Name 37 of the 99 Names of Allah. See its root and meaning, the verse where it appears, and how to use it in your dua.
Name 37 of 99
الْكَبِيْرُ
Al-Kabīr
The Most Great
A recording of this Name is coming: our reciter is recording the Names we do not have yet.
Meaning
Al-Kabir (الْكَبِيْرُ) means The Most Great. It is name 37 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Al-Kabīr is greater than everything. "Allāhu akbar", the opening of every prayer, says that Allah is greater than anything that could distract us.
Al-Kabir comes from the Arabic root ك ب ر (k-b-r), which carries the sense of being great.
Al-Kabīr often comes with Al-ʿAliyy, and once with Al-Mutaʿālī.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ هُوَ ٱلْبَٰطِلُ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ
Zaalika bi annal laaha Huwal haqqu wa anna maa yad'oona min doonihee huwal baatilu wa annal laaha Huwal 'Aliyyul kabeer
That is because Allah is the Truth, and that which they call upon other than Him is falsehood, and because Allah is the Most High, the Grand.
Quran 22:62. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُۥ ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ
Wa laa tanfa'ush shafaa'atu 'indahooo illaa liman azina lah; hattaaa izaa fuzzi'a 'an quloobihim qaaloo maazaa qaala Rabbukum; qaalul haqq, wa Huwal 'Aliyul Kabeer
And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits. [And those wait] until, when terror is removed from their hearts, they will say [to one another], "What has your Lord said?" They will say, "The truth." And He is the Most High, the Grand.
Quran 34:23. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Allah says: "And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them" (7:180). Begin your dua with يَا كَبِيْرُ (Yā Kabīr) and ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "Allāhu akbar: Yā Kabīr, You are greater than what I fear."
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Questions
Al-Kabir (الْكَبِيْرُ) means The Most Great. Al-Kabīr is greater than everything.
Al-Kabīr often comes with Al-ʿAliyy, and once with Al-Mutaʿālī.
Say Yā Kabīr (يَا كَبِيْرُ) at the start of your dua, then ask for what suits the Name, for example: "Allāhu akbar: Yā Kabīr, You are greater than what I fear."
Yes, as Abdul-Kabir, "servant of Al-Kabir", which is a beautiful choice. Kabir on its own, without "al", is also used for people as a description, because people can have this quality in a small, limited way.