property of their husbands when the latter are absent are described in the Holy Qura'n as
fhafizatin lil ghayb. A book is called afee because its contents safeguard records of actions
and statements from being lost (from people's memory, etc.).
Al-Hafeez very much maintains the existence of everything that exists, Who safeguards
contradictory elements against overwhelming one another such as what is hot and what is
cold, what is moist and what is dry, qualities which Allah has created, making them inherent
in our creation as well as in that of all animals and plants. Had He not thus safeguarded them,
by neutralizing them once and by increasing the amount of what diminishes thereof another,
they would not have coexisted with one another, their mixing would have been annulled, their
composition would have diminished, and their ability to be composed or amalgamated would
have disappeared. Al-Hafeez carries a stronger meaning than that of al-Hafiz. Al-Hafeez has
two meanings: One is the opposite of oversight or forgetfulness, and its meaning is derived
from knowing. When we say that the Almighty safeguards things, we mean that He knows
them in all their quantities and intricacies, and that such knowledge is not altered by
diminution, oversight, negligence, or forgetfulness. The other is that al-Hafeez safeguards
things against loss: He guards them, and all His characteristics and perfection are above
extinction. He has also said: "Attend constantly to prayers and to the middle prayers, and
stand up truly obedient to Allah" (Qura'n, 2:238), and, "... the preservation of them both does
not tire Him" (Qura'n, 2:255). He protects His Divine statements, i.e. the Holy Qura'n, hence
the verse, "We have revealed the Reminder, and We are its Guardian" (Qura'n, 15:9),
meaning Protectors against alteration, distortion, or any tampering with its sacred text, applied
here particularly to the text of the Holy Qura'n.
Despite the greatness of his status, the Friend of Allah Abraham supplicated thus: "Lord!
Grant me wisdom and join me with the righteous" (Qura'n, 26:83), and, "Lord! Make us both
submitting to You" (Qura'n, 2:128). Moses, who spoke to the Almighty, also supplicated
saying, "Lord! Expand my breast for me" (Qura'n, 20:25). The Almighty has said the
following to His Prophet and Messenger Muhammed: "... had it not been that We had already
established you..." (Qura'n, 17:74), and, "... Allah will protect you from people" (Qura'n,
5:67). He admonished the believers to pray by saying, "Lord! Do not make our hearts deviate
after You have guided us aright" (Qura'n, 3:8).
One who contemplates on the meanings of al-Hafeez and eagerly longs for Him with all his
heart is one in whose heart the love for His Lord is borne, the Lord Who protects His servant
even when the latter is disobedient to Him, falling short of worshipping Him, lagging behind
in adoring Him. He reawakens his heart from its inattentiveness. It is then that Allah makes
his heart like a preserved treasure of secrets, so he takes courageous stands, safeguarding his
senses against committing sins, protecting his heart against spiritually harmful insinuations.
- "Al-Muqeet"