﷽ Al-Asmaa ul-Husna : Benefits of reciting Ya Hafeez (يا حفيظ)

1. Name

الحفيظ
Al-Hafeez

2. Meaning

The Ever-Preserving
The All-Watching
The Ultimate Protector
The Best Guardian
The Oft-Conservator
The Supreme Maintainer

3. Explanation

The One whose power preserves the heavens and the earth. The One who is the guardian and preserver of all the worlds. The One who protects and preserves all of creation from perishing. The One who is vigilantly guarding every detail of all that has been created. The One who remembers and preserves all that has ever been and all that is, while keeping under Divine protection the knowledge of all that shall be.

4. Quran

إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَفِيظٌ

Indeed my Lord is, over all things, Guardian. (11:57)

وَرَبُّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَفِيظٌ

And your Lord, over all things, is Guardian. (34:21)

وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. (2:255)

وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهُ حَفِيظٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمَا أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِوَكِيلٍ

And those who take as allies other than Him - Allah is [yet] Guardian over them; and you, [O Muhammad], are not over them a manager. (42:6)

حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ

Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient. (2:238)

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ

Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its Guardian. (15:9)

ۗوَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ

And Allah will protect you from the people. (5:67)

فَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَافِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

But Allah is the best guardian, and He is the most Merciful of the merciful. (12:64)

وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ

And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers. (82:10)

ۗلَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ

For each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. (13:11)

وَحِفْظًا مِّن كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ مَّارِدٍ

And as protection against every rebellious devil. (37:7)

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ

And they who carefully maintain their prayers. (23:9)

ۚقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ

Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. (24:30)

ۚ وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ

But guard your oaths. (5:89)

5. Hadith

5.1 Umm Habibah (رضي الله عنها) reported: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,

من حافظ على أربع ركعات قبل الظهر وأربع بعدها، حرمه الله على النار‏

"Whoever observes the practice of performing four Rak'ah before Zuhr prayer and four after the Zuhr prayer, Allah will shield him against the Fire (of Hell)."

(Riyad as-Salihin Book 9, Hadith 126)

5.2 Abu Basra Ghifari (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) led us in the 'Asr prayer at (the place known as) Mukhammas, and then said:

إِنَّ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ عُرِضَتْ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ فَضَيَّعُوهَا فَمَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرُهُ مَرَّتَيْ

This prayer was presented to those gone before you, but they lost it, and he who guards it has two rewards in store for him.

And no prayer is valid after till the onlooker appears (by onlooker is meant the evening star).

(Sahih Muslim 830 a)

5.3 Narrated Aisha (رضي الله عنها): The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,

مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَهْوَ حَافِظٌ لَهُ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ، وَمَثَلُ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَهْوَ يَتَعَاهَدُهُ وَهْوَ عَلَيْهِ شَدِيدٌ، فَلَهُ أَجْرَانِ

"Such a person as recites the Qur'an and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur'an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward."

(Sahih al-Bukhari Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 459)

5.4 Ibn 'Abbas (رضي الله عنه) narrated: "I was behind the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) one day when he said: 'O boy! I will teach you a statement:

احْفَظِ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْكَ احْفَظِ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَكَ إِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ اللَّهَ وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الأُمَّةَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ رُفِعَتِ الأَقْلاَمُ وَجَفَّتِ الصُّحُفُ

Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek aid, seek Allah's aid. Know that if the entire creation were to gather together to do something to benefit you- you would never get any benefit except that Allah had written for you. And if they were to gather to do something to harm you- you would never be harmed except that Allah had written for you. The pens are lifted and the pages are dried.'"

(Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 4, Book 11, Hadith 2516)

5.5 Anas bin Malik (رضي الله عنه) narrated that: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

مَا مِنْ حَافِظَيْنِ رَفَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ مَا حَفِظَا مِنْ لَيْلٍ أَوْ نَهَارٍ فَيَجِدُ اللَّهُ فِي أَوَّلِ الصَّحِيفَةِ وَفِي آخِرِ الصَّحِيفَةِ خَيْرًا إِلاَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أُشْهِدُكُمْ أَنِّي قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي مَا بَيْنَ طَرَفَىِ الصَّحِيفَةِ

"There is nothing that the two Guardian Angels raise to Allah that they have preserved in a day or night, and Allah finds good in the beginning of the scroll and in the end of the scroll, except that Allah Most High says: 'Bear witness that I have forgiven my servant for what is included in the scroll'."

(Jami` at-Tirmidhi 981)

5.6 It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) said: “The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَى شُفْعَةِ الضُّحَى غُفِرَتْ لَهُ ذُنُوبُهُ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مِثْلَ زَبَدِ الْبَحْرِ

‘Whoever regularly prays two Rak’ah of Duha, his sins will be forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea’.”

(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1382)

5.7 Narrated Muhammad bin Sirin: Abu Huraira (رضی الله عنهم) said, "Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) put me in charge of the Zakat of Ramadan (i.e. Zakat-ul-Fitr). Someone came to me and started scooping some of the foodstuff of (Zakat) with both hands. I caught him and told him that I would take him to Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم)." Then Abu Huraira told the whole narration and added "He (i.e. the thief) said,

إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَاقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ لَنْ يَزَالَ عَلَيْكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ حَافِظٌ، وَلاَ يَقْرَبُكَ شَيْطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَ

'Whenever you go to your bed, recite the Verse of Al-Kursi (2:255) for then a guardian from Allah will be guarding you, and Satan will not approach you till dawn'."

On that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said, "He told you the truth, though he is a liar, and he (the thief) himself was the Satan."

(Sahih al-Bukhari 3275)

5.8 Sa’eed bin Musayyab said that Abu Qatadah bin Rib’i (رضی الله عنهم) told him that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said: “Allah said:

افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ وَعَهِدْتُ عِنْدِي عَهْدًا أَنَّهُ مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهِنَّ لِوَقْتِهِنَّ أَدْخَلْتُهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهِنَّ فَلاَ عَهْدَ لَهُ عِنْدِي

‘I have enjoined on your nation five prayers, and I have made a covenant with Myself that whoever maintains them, I will admit them to Paradise, and whoever does not maintain them, has no such covenant with Me’.”

(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1403)

5.9 Narrated Fudalah (رضي الله عنه): The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) taught me and what he taught me is this:

وَحَافِظْ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ

Observe the five prayers regularly.

He said: I told (him): I have many works at these times; so give me a comprehensive advice which, if I follow, should be enough for me. He said:

حَافِظْ عَلَى الْعَصْرَيْنِ

Observe the two afternoon prayers (al-Asrayn).

But the term al-asrayn (two afternoon prayers) was not used in our language. Hence I said: What is Al-Asrayn? He said:

صَلاَةٌ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَصَلاَةٌ قَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا

A prayer before the sunrise and a prayer before the sunset (i.e. the dawn and the afternoon prayers).

(Sunan Abi Dawud 428)

5.10 Abu al-Darda' (رضي الله عنه) reported the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) as saying:

خَمْسٌ مَنْ جَاءَ بِهِنَّ مَعَ إِيمَانٍ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ عَلَى وُضُوئِهِنَّ وَرُكُوعِهِنَّ وَسُجُودِهِنَّ وَمَوَاقِيتِهِنَّ وَصَامَ رَمَضَانَ وَحَجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً وَأَعْطَى الزَّكَاةَ طَيِّبَةً بِهَا نَفْسُهُ وَأَدَّى الأَمَانَةَ

There are five thing, if anyone observe them with faith, he will enter Paradise. He who prays the five times prayer regularly, with the ablution for them, with their bowing, with their prostration and their (right) times ; keeps fast during Ramadan ; performs Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (Ka'bah), provided he has the ability for its passage; pays Zakat happily ; and fulfills the trust (he will enter Paradise).

People said: Abu al-Darda', what is fulfilling the trust ? He replied: Washing because of sexual defilement.

(Sunan Abi Dawud 429)

5.11 Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr (رضي الله عنه): that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

يُقَالُ لِصَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ اقْرَأْ وَارْتَقِ وَرَتِّلْ كَمَا كُنْتَ تُرَتِّلُ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّ مَنْزِلَتَكَ عِنْدَ آخِرِ آيَةٍ تَقْرَأُ بِهَا

"It shall be said - meaning to the one who memorized the Qur'an - 'Recite, and rise up, recite (melodiously) as you would recite in the world. For indeed your rank shall be at the last Ayah you recited.'"

(Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2914)

5.12 It was narrated that 'Ali bin Abu Talib (رضي الله عنه) said: "The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

مَنْ قَرَأَ الْقُرْآنَ وَحَفِظَهُ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَشَفَّعَهُ فِي عَشَرَةٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ كُلُّهُمْ قَدِ اسْتَوْجَبُوا النَّارَ

'Whoever reads the Qur'an and memorizes it, Allah will admit him to Paradise and allow him to intercede for ten of his family members who all deserved to enter Hell.'"

(Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 216)

5.13 Narrated Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) : that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said:

"The one who memorized the Qur'an shall come on the Day of Judgement and (the reward for reciting the Qur'an) says: 'O Lord! Decorate him.' So he is donned with a crown of nobility. Then it says: 'O Lord! Give him more!' So he is donned with a suit of nobility. Then it says: 'O Lord! Be pleased with him.' So He is pleased with him and says: 'Recite and rise up, and be increased in reward with every Ayah'."

(Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2915)

5.14 Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d (رضي الله عنه): The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,

مَنْ تَوَكَّلَ لِي مَا بَيْنَ رِجْلَيْهِ وَمَا بَيْنَ لَحْيَيْهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ لَهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ

"Whoever guarantees me (the chastity of) what is between his legs (i.e. his private parts), and what is between his jaws (i.e., his tongue), I guarantee him Paradise."

(Sahih al-Bukhari 6807)

5.15 Narrated `Abdullah bin Abi `Aufa (رضي الله عنه): Allah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) said,

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ تَحْتَ ظِلاَلِ السُّيُوفِ

"Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords."

(Sahih al-Bukhari 2818)

6. Benefits of invoking (Ya Allahu) Ya Hafeezu frequently