الْحَسِيبُ
One of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah
Al-Haseeb
The Reckoner
The Reckoner, the One who gives satisfaction: two meanings in Al-Haseeb. Its verse is 4:6, on handing orphans their wealth, which ends: sufficient is Allah as a vigilant Reckoner, a word aimed at the guardians. He is also the One who suffices: whoever puts their trust in Allah, He alone is sufficient for them (65:3).
Key verse
﴿وَٱبْتَلُوا۟ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغُوا۟ ٱلنِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ ءَانَسْتُم مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَٱدْفَعُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَآ إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكْبَرُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًا﴾Test ˹the competence of˺ the orphans until they reach a marriageable age. Then if you feel they are capable of sound judgment, return their wealth to them. And do not consume it wastefully and hastily before they grow up ˹to demand it˺. If the guardian is well-off, they should not take compensation; but if the guardian is poor, let them take a reasonable provision. When you give orphans back their property, call in witnesses. And sufficient is Allah as a ˹vigilant˺ Reckoner.
The scholar's text
The Reckoner, The One who gives the satisfaction.
(وابتلوا۟ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغُوا۟ ٱلنِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ ءَانَسْتُم مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًۭا فَٱدْفَعُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَآ إِسْرَافًۭا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكْبَرُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيًّۭا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًۭا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًۭا) النساء 4: 6
(Test ˹the competence of˺ the orphans until they reach a marriageable age. Then if you feel they are capable of sound judgment, return their wealth to them. And do not consume it wastefully and hastily before they grow up ˹to demand it˺. If the guardian is well-off, they should not take compensation; but if the guardian is poor, let them take a reasonable provision. When you give orphans back their property, call in witnesses. And sufficient is Allah as a ˹vigilant˺ Reckoner.) An-Nisa 4: 6
It is mentioned 3 times in the Holy Quran
المحاسب، الذي يعطي الكفاية والرضا.
(وَٱبْتَلُوا۟ ٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغُوا۟ ٱلنِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ ءَانَسْتُم مِّنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَٱدْفَعُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَآ إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكْبَرُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًا) النساء 4: 6
ورد في القرآن الكريم 3 مرات.
Sufficient Is Allah as a Reckoner
Its verse tells guardians to test orphans, hand over their wealth when they are ready, and call witnesses, then closes: sufficient is Allah as a vigilant Reckoner (4:6). Ibn Kathir reads it as Reckoner, Witness and Watcher over the guardians, while they manage an orphan's money and when they hand it back: is it whole, or short, its accounts padded and its dealings hidden? Allah knows all of it. Al-Baghawi gives three words, Reckoner, Repayer and Witness. Ibn Kathir adds the Prophet's ﷺ advice to Abu Dharr: “Abu Dharr, I find that thou art weak and I like for thee what I like for myself. Do not rule over (even) two persons and do not manage the property of an orphan” (Sahih Muslim 1826).
Arabic: وكفى بالله حسيبا
تأمر آيته الأولياء باختبار اليتامى ودفع أموالهم إليهم إذا رشدوا والإشهاد عليهم، ثم تختم: ﴿وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًا﴾. قال ابن كثير: «أي: وكفى بالله محاسبا وشهيدا ورقيبا على الأولياء في حال نظرهم للأيتام، وحال تسليمهم للأموال: هل هي كاملة موفرة، أو منقوصة مبخوسة مدخلة مروج حسابها مدلس أمورها؟ الله عالم بذلك كله»، وقال البغوي: «محاسبا ومجازيا وشاهدا». وذكر ابن كثير قول النبي ﷺ: «يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ ضَعِيفًا وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي لاَ تَأَمَّرَنَّ عَلَى اثْنَيْنِ وَلاَ تَوَلَّيَنَّ مَالَ يَتِيمٍ» (صحيح مسلم 1826).
A Reckoner of All Things
﴿وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَسِيبًا﴾And when you are greeted, respond with a better greeting or at least similarly. Surely Allah is a ˹vigilant˺ Reckoner of all things.
4:86 puts the Name after a rule of manners: when you are greeted, respond with a better greeting or at least the same, for Allah is a vigilant Reckoner of all things. Answer any greeting with a better one in words and in warmth, al-Sa'di explains, or with its like. Then the Name: He keeps every deed of His servants, good and bad, small and large, and repays them as His grace, His justice and His praised judgment require.
Arabic: إن الله كان على كل شيء حسيبا
تجعل آية النساء الاسم بعد أدب من الآداب: ﴿وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا۟ بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَآ أَوْ رُدُّوهَآ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَسِيبًا﴾. قال السعدي: «فأمر تعالى المؤمنين أنهم إذا حُيّوا بأي تحية كانت، أن يردوها بأحسن منها لفظا وبشاشة، أو مثلها في ذلك»، وقال في الاسم: «فيحفظ على العباد أعمالهم، حسنها وسيئها، صغيرها وكبيرها، ثم يجازيهم بما اقتضاه فضله وعدله وحكمه المحمود».
They Fear None but Allah
﴿ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَخْشَوْنَهُۥ وَلَا يَخْشَوْنَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًا﴾˹That is His way with˺ those ˹prophets˺ who deliver the messages of Allah, and consider Him, and none but Allah. And sufficient is Allah as a ˹vigilant˺ Reckoner.
33:39 describes the prophets who deliver Allah's messages, who are in awe of Him and of no one else, and it closes with the same words as 4:6. Al-Sa'di gives the Name in two words there: the One who holds His servants to account and keeps watch over their deeds. The awe of Him alone, he says of the prophets, means doing every command and leaving every forbidden thing.
Arabic: ولا يخشون أحدا إلا الله
تصف آية الأحزاب الأنبياء، وتختم بما ختمت به آية النساء: ﴿ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَخْشَوْنَهُۥ وَلَا يَخْشَوْنَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًا﴾، قال السعدي في الخشية: «والخشية منه وحده التي تقتضي فعل كل مأمور، وترك كل محظور»، وفي الحسيب: «محاسبًا عباده، مراقبًا أعمالهم».
Allah Is Sufficient
﴿وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْرًا﴾and provide for them from sources they could never imagine. And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He ˹alone˺ is sufficient for them. Certainly Allah achieves His Will. Allah has already set a destiny for everything.
Whoever puts their trust in Allah, He alone is sufficient for them (65:3). He is enough for the matter you trusted Him with, al-Sa'di says, and a matter in the care of the Rich, the Strong, the Merciful is closer to the servant than anything, though His wisdom may hold it back to its proper time. 8:64 promises it to the Prophet ﷺ and the believers who follow him, and al-Sa'di attaches a condition: the sufficiency comes with faith and following, and it fails only where that condition fails.
Arabic: ومن يتوكل على الله فهو حسبه
وقال تعالى: ﴿وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ﴾، قال السعدي: «أي: كافيه الأمر الذي توكل عليه به، وإذا كان الأمر في كفالة الغني القوي [العزيز] الرحيم، فهو أقرب إلى العبد من كل شيء، ولكن ربما أن الحكمة الإلهية اقتضت تأخيره إلى الوقت المناسب له». وتعد آية الأنفال بذلك: ﴿يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ حَسْبُكَ ٱللَّهُ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾، قال السعدي: هذا «وعد من اللّه لعباده المؤمنين المتبعين لرسوله، بالكفاية والنصرة على الأعداء. فإذا أتوا بالسبب الذي هو الإيمان والاتباع، فلابد أن يكفيهم ما أهمهم من أمور الدين والدنيا، وإنما تتخلف الكفاية بتخلف شرطها».
The Swiftest Reckoner
﴿ثُمَّ رُدُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَوْلَىٰهُمُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ ٱلْحَـٰسِبِينَ﴾Then they are ˹all˺ returned to Allah: their True Master. Judgment is His ˹alone˺. And He is the Swiftest Reckoner.
6:62 returns everyone to Allah, their True Master: judgment is His alone, and He is the Swiftest Reckoner. The speed, al-Sa'di says, comes from His complete knowledge and His keeping of their deeds, set down in the Preserved Tablet and then in the book the angels hold. Aisha once questioned the Prophet ﷺ about a reckoning: “Whoever will be called to account (about his deeds on the Day of Resurrection) will surely be punished." I said, "Doesn't Allah say: "He surely will receive an easy reckoning." (84.8) The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "This means only the presentation of the accounts but whoever will be argued about his account, will certainly be ruined” (Sahih al-Bukhari 103).
Arabic: وهو أسرع الحاسبين
ترد آية الأنعام الخلق إلى الله: ﴿ثُمَّ رُدُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَوْلَىٰهُمُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ ٱلْحَـٰسِبِينَ﴾، قال السعدي: «لكمال علمه وحفظه لأعمالهم، بما أثبتته في اللوح المحفوظ، ثم أثبته ملائكته في الكتاب، الذي بأيديهم». وراجعت عائشة النبي ﷺ في الحساب: «مَنْ حُوسِبَ عُذِّبَ، قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ أَوَ لَيْسَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ﴿فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا﴾ قَالَتْ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ الْعَرْضُ، وَلَكِنْ مَنْ نُوقِشَ الْحِسَابَ يَهْلِكْ» (صحيح البخاري 103).
From the Sunnah
Abu Dharr, I find that thou art weak and I like for thee what I like for myself. Do not rule over (even) two persons and do not manage the property of an orphan
يَا أَبَا ذَرٍّ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ ضَعِيفًا وَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكَ مَا أُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِي لاَ تَأَمَّرَنَّ عَلَى اثْنَيْنِ وَلاَ تَوَلَّيَنَّ مَالَ يَتِيمٍ
A du'a with this Name
{ حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ } قَالَهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ حِينَ أُلْقِيَ فِي النَّارِ، وَقَالَهَا مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ قَالُوا { إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ }
'Allah is Sufficient for us and He Is the Best Disposer of affairs," was said by Abraham when he was thrown into the fire; and it was said by Muhammad when they (i.e. hypocrites) said, "A great army is gathering against you, therefore, fear them," but it only increased their faith and they said: "Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer (of affairs, for us)
Sahih al-Bukhari 4563: the words of 3:173, which Ibrahim said when he was thrown into the fire and Muhammad ﷺ said when he was warned of an army, as Ibn Abbas reported
Related Names
Questions about Al-Haseeb
What does Al-Haseeb mean?
Al-Haseeb is the Reckoner, and the One who gives satisfaction.
How many times is Al-Haseeb in the Quran?
Al-Haseeb is mentioned 3 times in the Quran. Its verse is 4:6.
What is an easy reckoning?
Only the presentation of the deeds, the Prophet ﷺ told Aisha; whoever is argued with over the account is ruined (Sahih al-Bukhari 103).
What does hasbunallah mean?
Allah is sufficient for us, words Ibrahim said in the fire and Muhammad ﷺ said when warned of an army (Sahih al-Bukhari 4563).