Al-Qabid, the Withholder.

Al-Qabid (الْقَابِضُ) means The Withholder. It is name 20 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Al-Qābiḍ withholds and constricts provision, or eases the heart's sadness by holding back, as His wisdom decides. Scholars teach it together with Al-Bāsiṭ, so it is not read alone.

The root and its meaning

Al-Qabid comes from the Arabic root ق ب ض (q-b-ḍ), which carries the sense of grasping and holding back.

Where it is in the Quran

The exact name is not in the Quran. Its meaning is in 2:245: "Allah withholds and grants abundance." The Prophet ﷺ called Allah Al-Qābiḍ, Al-Bāsiṭ when asked to fix prices.

Surah Al-Baqara 2:245

مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا فَيُضَٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضْعَافًۭا كَثِيرَةًۭ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْصُۜطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

Man zal lazee yuqridul laaha qardan hasanan fayudaa 'ifahoo lahoo ad'aafan kaseerah; wallaahu yaqbidu wa yabsut-u wa ilaihi turja'oon

Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned.

Quran 2:245. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.

Calling on Allah by this Name

Scholars mention this Name together with Al-Basit, so that both sides of what Allah does are kept in mind, and it is not used on its own to call on Him. In your dua, ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "O Allah, when You hold something back from me, give me patience and trust."

When people asked the Prophet ﷺ to fix prices he said: "Allah is the One who sets prices, who withholds, who gives abundantly, and who provides."

Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Anas, graded sahih

1. Quran 2:245, translation by Sahih International.
2. Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Anas, graded sahih.

Our teachers will check the Arabic, transliteration and meanings on this page before launch.

The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.