الحي
AL-HAYY
The Ever-Living, eternal without beginning or end
Meaning and Explanation
Al-Hayy comes from the root for life; it expresses that God's life has no beginning or end, depends on no cause, and is never touched by death or deficiency. It is best known from Ayat al-Kursi (Al-Baqarah 2:255) — appearing there together with Al-Qayyum, immediately before "neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him"; commentators emphasize that these two names complement each other, one expressing God's existence (Al-Hayy) and the other His sustaining of all existence (Al-Qayyum).
The pair Al-Hayy and Al-Qayyum is among the most frequently cited pairs in narrations about the "Greatest Name" (Ism al-A'zam) of God — supporting the commentators' view that the two names should be read as complementary rather than independent.
Traditional Note — Abjad Value
This name's abjad (letter numerical value) calculation is 18.
Letter-by-letter abjad calculation (root "حي", excluding the definite article — the doubled consonant marked by shadda in the Quranic script is counted as a single ي): ح (8) + ي (10) = 18.
This number is not a religious prescription or a guarantee of any outcome.
This Name in the Quran
Dhikr Counter
Dhikr Counter
Historical abjad note: this name's abjad value is 18; reciting a specific count carries no religious obligation.
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Dhikr Tradition
Some sources describe reciting Al-Hayy together with Al-Qayyum, with the intention of strength and endurance, as a traditional practice; no specific count (including 18) carries a religious obligation in this context.
Remembrance (dhikr) through the beautiful names is a foundational act of worship in Islam. However, reciting a name a specific number of times (based on its abjad value) or at a specific day/time carries no religious obligation, and scholars are not unanimous on this point — some accept it as a traditional practice, others hold it has no basis in the primary sources. The information on this page does not constitute religious ruling.
Understanding This Name
Life that is neither received nor lost
Al-Hayy in Ayat al-Kursi is joined with Al-Qayyum. Divine life has no beginning, decline, sleep, dependence, or death. Created life is given, sustained, and ended; it cannot be used as a scale for imagining God's life. The name places every living being inside dependence while affirming that God remains eternally complete.
Valuing life without pretending to control it
Reflection on Al-Hayy can deepen care for health, animals, and vulnerable life. It does not make medicine unnecessary or promise that death can be avoided by a formula. Treatment is a responsible means, and end-of-life questions need qualified medical, ethical, and religious guidance. Hope in the Ever-Living supports the person without denying the reality of loss.
Other Names
Frequently Asked Questions
Is God's life comparable to biological life?
No. Biological life is created and dependent. Al-Hayy affirms eternal, perfect divine life without creaturely processes or needs.
Sources
- Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Kur'an Yolu Tefsiri (Bakara 2:255)
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, "Hay" maddesi
- Tirmizî, Deavât bölümü; İsm-i A'zam rivayetleri hakkında değerlendirmeler
- English Translation — Noor International Center (v1.1.2)
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam — Esmâ-i Hüsnâ — in Turkish
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — The 99 Names of God — in Turkish
Prepared by: Kadir Özbek · Updated: