Al-Muḥyī
The Giver of Life
Root ح ي ي (ḥ-y-y). Al-Rāghib describes ḥayāh as life, starting from the growth seen in plants and animals. The form IV verb aḥyā means to give life, found in Qur'an 2:258 as yuḥyī. Ḥayāh simply means life, while taḥiyya refers to a greeting, as per Qur'an 4:86. Al-Muḥyī occurs in construct, la-muḥyi l-mawtā, ‘He is the Giver of life to the dead’ (30:50; 41:39).
The root
ح ي يḥ-y-y
Life. Al-Rāghib sets out the senses of ḥayāh (life), beginning with the power of growth found in plants and animals; the form IV aḥyā is to give life.
- حَيَاةḥayāhlife
- أَحْيَاaḥyāHe gave life (2:258, yuḥyī)
- تَحِيَّةtaḥiyyagreeting (4:86)
Pronunciation
الْمُحْيِي
al-MUH-yee
In the Qur'an
فَانْظُرْ إِلَىٰ آثَارِ رَحْمَتِ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ يُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
So observe the effects of the mercy of Allah - how He gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed, that [same one] will give life to the dead, and He is over all things competent.
30:50 · Sahih International