Alternative Spelling:
Al-Qayyūm / Al-Qayyum / Al-Qayyoom / Al-Qayoom / Al-Qayum
Meaning of Al-Qayyoom
- Absolute independence - Allah is self-subsisting, needing no space, time, or assistance, while everything else depends on Him.
- Continuous sustaining - He maintains the universe at every instant, providing existence, order, provision, and regulation without pause.
- Pairing with Al-Hayy - Often coupled as Al-Hayy Al-Qayyoom, signifying that the Ever-Living is the One who sustains and upholds all.
- Upholder of justice and order - All laws of nature and moral order endure by His will, wisdom, and decree.
- Guidance for the servant - Knowing Al-Qayyoom nurtures tawakkul (reliance), steadiness in worship, and responsible stewardship of one’s duties.
- Freedom from fatigue - His sustaining is perfect and tireless, unlike created beings who require rest and support.
Examples of Al-Qayyoom
- Begin your morning and key tasks with the dhikr: “Yā Ḥayyu Yā Qayyūm,” reminding yourself that Allah alone upholds your day.
- When burdened by responsibilities, pause and affirm: “Allah is Al-Qayyoom,” then take the lawful means, trusting He sustains all outcomes.
- Maintain consistency in prayer (qiyām) and daily duties, mirroring the steadiness implied by this Name.
- In budgeting or caregiving, aim for orderly, ethical stewardship, knowing the true Sustainer is Allah.
- During uncertainty, avoid panic-driven decisions; tie your heart to the One who upholds every moment.
- Serve others who struggle, becoming a means by which Allah’s sustaining care reaches His servants.
Root of Al-Qayyoom
- Derived from the triliteral Arabic root ق و م (q-w-m) meaning to stand, rise, be established, uphold, maintain, make firm.
- Related words include qiyām (standing), qayyim (upright, sound), qiyāmah (Resurrection), and maqām (station, standing place).
- Qayyūm is an intensive form (a sīghah mubālaghah) indicating one who is perpetually and comprehensively upholding and maintaining.
- The meaning combines self-subsistence (independence) with sustaining others (establishing and maintaining all things).
Duahs using Al-Qayyoom
“O Al-Qayyoom, O Ever-Living, by Your mercy I seek rescue; rectify all of my affairs and do not leave me to myself for the blink of an eye.”
“يَا قَيُّومُ يَا حَيُّ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ، أَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ وَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ”
“O Al-Qayyoom, uphold my faith, my family, and my livelihood, and make me steadfast upon the truth.”
“يَا قَيُّومُ، قُمْ لِي بِدِينِي وَأَهْلِي وَمَعَاشِي، وَثَبِّتْنِي عَلَى الْحَقِّ”
“O Al-Qayyoom, sustain my heart with Your remembrance and my actions with sincerity, and avert from me reliance upon anything but You.”
“يَا قَيُّومُ، ارْزُقْ قَلْبِي ذِكْرَكَ وَأَعْمَالِي الْإِخْلَاصَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي الِاتِّكَالَ عَلَى غَيْرِكَ”
Mentions of Al-Qayyoom in Qur'an & Hadith
“Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence.”
Surah Al-Baqarah
“Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence.”
Surah Aal 'Imran
“And faces will be humbled before the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence...”
Surah Ta-Ha
The Prophet would say when distressed: “O Ever-Living, O Sustainer, by Your mercy I seek rescue.” (Yā Ḥayyu Yā Qayyūm, bi-raḥmatika astaghīth)
Sunan al-Tirmidhi
Reflections & Lessons from Al-Qayyoom
- Radical dependence on Allah - We are contingent and needy; He alone is independent and sufficient.
- Steadiness over chaos - In a volatile world, anchoring in Al-Qayyoom cultivates inner calm and wise action.
- Responsibility with trust - Take means diligently while relying on the One who truly sustains results.
- Uprightness in worship - Stand in prayer with presence, reflecting the Name tied to qiyām and steadfastness.
- Humility and gratitude - Recognize every success as upheld by Him, curbing arrogance and nurturing thanks.
- Hope in trials - The One who maintains the cosmos can surely sustain your faith through hardship.
Virtues Linked to Al-Qayyoom
- Strengthens tawḥīd and cuts attachment to worldly supports by affirming Allah’s total independence.
- Nurtures tawakkul and serenity in anxiety, knowing the Sustainer never ceases to uphold you.
- Encourages perseverance and consistency in worship and obligations, mirroring divine sustaining order.
- Protects from pride and self-reliance by reminding that all ability and stability are maintained by Allah.
- Reported as a Prophetic supplication in times of distress via “Yā Ḥayyu Yā Qayyūm,” making it a noble dhikr to carry daily.
FAQs: Al-Qayyoom
How does Al-Qayyoom differ from Al-Hayy?
Al-Hayy emphasizes Allah’s perfect, unending life, while Al-Qayyoom highlights that He sustains and upholds all existence. Together they affirm that the Ever-Living is the One who continually maintains everything.
Is “Al-Qayyim” also a Name of Allah?
The Qur’an uses qayyim to describe what is upright or sound (e.g., a straight path or upright book). The well-known Divine Name is Al-Qayyoom (with shaddah on the yā’), meaning the Self-Subsisting Sustainer.
How can I live by this Name?
Begin tasks with “Yā Ḥayyu Yā Qayyūm,” keep consistent prayers and duties, take lawful means, and let your heart rely on Allah for outcomes. Show care to others, becoming a means of His sustaining mercy.
Is there a fixed number for reciting this Name?
No fixed number is established in authentic texts. Call upon Allah by His Name Al-Qayyoom often, especially within comprehensive Prophetic supplications such as “Yā Ḥayyu Yā Qayyūm, bi-raḥmatika astaghīth.”
What is the link between Al-Qayyoom and qiyām (standing in prayer)?
Both stem from the root q-w-m. As Allah is the One who upholds all, the believer seeks to stand upright in worship and character, drawing steadiness from the Sustainer.
