Episode 1In us
A parent or guardian who keeps a promise; a night-watch
But: Can be overpowered, can fail, sleeps
The 99 Names · Name 6 of 99 · Act
الْمُؤْمِنُal-Muʾmin
The Giver of security and faith; the One who keeps His word
Recited as it sounds in the Qur'an, 59:23.
Heard together with: al-Muʾmin / al-Muhaymin
Start with what we know
Then take away everything it needs. What is left is not a bigger version of us. It is the Name.
Episode 1
Episode 2In nature
The emperor penguin father incubates the single egg 'for 9 weeks without eating' (British Antarctic Survey)
Episode 3At our best
Earth's magnetosphere: it 'shields our home planet from solar and cosmic particle radiation, as well as erosion of the atmosphere by the solar wind' (NASA heliophysics)
But: It wavers and can be compressed by solar storms; it protects one planet
Episode 4The Break
Take away watch shifts, strength that can be overcome, a promise that might be broken.
Not a stronger shield, but safety that does not depend on the shield.
Read: Q 59:23
From the tradition: al-Muʾmin has two classical senses: the One who grants safety, and the One who confirms the truth of His word and His messengers
On screen
A label asks strangers to look after a small bear. al-Muʾmin is the One no one has to ask.
Where it shows up
- In scripture
- Q 59:23; 106:4. Deut 32:4; Psalm 121:4 'the guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps'
- The same thread in Jewish and Christian scripture
- Moderate. Deut 32:4 'A faithful God, never false'; shared root ʾ-m-n (amen, emunah)
- In the universe
- NASA: Earth's magnetosphere shields life from solar wind; auroras are where it is struck (science.nasa.gov heliophysics)
- In nature
- Frozen Planet II (BBC 2022), iPlayer; emperor penguins (BAS page)
- In people
- WWII evacuees taken in by strangers; the 'Please look after this bear' label
- In science
- Earth science: the geodynamo in the liquid outer core generates the magnetic field
Living it
Be trustworthy: the Prophet (peace be upon him)'s title al-Amīn; let others feel safe from your hands and tongue
Watch and listen
Films, documentaries and voices that reach towards this Name. Each links out to where you can watch it.
Sources for this page
bas.ac.uk emperor-penguin; science.nasa.gov heliophysics magnetosphere; api.quran.com; sefaria.org Deut 32:4; Wikipedia 'Paddington Bear' (Bond quote)