What does the name Al-Hayy mean?

"Al-Hayy" means Allah, who possesses eternal, everlasting life, who never dies and never ceases to exist.

Why do Al-Hayy and Al-Qayyum come together?

"Al-Hayyu-l-Qayyum" states that Allah is both eternally Living Himself and the Sustainer of all existence (Al-Baqarah, 255).

Al-Asma al-Husna

The eternally Living, who never dies

Arabic

الْحَيّ

Transliteration: al-Ḥayy
Meaning: "Al-Hayy" means the One who possesses eternal, everlasting life, who never dies and never ceases to exist. His life is not like ours, which has a beginning and an end; it is perfect, permanent and complete. It is He who gives life to every living being, and He is the true source of life itself.

«Allah, there is no god but Him, the Ever-Living (Hayy), the Sustainer of all (Qayyum).»

Explanation

Eternal life
Every living being dies; only Allah is eternally Living. The Quran states: "Put your trust in the Ever-Living (Hayy) who never dies" (Al-Furqan, 58). His life is free from any deficiency or decline.
Together with Al-Qayyum
In the Quran this name often comes together with "Al-Qayyum": "al-Hayyu-l-Qayyum." This states that Allah is both eternally Living Himself and the Sustainer of all existence (Al-Baqarah, 255).

This page is based on Quran verses and authentic hadith sources.

QuranSurah Al-Baqarah, 255
Allah as Hayy and Qayyum occurs at the beginning of Ayat al-Kursi.
QuranSurah Al-Furqan, 58
This verse contains the command to trust in the Ever-Living who never dies.
Classical sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Esmâ-i hüsnâ"
Academic source for the explanation of the name Al-Hayy.

Other Names with closely connected meanings.

Common questions about this Name.

What does the name Al-Hayy mean?
"Al-Hayy" means Allah, who possesses eternal, everlasting life, who never dies and never ceases to exist.
Why do Al-Hayy and Al-Qayyum come together?
"Al-Hayyu-l-Qayyum" states that Allah is both eternally Living Himself and the Sustainer of all existence (Al-Baqarah, 255).