الْقَادِرُ
Al-Qadir
The All-Capable
What Al-Qadir Means
Al-Qadir is built on qudrah, complete power and ability. In the Quran the name answers those who doubted resurrection and those who felt safe from Allah: ‘Say: He is the All-Capable (Al-Qadir) of sending upon you punishment from above you or from beneath your feet’ (6:65), and of man’s return to life, ‘Indeed, He is capable (Qadir) of his return’ (86:8). Scholars explain that Al-Qadir is the One whose power is perfect: nothing is difficult for Him, nothing escapes Him, and His ability is neither helped by means nor hindered by obstacles — He wills a thing and it is. For the believer facing what looks impossible — a closed door, a dead end, a body or a heart that seems beyond repair — this name teaches that ‘impossible’ describes our power, never His.
Al-Qadir in the Quran
قُلْ هُوَ ٱلْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ
“Say, “He is fully capable that He should send a punishment from above you or from beneath your feet, or to put you in confusion through divisions, and make some of you taste troubles through some others.” See how We bring forth explaining verses from different angles, so that they may understand.”
إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٌ
“Surely He is Powerful to bring him back”
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَلَمْ يَعْىَ بِخَلْقِهِنَّ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يُحْـِۧىَ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۚ بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“Have they not seen that Allah who has created the heavens and the earth, and was not wearied by their creation, does have power to give life to the dead? Yes of course, He is powerful to do every thing.”
What the Prophet ﷺ Taught Us
THE FOUNDATION OF THE 99 NAMES
“Allah has ninety-nine names, i.e. one-hundred minus one, and whoever knows them will go to Paradise.”
“Narrated Jabir: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikhara for each and every matter as he used to teach us the Suras from the Holy Qur’an.”
“Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said,” Whoever says: “La ilaha illal-lah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu-l-mulk wa lahul- hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shai’in qadir,””
Calling Upon Allah by This Name
Allah Himself commands us to call upon Him by His beautiful names:
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا ۖ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِىٓ أَسْمَـٰٓئِهِۦ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
“For Allah there are the most beautiful names. So, call Him by them, and leave those who deviate in (the matter of) His names. They shall be recompensed for what they have been doing.”
When you face a decision, the Prophet’s (saw) Istikhara prayer puts this name into your own mouth: ‘You are able and I am not able, and You know and I do not know’ (Al-Bukhari 6382). Pray it as he taught it, and in your own words continue: ‘Ya Qadir — O All-Capable — do for me what my strength cannot, and choose for me what my knowledge cannot reach.’
Quran translations: Mufti Taqi Usmani. Hadith texts and gradings: the Glory of Iman hadith library. Every reference on this page is from the Quran or from hadith graded Sahih or Hasan.