Al-Hayy (The Ever-Living)
When the clouds of grief attack and the shackles of distress unite together against you and you do not find a way out and things become too hard for you, as if your soul is departing through your throat and you are suffocating; at that moment when you feel life has become too harsh and restricted, people withdraw from your life leaving you alone, and you expect nothing but death,
at this moment Allah sends you relief and a window of hope, instills tranquility within you, extends a helping hand to you, and gives you life after you have almost seen death. Thereupon, you fall in prostrati on to Him, weeping and repeating: O the Ever - Living, the All - Sustainer, all thanks are due to You.
This can only happen when you rely upon Al - Hayy Who does not die.{And rely upon the Ever - Living who does not die, and exalt
[Allah] with His praise. And sufficient is He as All - Aware concerning the sins of His servants.}
[Surat al - Furqān: 58]
Our Lord, Glorified and Exalted, established the attribute of life for Himself. His is a perfect and eternal life, neither preceded by nothingness nor will come to an end.
It suffers no deficiency or defect and experiences no heedlessness, inability, or death. Indeed,
{...No slumber or sleep can overtake Him...}
[Surat al - Baqarah: 255]
Far Exalted is Allah above this! His life is far exalted above being similar to the life of the created beings.
{...There is nothing like unto Him: He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.}
[Surat ash-Shūra: 11]
His is a life that entails possessing perfect attributes of knowledge, hearing, seeing, ability, will, mercy, and other attributes of perfectio n.Our Lord is the Ever - Living through Whom life came into existence and every living being became a living being. The life of everything apart from Him depends on His will to make it living. Allah Almighty says:
{...When you were lifeless an d He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you [back] to life, and then to Him you will be returned.}
[Surat al -Baqarah: 28]
Our Lord is the One Who gives life to our souls through the light of knowledge, guidance, and faith.
It is our Lord Who will grant the dwellers of Paradise the eternal and enduring life. He says:
{...And indeed, the home of the Hereafter - that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.}
[Surat al-‘Ankabūt: 64]
