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الشَّهِيدُ

Ash-Shahid (الشهيد): Meaning of Allah’s Name

Name 51 of 9919 verses of the Quran

Ash-Shahid: The Witness

Recitation: Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary · 24 voices to choose from

Explanation of the name Ash-Shahid

The One Who is Aware of everything. The One Who hears every voice in existence - the loud and quiet. The One Who Sees everything in existence - the insignificant and significant, the small and large. The One Whose Knowledge encompasses everything. The One Who will testify for or against His servants for what they did.

"Say: What thing is the greatest witness? Say: Allaah is Witness between you and I; this Qur'aan has been revealed to me that I may warn therewith - you and whomsoever it may reach." (6:19)

"It is He Who sent His Messenger with the guidance and the Religion of Truth that he make it prevail over all religions. And sufficient is Allaah as a Witness." (48:28)

— ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sa‘di

God, the Exalted, said:

“Verily! Allah is over all things a Witness” (Al-Hajj: 17).

The Linguistic Meaning:

As-Hshaheed: The extreme of witness.

He is the All-Witness: Nothing can be hidden from Him, He is Able to witness every atom in the earth and in the heavens. His Witness is the origin of all witnesses and the greatest of all testimonies, for He is All-Knowing of the nature of all objects.

The Grandeur of As-Hshaheed

He is the Greatest, Clearest and Most Just of any witness, for His Witnessing is comprehensive of all things, and He, the All-Mighty, is over His Throne. His Witness includes: Knowledge, vision, organization and ability. He testifies of His Oneness, when He says: “Allah bears witness that La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He always) maintains His creation in Justice.” (Al-Imran: 18). And this is the greatest and highest witness, coming from the Most Sublime Witness. His Witness is also for the oppressed who has neither a helper nor a witness, and this witness necessitates assistance and victory. His Ultimate Witness will be during the Day of Resurrection, over all creatures about their hidden and clear deeds. He, the Exalted, said: “ Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection. Verily! Allah is over all things a Witness.” (Al-Hajj: 17)

— Maher bin Moqaddam

The name in the Quran

This name occurs in 19 verses of 16 surahs.

قُلْ يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ شَهِيدٌ عَلَىٰ مَا تَعْمَلُونَ ۝٩٨

Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in the verses of Allāh while Allāh is Witness over what you do?"

Explanation: Al-Mukhtasar

O Prophet, ask the People of the Scripture, the Jews and the Christians, why they reject the proof of the truth of your prophet-hood, including the proofs that came in the Torah and the Gospel, when Allah watches over everything you do, witnessing it, and will reward you accordingly.

Surah Ali ’Imran, Verse 98

وَلِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مَوَٰلِىَ مِمَّا تَرَكَ ٱلْوَٰلِدَانِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ عَقَدَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُمْ فَـَٔاتُوهُمْ نَصِيبَهُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدًا ۝٣٣

And for all, We have made heirs to what is left by parents and relatives. And to those whom your oaths have bound [to you] - give them their share. Indeed Allāh is ever, over all things, a Witness.

Explanation: Al-Mukhtasar

For every one of you I have made relations to inherit from what parents and relatives leave in their inheritance; and for those who you have made a promise of allegiance with as an ally and helper, give them their share of the inheritance. I am a witness to everything, and I witness your oaths and promises. The ally inheriting was a ruling at the beginning of Islam, but this ruling was later replaced.

Surah An-Nisa, Verse 33

مَّآ أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ وَأَرْسَلْنَٰكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًا ۝٧٩

What comes to you of good is from Allāh, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muḥammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allāh as Witness.

Explanation: Al-Mukhtasar

O humankind, any good that pleases you – such as wealth or children – is from Allah. He has sent it to you through His grace. Whatever bad occurs to you in respect of your wealth or children is from your own self because of the sins you commit. I have sent you, O Prophet, as a messenger to all people to communicate to them the message of your Lord. Allah is enough of a witness to the truth of what you communicate from Him, because of the evidences and proof He has given you.

Surah An-Nisa, Verse 79

لَّٰكِنِ ٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكَ أَنزَلَهُۥ بِعِلْمِهِۦ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَشْهَدُونَ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًا ۝١٦٦

But Allāh bears witness to that which He has revealed to you. He has sent it down with His knowledge, and the angels bear witness [as well]. And sufficient is Allāh as Witness.

Explanation: Al-Mukhtasar

If the Jews disbelieve in you O Messenger, then Allah bears testimony to the truth of the Qur’ān that He has revealed to you, He has revealed knowledge of His to His servants so that they may know what He willed regarding what He likes and is pleased with, as well as what He dislikes and condemns. Together with Allah’s testimony, the angels also bear testimony to the truth of what you brought. Allah’s testimony is sufficient and no one else’s testimony is required.

Surah An-Nisa, Verse 166

The 15 other verses

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Tuesday, October 20, 2026 9 جمادى الأولى 1448 هـ

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