The word “Muhaymin” is derived from the root “haymana”, meaning “to oversee, protect, and manage something”. It refers to the One Who governs all the affairs of the universe. A person who watches over and protects something is considered its muhaymin. Allah, with His name al-Muhaymin, knows all the conditions necessary for the continued existence of His creation; He guards it and watches over it. He knows their deeds, provisions, and lifespans, and He preserves them. Protecting His creation from dangers that threaten its existence is also a manifestation of this divine attribute.

Through these manifestations, we can preserve our existence as a whole and avoid disintegration. Just as maintaining our physical integrity is essential for the continuity of our material life, preserving our spiritual wholeness is equally important for our spiritual existence. Our thoughts, feelings, goals, desires, and aspirations must support one another as a cohesive whole to maintain our mental and spiritual well-being. Therefore, there is a close relationship between this divine name and the tranquility of the heart. Knowing that we have a Lord who is aware of everything, knows all our needs, and has the absolute power to fulfill them who watches over and protects us closely accepting that the things we desire are known to Him and that when they come to pass, they are His grace, while their absence is His decree, enables us to be in perfect harmony with the universe. It is the source of our peace. Our Lord constantly oversees and protects human beings, the most distinguished elements of the universe, just as He governs “all the affairs of the universe”. It is this awareness that enables a person to reach the level of “ihsan” (excellence in faith). Living with the consciousness that our actions are always under observation while life continues propels us forward; knowing that even the smallest act of goodness or evil will not be lost after our lives come to an end is the greatest assurance of continuity in our deeds. Only when we believe that Allah sees all our states and observes our most hidden intentions we can continue to do good without seeking recognition, knowledge, or appreciation from others. We can also cultivate the awareness to avoid even the most hidden evils that others may not recognize. This is what we refer to as the consciousness of being in the presence of Allah.

According to al-Ghazali, the effectiveness of the name al-Muhaymin is due to the divine attributes of knowledge, power, and action being at the highest level of perfection. Without knowledge, or even if knowledge is present but the ability to act on it is lacking, is it possible to govern, protect, or oversee properly? We all recognize this from our own experiences. Yet sometimes we realize that things are going wrong, and we even understand what needs to be done, but we feel powerless to act. However, for Allah, no form of inadequacy can be at all imagined. As with all of His names, knowledge, and power vast and beyond human comprehension are found only in Allah.