Al-Ḥafīẓ
The Preserver, The Protector
Root ح ف ظ (ḥ-f-ẓ). Lane describes ḥafiẓahu as meaning ‘he kept it, preserved it, guarded it, protected it... prevented it from perishing, or becoming lost’. Related terms include ḥifẓ, meaning preserving, as seen in Qur'an 2:255. The term ḥāfiẓ means guardian, as in Qur'an 12:64 ‘Allah is the best guardian’. Maḥfūẓ means preserved and appears in Qur'an 85:22. Of Allah it occurs indefinite, ḥafīẓ (11:57, 34:21). ‘Indeed my Lord is, over all things, Guardian.’ (11:57)
The root
ح ف ظḥ-f-ẓ
Guarding. Lane gives ḥafiẓahu as 'he kept it, preserved it, guarded it, protected it... prevented it from perishing, or becoming lost'.
- حِفْظḥifẓpreserving (2:255)
- حَافِظḥāfiẓguardian (12:64, 'Allah is the best guardian')
- مَحْفُوظmaḥfūẓpreserved (85:22)
Pronunciation
الْحَفِيظُ
al-ha-FEEDH
In the Qur'an
فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ مَا أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِ إِلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَيَسْتَخْلِفُ رَبِّي قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّونَهُ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَفِيظٌ
But if they turn away, [say], "I have already conveyed that with which I was sent to you. My Lord will give succession to a people other than you, and you will not harm Him at all. Indeed my Lord is, over all things, Guardian."
11:57 · Sahih International