Al-Haseeb

There are several meanings of Haseeb:

1. The one who suffices. In this sense, Allah Ta'ala is Al-Haseeb because He alone suffices for all his servants. When a person has Allah Ta'ala, he does not need anyone. He does not need anything. Allah alone suffices to give him all what he needs.

2. The one who has grandeur. Allah Ta'ala is Al-Haseeb because it is Him who is great. There is no one who is great in front of Allah Ta'ala. It is He Himself who gives honour and dignity to whom He wills. The honourable is the one whom Allah Ta'ala has granted honour. No one can render undignified a person whom Allah Ta'ala has granted dignity. But if Allah Ta'ala Himself has dishonoured a person, there is no one who can honour him.

3. The one who will take Hisaab (account) of the actions. Allah Ta'ala is Al-Haseeb in the sense that everyone is accountable to Allah for all his actions. This implies that Allah Ta'ala is aware of all the details that each person does in this Dunya. Meditation on this attribute brings about comfort and relief and makes the person rectify his life.

[English version of "Al-Haseeb" – Al Jamiat – Vol.7 No.14]