Al-Qawiyy (الْقَوِيُّ) means The Most Strong. It is name 53 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Al-Qawiyy has complete strength that never tires or weakens. Every force in creation is from Him.
The root and its meaning
Al-Qawiyy comes from the Arabic root ق و ي (q-w-y), which carries the sense of strength.
Where it is in the Quran
Al-Qawiyy often comes with Al-ʿAzīz.
Surah Al-Hajj 22:40
ٱلَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا۟ مِن دِيَٰرِهِم بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّآ أَن يَقُولُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍۢ لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَٰمِعُ وَبِيَعٌۭ وَصَلَوَٰتٌۭ وَمَسَٰجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًۭا ۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ
Allazeena ukhrijoo min diyaarihim bighairi haqqin illaaa any yaqooloo rabbunallaah; wa law laa daf'ul laahin naasa ba'dahum biba'dil lahuddimat sawaami'u wa biya'unw wa salawaatunw wa masaajidu yuzkaru feehasmul laahi kaseeraa; wa layansurannal laahu mai yansuruh; innal laaha la qawiyyun 'Azeez
[They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right - only because they say, "Our Lord is Allah." And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
Quran 22:40. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Surah Hud 11:66
فَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا صَٰلِحًۭا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍۢ مِّنَّا وَمِنْ خِزْىِ يَوْمِئِذٍ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلْقَوِىُّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ
Falammaa jaaa'a amrunaa najjainaa Saalihanw wal lazeena aamanoo ma'ahoo birahmatim minnaa wa min khizyi Yawmi'iz inna Rabbaka Huwal Qawiyyul 'Azeez
So when Our command came, We saved Salih and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us, and [saved them] from the disgrace of that day. Indeed, it is your Lord who is the Powerful, the Exalted in Might.
Quran 11:66. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Calling on Allah by this Name
Allah says: "And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them" (7:180). Begin your dua with يَا قَوِيُّ (Yā Qawiyy) and ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "Yā Qawiyy, I am weak, so strengthen me."
From the Sunnah
لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ
Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh
There is no power and no strength except with Allah. (The Prophet ﷺ called it a treasure of Paradise.)
Sahih al-Bukhari 4205; Sahih Muslim 2704
- Quran 22:40, translation by Sahih International.
- Quran 11:66, translation by Sahih International.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 4205; Sahih Muslim 2704.
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.