Ash-Shahid (الشَّهِيْدُ) means The Witness. It is name 50 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Ash-Shahīd witnesses everything, nothing is absent from Him, and His testimony is enough. He witnesses the truth of His Messenger ﷺ.
The root and its meaning
Ash-Shahid comes from the Arabic root ش ه د (sh-h-d), which carries the sense of witnessing and being present.
Where it is in the Quran
Ash-Shahīd is in many verses, such as "Allah is Witness over all things".
Surah Fussilat 41:53
سَنُرِيهِمْ ءَايَٰتِنَا فِى ٱلْءَافَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدٌ
Sanureehim Aayaatinaa fil aafaaqi wa feee anfusihim hattaa yatabaiyana lahum annahul haqq; awa lam yakfi bi Rabbika annahoo 'alaa kulli shai-in Shaheed
We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?
Quran 41:53. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Surah Al-Hajj 22:17
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلصَّٰبِـِٔينَ وَٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ وَٱلْمَجُوسَ وَٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدٌ
Innal lazeena aamanoo wallazeena haadoo was saabi'eena wan nasaaraa wal Majoosa wallazeena ashrakooo innal laaha yafsilu bainahum yawmal qiyaamah; innal laaha 'alaa kulli shai'in shaheed
Indeed, those who have believed and those who were Jews and the Sabeans and the Christians and the Magians and those who associated with Allah - Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed Allah is, over all things, Witness.
Quran 22:17. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Calling on Allah by this Name
Allah says: "And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them" (7:180). Begin your dua with يَا شَهِيْدُ (Yā Shahīd) and ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "Yā Shahīd, You saw what happened, and You are enough as my witness."
- Quran 41:53, translation by Sahih International.
- Quran 22:17, translation by Sahih International.
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