The Attribute of “Bekâ” (Eternal Existence) of Allah, the Exalted

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Meaning of the Attribute of Bekâ

   The Arabic word Bekâ (البقاء) means to continue, to be everlasting, not to perish. When applied to Allah Almighty, it signifies that His existence is eternal, everlasting, and perpetual. Just as Allah has no beginning (azal), He also has no end (abad).   Bekâ is one of Allah’s essential (zâtî) attributes. These attributes belong solely to Allah and cannot be possessed by any created being in their absolute sense. Every created being is mortal and destined to perish — none of them is everlasting. Only Allah’s essence is eternal; He never ceases to exist.

The Nature of Bekâ

   Allah Almighty is both “The First (Al-Awwal)” and “The Last (Al-Ākhir).” Just as His existence has no beginning, it has no end. Everything besides Him will perish, but His essence will remain forever.

   In clearer terms: humans, jinn, angels, stars, galaxies, even the entire universe — all will cease to exist when their time comes. Yet Allah’s existence will continue after all else has perished. In fact, since time itself is a created concept, Allah is beyond time — His existence is not bound by “before” or “after,” and He remains forever constant.

The Attribute of Bekâ in the Qur’an

a) Sūrah ar-Raḥmān (55:26–27)

كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍۙ ﴿٢٦﴾ وَيَبْقٰى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلٰلِ وَالْاِكْرَامِ ﴿٢٧﴾

“All that is on the earth will perish, but the Face (Essence) of your Lord, full of Majesty and Honor, will abide forever.”

This verse clearly declares that all living things are mortal, and only Allah’s essence is everlasting. The phrase “wa yabqā wajhu rabbika” signifies that His existence will never cease.

b) Sūrah al-Qaṣaṣ (28:88)

كُلُّ شَيْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُۜ لَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَاِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

“Everything will perish except His Face. His is the command, and to Him you will be returned.”

This verse emphatically states that everything apart from Allah will perish — one of the clearest proofs of His eternal existence.

c) Sūrah al-Ḥadīd (57:3)

هُوَ الْاَوَّلُ وَالْاٰخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُۜ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَل۪يمٌ

“He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He has perfect knowledge of all things.”The name “Al-Ākhir” (The Last) here represents Allah’s attribute of Bekâ — He remains after all else ceases to exist.

d) Sūrah an-Naḥl (16:96)

مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنْفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ

“Whatever you have will perish, but what is with Allah will remain forever.”This verse emphasizes the temporary nature of worldly possessions and the eternal nature of what belongs to Allah.

Bekâ in Hadith

a) Allah’s Eternal Existence

كَانَ اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْءٌ غَيْرُهُ

“Allah existed, and there was nothing besides Him.” (Bukhārī, Bad’u’l-Khalq, 1; Tirmidhī, Tafsīr, Hūd, 48)This hadith states Allah’s pre-eternal existence and implies His everlasting nature — for a Being with no beginning can have no end.

b) The Names “Al-Ḥayy” and “Al-Qayyūm”

اللّٰهُمَّ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ

“O Ever-Living (Al-Ḥayy), O Self-Subsisting (Al-Qayyūm), I seek help through Your mercy.”(Tirmidhī, Da‘awāt, 85)The name Al-Ḥayy refers to Allah’s living and deathless nature, while Al-Qayyūm refers to His self-sustaining existence that maintains all creation — both express the reality of Bekâ.

c) The Prophet’s (ﷺ) Supplication

“اللهم أنت الأول فليس قبلك شيء، وأنت الآخر فليس بعدك شيء…”

“O Allah, You are the First, and there is nothing before You; You are the Last, and there is nothing after You…”(Muslim, Dhikr, 2713)

Lessons of the Bekâ Attribute for Humanity

1.Everything is temporary; only Allah is eternal.Wealth, power, and life are fleeting — only Allah and His pleasure endure.

2.Awareness of mortality leads one toward Allah.Turning to the Eternal One brings peace to the heart that seeks permanence.

3.Bekâ strengthens trust and submission (tawakkul and taslīm). Knowing that Allah alone is everlasting gives stability and serenity in life.

4.It teaches us to invest in the Hereafter, not the world. Striving for “the pleasure of the Everlasting One” brings eternal happiness.

Conclusion

Bekâ is a sublime attribute declaring that Allah is eternal, unchanging, and everlasting. Even if the entire cosmos perishes, Allah’s essence remains. He is Al-Awwal (the First without beginning), Al-Ākhir (the Last without end), Al-Ḥayy (the Ever-Living), and Al-Qayyūm (the Sustainer of all).

                              He alone abides, all depend on Him.                              

He upholds the universe eternally.                             

He never dies, His being never ends.                             

His Presence encompasses all existence.