The Grand Imam: Allah counts the infidels' breaths in this world and will judge them in the Hereafter in a very brief time 

His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders (MCE), Prof. Ahmad Al-Tayyeb explained the meaning of Allah's name “Al-Haseeb” (The Reckoner) mentioned in the Holy Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah. He affirmed that this name is one of Allah's beautiful names based on three main pieces of evidence: the Quranic text, the Prophetic hadiths, and the consensus of the Muslim community.

During his talk today in the eleventh episode of Ramadan TV program “Imam Al-Tayeb,” His Eminence mentioned that the name “Al-Haseeb” is mentioned in the Quran in the Almighty’s saying: “And sufficient is Allah as a vigilant Reckoner” (Quran, 33:39). It was also proven in many hadiths, most notably the hadith of Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, which opens the explanations of the beautiful names of Allah. The Grand Imam added that scholarly consensus confirmed the inclusion of the name among the ninety-nine names.

Imam Al-Tayyeb pointed out that the apparent meaning of Al-Haseeb is "Sufficient," citing the Arab saying: “I went to him, but I do not think he was sufficient.” He gave the example of the verse: “O Prophet! Allah is sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you” (Quran 8:64). He warned against the mistake of interpreting it as “Allah is sufficient for you and those who follow you are sufficient for you as well,” because it suggests sufficiency outside of Allah's will. The correct interpretation is: “Allah is sufficient for you and for those who are with you.”

His Eminence also pointed out that Al-Haseeb carries the meaning of “accounting,” whether in this world, as Allah Almighty says: “We are closely counting down their days” (Quran, 19:84), or in the Hereafter: “And sufficient are We as accountants” (Quran 21:47). He emphasized that Allah takes account of every small and great thing for His servants, even their very breaths, and He is “the swiftest of accountants,” without one account distracting Him from another.

In his explanation of the meaning of “Al-Kafi” “Sufficient,” His Eminence explained that it suffices that Allah brings His servants from nonexistence into existence and guarantees their survival according to His knowledge and will, saying: “Created beings cannot guarantee their survival; they are in need of someone to sustain their existence.” He cited as evidence the Ash'arites' statement about “attachment to Allah’s grasp” meaning that the entire universe is in Allah's grasp, creating whomever He wills and annihilating them whenever He wills. He explained that Allah's reckoning of His servants includes this world and the hereafter. In this world, He counts everything done by the unbelievers even their breaths in preparation for the punishment, and in the hereafter, He judges His creatures at a speed that surpasses imagination, as mentioned in the hadith: “Allah will reckon the deeds of His creation within the time between two milkings of a she-camel.”