Al-Qadir

What does Al-Qadir mean?

Al-Qadir is one of the 99 Names of Allah, meaning "The All-Powerful," "The Omnipotent". It affirms that Allah has complete, absolute power over everything in existence — nothing can escape His ability, nothing is too great or too small for Him, and whatever He wills comes to be by the mere word "Be" (kun). His power is joined to His knowledge and wisdom, so it is never arbitrary.

The Meaning in Depth

The power of Al-Qadir is unlike any created strength: it has no limit, requires no effort, and is never opposed. He gives life and death, raises and humbles, and brings into being what was not. The same root also conveys "measuring out" (qadar), so Al-Qadir not only has power but exercises it with perfect, measured precision — placing everything in its exact decreed proportion.

Al-Qadir in the Quran

• "Indeed, Allah is over all things competent (Qadir)." (2:20)
• "Say: He is the One able (al-Qadir) to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet..." (6:65)
• "Does that One not have the power to give life to the dead?" (75:40)

Living by This Name

Al-Qadir fills the believer with hope and awe: there is no situation beyond God's power to change, no door He cannot open, no hardship He cannot lift in an instant. It teaches reliance on the One who can do anything, and humility before the One whose power is absolute. When the believer's own ability ends, the power of Al-Qadir is only beginning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is anything beyond Allah's power?

Nothing that is a genuine "thing" is beyond His power. Statements like "can God do the logically impossible" describe non-entities, not real things; Al-Qadir has complete power over all that can exist, and brings it about simply by His will.

How is Al-Qadir different from Al-Qawiyy (the Strong)?

Both relate to power, but Al-Qadir emphasises the ability to do and to decree, often paired with measuring out (qadar), while Al-Qawiyy emphasises strength and might itself. Together they affirm the perfection of God's power.