Al-Qayyūm
The Self-Subsisting Sustainer of All
Root ق و م (q-w-m). Lane gives the root term qāma as ‘he stood’, while qāma bi-l-amr means to take charge of and maintain a matter. The related word qiyāma refers to Resurrection, and qāʾim means maintaining, as seen in Qur'an 3:18. Mustaqīm translates as straight, and qayyim means upright or correct, mentioned in Qur'an 12:40. Al-Qayyūm appears three times in the Qur'an, always in its definite form (2:255, 3:2, 20:111). ‘The Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence’ (3:2).
The root
ق و مq-w-m
Standing and upholding. Lane gives qāma as 'he stood'; qāma bi-l-amr is to take charge of and maintain a matter.
- قِيَامَةqiyāmaResurrection
- قَائِمqāʾimmaintaining (3:18, qāʾiman bil-qisṭ)
- مُسْتَقِيمmustaqīmstraight
- قَيِّمqayyimupright, correct (12:40)
Pronunciation
الْقَيُّومُ
al-qay-YOOM
In the Qur'an
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ
Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence.
3:2 · Sahih International