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الْحسِيبُ

Al-Hasib · The Reckoner, The Sufficient

Al-Hasib (الْحسِيبُ) means the Reckoner and the Sufficient: the One who keeps precise account of every deed and will settle it with perfect justice, and the One who is enough for whoever relies on Him. It means you never need to settle every score yourself, and you never lack anything if you have Him.

Rootح س بHisab is counting and reckoning, settling an account. From the same root comes hasb, sufficiency: hasbuka means that is enough for you. Al-Hasib joins both pictures: the One who balances every account exactly, and whose care is so complete that He alone is enough.

Al-Hasib in the Quran

  1. وَٱبۡتَلُواْ ٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغُواْ ٱلنِّكَاحَ فَإِنۡ ءَانَسۡتُم مِّنۡهُمۡ رُشۡدٗا فَٱدۡفَعُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهِمۡ أَمۡوَٰلَهُمۡۖ وَلَا تَأۡكُلُوهَآ إِسۡرَافٗا وَبِدَارًا أَن يَكۡبَرُواْۚ وَمَن كَانَ غَنِيّٗا فَلۡيَسۡتَعۡفِفۡۖ وَمَن كَانَ فَقِيرٗا فَلۡيَأۡكُلۡ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعۡتُمۡ إِلَيۡهِمۡ أَمۡوَٰلَهُمۡ فَأَشۡهِدُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبٗا

    And test the orphans [in their abilities] until they reach marriageable age. Then if you perceive in them sound judgement, release their property to them. And do not consume it excessively and quickly, [anticipating] that they will grow up. And whoever, [when acting as guardian], is self-sufficient should refrain [from taking a fee]; and whoever is poor - let him take according to what is acceptable. Then when you release their property to them, bring witnesses upon them. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant.

    An-Nisa 4:6 →

  2. وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٖ فَحَيُّواْ بِأَحۡسَنَ مِنۡهَآ أَوۡ رُدُّوهَآۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ حَسِيبًا

    And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.

    An-Nisa 4:86 →

  3. ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَٰلَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَخۡشَوۡنَهُۥ وَلَا يَخۡشَوۡنَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا ٱللَّهَۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبٗا

    [Allah praises] those who convey the messages of Allah and fear Him and do not fear anyone but Allah. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant.

    Al-Ahzab 33:39 →
Al-Hasib · الْحسِيبُName 40

He keeps the accounts, so He is all you need

Al-Hasib: the Reckoner who misses nothing, and the One who is enough for you

One name, two meanings
The Reckonerevery deed accounted fornothing unpaid, nothing unfair
and
The Sufficientenough against every threatenough for every need
so
HasbunallahAllah is enough for us
The turning point
I must settle every scoreand secure every need myself
Al-Hasib corrects
He keeps the accountand He is enough for me

Who He is as Al-Hasib

Al-Hasib is first the Reckoner. He keeps account of all things, even the greeting you return (4:86). On the Day of Judgement the scales of justice will be set up, and even a deed the weight of a mustard seed will be brought out, and He is enough as Reckoner (21:47). No account with Him is ever rounded off, lost or settled unfairly.

Al-Hasib is also the Sufficient. Hasbunallah means Allah is enough for us. Whoever relies on Allah, He is enough for him (65:3). Is Allah not enough for His servant (39:36)? He suffices against enemies, against fear and against need. Two meanings, one truth: because He keeps every account perfectly, nothing that is yours will be lost, and so He really is enough.

How is this different from near names? Al-Muhsi counts and keeps the record of every single thing. Al-Hasib brings that record to account and settles it. Al-Wakil is the One you hand your affairs to. Al-Hasib assures you that once you do, nothing more is needed.

Where you see Al-Hasib at work

In verses about the money of orphans, where the weak are easily cheated and no one checks the books, the Quran ends by saying that Allah is enough as Reckoner (4:6). He audits what no human auditor ever sees.

When the believers were told that the people had gathered against them and they should be afraid, it only increased their faith, and they said: Allah is enough for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs (3:173). Allah told the Prophet ﷺ: Allah is enough for you and for the believers who follow you (8:64). Against those who reject the truth, Allah will be enough for you (2:137).

The messengers delivered their message and feared no one but Allah, and Allah is enough as Reckoner (33:39). They did not need approval from the powerful, because their account was with Him.

Handing your affairs to Him

Companies scramble before an audit; schools put on their best lessons the day the inspectors come. Al-Hasib's inspection is not one day a year. It is every moment, and nothing is hidden from the books. A saying famously attributed to Umar ibn al-Khattab puts it simply: take account of yourselves before you are taken to account. A few honest minutes reviewing your day is a gift to your future self.

When you have been wronged, cheated or slandered, Al-Hasib means the account is still open with Him. Carrying every grudge until you can settle it yourself poisons the heart. You can pursue your rights where that is fair, and still sleep, knowing He will balance every scale.

And when you are afraid of losing your job, your health or your support, say hasbunallah and mean it. The One who is enough has never failed anyone who truly relied on Him.

The landlord's message says the rent is going up, the job market is frozen, and your mind starts running numbers that do not add up. Say it slowly: hasbiyallah, Allah is enough for me. Then do the next sensible thing, knowing the One who keeps every account will not leave yours unbalanced.

If I do not secure everything and settle every score, I will be left with nothing.

Al-Hasib keeps every account and is enough for me, so I can act calmly and let go of grudges.

Why the heart loves Him for it

It is a rare thing to have someone who is enough, who fills the gap left by everyone and everything else. Al-Hasib is that for the heart that turns to Him.

His reckoning is also a mercy: He counts the good generously, multiplies it, and forgives much. Loving Him grows from trusting that His account of you is fair and kind.

Call on Him

Ya Hasib, You are enough for me. Take account of me with mercy, settle what I cannot settle, and make me content with You above all else.

Call on Him by this name when you feel threatened, wronged or short of means; the believers said Allah is enough for us when they were told to fear (3:173).
Try this today

Before sleeping tonight, spend three minutes reviewing your day honestly, then say hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakil.

Read it with
Drawn from the book Asma al Husna and Ustadh Hisham Abu Yusuf’s lessons: The Watchful Protectordraft

Questions about Al-Hasib

What does Al-Hasib mean?

Al-Hasib has two connected meanings. Allah is the Reckoner who keeps precise account of every deed and will settle it with perfect justice, and He is the Sufficient, the One who is enough for whoever relies on Him.

What does hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakil mean?

It means Allah is enough for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs. The believers said it when they were told an army had gathered against them (3:173). Sahih al-Bukhari reports that Ibrahim said it when thrown into the fire, and the Prophet ﷺ said it on that occasion.

What is the difference between Al-Hasib and Al-Muhsi?

Al-Muhsi is the One who counts and records every single thing without missing any. Al-Hasib is the One who brings those records to account and settles them justly, and who is also sufficient for His servants. One keeps the record; the other reckons it and suffices.

Explanation in Arabic

الكافي الذي يكفي عباده ما أهمهم، والمحاسب الذي يحصي أعمال الخلائق بدقة متناهية.