Names of Allah
Al-Qabid
Al-Qābiḍ
The Constrictor — who restricts sustenance, lifespan or grace as part of His wisdom.
What does Al-Qabid mean?
Al-Qabid is one of the 99 Names of Allah, meaning "The Withholder," "The Restrainer". It affirms that Allah, by His wisdom, withholds and restricts what He wills — narrowing provision for some, taking souls at death, and contracting the hearts of His servants. It is always understood with its counterpart, Al-Basit (the Expander); together they show that all contraction and expansion are in His hand.
The Meaning in Depth
The qabd of Al-Qabid takes many forms: He withholds sustenance from one to test or protect, takes the soul at the appointed time, and contracts the heart (qabd al-qalb) — a state of spiritual heaviness — just as He expands it with joy and faith. None of this is without wisdom. The believer experiences both contraction and expansion in life and faith, and recognises both as coming from the same wise Lord.
Al-Qabid in the Quran (related meaning)
- "...And Allah withholds and grants abundance (yaqbidu wa yabsutu), and to Him you will be returned." (2:245)
- "Allah extends provision for whom He wills and restricts (yaqdiru) it..." (13:26)
Living by This Name
Al-Qabid teaches patience and trust when life contracts — when provision is tight, a door closes, or the heart feels heavy. The believer knows that the One who withholds does so with wisdom, and that contraction is often followed by expansion. It cures both despair in hardship (for the Withholder can release at any moment) and over-attachment in ease. When the Prophet ﷺ was asked to fix prices, he said: "Indeed, Allah is the Withholder, the Expander, the Provider" (Tirmidhi 1314).
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Al-Qabid and Al-Basit understood together?
They are an inseparable pair: Al-Qabid withholds and contracts, Al-Basit gives abundantly and expands. Both are by Allah's wisdom. Mentioning them together reflects the balance in His governance — He withholds from some and grants to others, contracts and expands hearts and provision, all with perfect wisdom.
What is "contraction of the heart" (qabd)?
It is a state of spiritual heaviness, dryness, or constriction that a believer sometimes feels, in contrast to bast (expansion and ease in worship). Both come from Al-Qabid and Al-Basit by wisdom; the believer responds with patience and steadfast worship, trusting that expansion will return.
Etymology & origin
Al-Qabid (القابض) is from the root Q-B-Ḍ (ق-ب-ض), meaning "to grasp, withhold, contract, take hold of". From it come qabd (withholding, contraction) and the opposite of bast (expansion). Al-Qabid is the Withholder: the One who, by His wisdom, restricts provision, takes souls, and contracts the hearts and circumstances of whom He wills.
References
- Quran:
- 2:245, 13:26, 17:30, 30:37, 34:39
- Hadith:
- Tirmidhi 1314 (Allah is the Withholder, the Expander, the Provider); Bukhari 2347 (provision is by Allah's decree); Muslim 2999 (the affair of the believer is all good in ease and hardship); Bukhari 6502 (the contraction and expansion of hearts by Allah)
Related terms
Al-Basit
The Extender — who expands and increases sustenance, mercy and provisions for whom He wills.
Al-Hakeem
The All-Wise — whose every act and decree is governed by infinite wisdom.
Al-Muqit
The Maintainer, the Nourisher — who provides sustenance and maintains all creation.
Ar-Razzaq
The Provider — who creates and distributes sustenance for all living beings.
Sabr
Patience — steadfast endurance in obeying Allah, avoiding sin, and bearing trials without complaint; mentioned over 90 times in the Quran.