Al-Baaqi — The Ever Surviving One
اَلْبَاقِي
Name 96 of the ninety-nine. The Everlasting, The Ever-Enduring
The root
From the ba-qaf-ya (ب ق ي), which has the following classical Arabic connotations: To continue, to remain, and to endure. To be permanent, everlasting, and constant. To survive forever, to be eternal. To be incessant, continuous, and endless.
Reflection
With regards to our connection with this name, it's limited as our life is finite. The thing we should exhibit permanence in is our imaan (faith). There is a blessing in meditating upon this further. We shouldn't procrastinate as the concept of forever is only for Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. As Shaykh Tosun Bayrak writes, "Yet there is a way to gain an eternal life during the short visit here.
It is achieved by not tying one's heart to this world. It is by not working only for profit in this world, by not working for one's own immediate benefit. " As cliche as it sounds — and perhaps with the explanation of the name Al-Baqi it resonates more — we realize there is no better time for change than now. We should work towards bringing an end to destructive or unhealthy habits and promote/nurture the good ones.
Where it appears
[1] Sahih Muslim 2246b,[2] Sahih Muslim 1053a