of your deeds, numbers, ends? and other than that of people’s affairs, and He counts them and knows their numbers and extents. He knows that and nothing is hidden from Him. Not even the weight of an atom (or a small ant) or less than that or greater escapes from His Knowledge in the heavens or in the earth but it is in clear Book (Al-Lawh al-Mahfoudh).” [Jamie’ il-Bayan 7/140]
Similarly, their creation and resurrection are easy for Him as He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat Luqman [31:28]:
ما خَلقُكُم وَلا بَعثُكُم إِلّا كَنَفسٍ واحِدَةٍ
“The creation of you all and the resurrection of you all are only as (the creation and resurrection of) a single person.“
Also in their recompense, there is no difficulty or delay. He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat Ya-Seen [36:82]:
إِنَّما أَمرُهُ إِذا أَرادَ شَيئًا أَن يَقولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكونُ
“Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, “Be!” and it is!“
Sanctified be He, the Most Great; there is nothing like unto Him and He is All-Hearer and All-Seer.
Source:
📚 An-Nahj al-Asma Fii Sharh Asma’ Allaah ul-Husna by Shaikh Muhammad al-Humoud an-Najdi.
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