Al-Muhaymin (The Ever-Watching)

 According to Ibn ‘Abbas and others, Al-Muhaymin means, “The Witness for His servants’ actions,” that is, the Ever-Watcher over them. Allaah (Azza wa Jall) said in a similar Ayah in Surat al-Mujadalah (58:6):

واللهُ علَى كُلِّ شَئٍ شَهيد

“And Allaah is Witness over all things.”

And in Surat ar-Ra’d (13:33):

أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قائِمٌ على كُلِّ نَفْسٍ بِما كَسَبَت

“Is then He (Allaah) Who takes charge (guards) of every person and knows all that he has earned.”

Imam al-Ghazali said: “Al-Muhaymin is a Name for the One Who is attributed with three qualities: 1- the complete knowledge of the state of a thing, 2- the complete power for disposing its affairs, 3- the perseverance of disposition of the affairs.”

Shaikh as-Sa’di said in Tayseer al-Kareem (5/301): “Al-Muhaymin is the One Who sees all the hidden matters, all that the hearts keep concealed, the One Whose Knowledge encompasses everything.”

The impact of believing in this Name

1- Allaah (Ta’ala) is the Witness over His creation, nothing of their actions and utterances is hidden from Him. To Him belongs the perfection, He is neither unaware nor forgets, as He (Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Baqarah (2:140):

وما اللهُ بِغافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعمَلُون

“And Allaah is not unaware of what you do.”

2- Allaah (Ta’ala) made His Book (the Qur’an) which is revealed upon the last of His Prophets and Messengers, Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), Muhayminan, i.e. trustworthy in Highness and a Witness over all the Books that came before it (i.e. the old Scriptures).

   Allaah (Azza wa Jall) said in Surat al-Ma’idah (5:48):

وأَنزَلْنا إِلَيْكَ الكِتابَ بِالحَقِّ مُصَدِّقاً لِّما بيْن يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الكِتابِ ومُهَيْمِناً عليهِ، فاحْكُم بَيْنَهُم بِما أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ ولا تَتَّبِعْ أَهواءَهُمْ عَمَّا جاءَكَ مِنَ الحَقِّ

   “And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) the Book (this Qur’an) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Muhayminan (Trustworthy in Highness and a Witness) over it (old Scriptures). So judge between them by what Allaah has revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging away from the Truth that has come to you.”

Muhaymunan testifies the truth that is therein and testifies the falsehood that is added therein (in the old Scriptures).

Source:

An-Nahjul-Asma fii Sharh Asma’ullahil-Husna, by Shaikh Muhammad Humoud Al-Najdi.