Al-Qahhar — The All-Prevailing
Al-Qahhar is the One who dominates all things absolutely, whose will no created power can resist. The intensive form pushes the meaning past simple strength to complete and permanent subjugation of everything that exists. The Quran nearly always pairs it with Al-Wahid — 'the One, the Prevailing' (39:4) — which classical scholars read as the point: because He alone is truly One, everything else is necessarily subject to Him. Every power that seems formidable is itself held by Al-Qahhar.
Updated July 16, 2026
Name 15 of 99
الْقَهَّارُ
Al-Qahhar
The All-Prevailing
Where Al-Qahhar appears in the Quran
لَّوۡ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتَّخِذَ وَلَدٗا لَّٱصۡطَفَىٰ مِمَّا يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُۚ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥۖ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡوَٰحِدُ ٱلۡقَهَّارُ
If Allah had willed to choose a son, He could have chosen what He would of that which He hath created. Be He Glorified! He is Allah, the One, the Absolute
Arabic text: Tanzil Uthmani (public domain). English translation: Marmaduke Pickthall, “The Meaning of the Glorious Koran” (1930) — public domain.
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