الجبار
AL-JABBAR
The Compeller, whose power cannot be resisted
Meaning and Explanation
Al-Jabbar comes from the root meaning to mend, to set right by force, to knit together what is broken — in an intensive form. Applied to God, two senses are read together: the One whose will cannot be obstructed by any power and who invariably brings about what He intends, and the One who mends and restores what is broken in His servants. The only place this name is applied to God in the Quran is Al-Hashr 59:23 — one of the densest clusters of the beautiful names, listed alongside Al-Malik, Al-Quddus, As-Salam, Al-Mu'min, Al-Muhaymin, and Al-'Aziz. The same root also appears elsewhere in the Quran (e.g. Hud 11:59, Al-Qasas 28:19) describing arrogant, tyrannical human beings — a completely different context from the name applied to God, and readers should take care not to conflate the two.
Traditional Note — Abjad Value
This name's abjad (letter numerical value) calculation is 206.
Letter-by-letter abjad calculation (root "جبار", excluding the definite article): ج (3) + ب (2) + ا (1) + ر (200) = 206.
This number is not a religious prescription or a guarantee of any outcome.
This Name in the Quran
Dhikr Counter
Dhikr Counter
Historical abjad note: this name's abjad value is 206; reciting a specific count carries no religious obligation.
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Dhikr Tradition
Some sources describe reciting Al-Jabbar with the intention of recalling God's power while hoping for a hardship or brokenness to be mended, as a traditional practice; no specific count (including 206) carries a religious obligation.
Remembrance (dhikr) through the beautiful names is a foundational act of worship in Islam. However, reciting a name a specific number of times (based on its abjad value) or at a specific day/time carries no religious obligation, and scholars are not unanimous on this point — some accept it as a traditional practice, others hold it has no basis in the primary sources. The information on this page does not constitute religious ruling.
Understanding This Name
Irresistible authority and the mending of what is broken
Al-Jabbar in Al-Hashr 59:23 belongs to God alone as a name. The root can convey compelling power and restoration; when similar language describes tyrannical humans, the moral context is different. Divine authority is never arbitrary or unjust. Readers should not use the name to sanctify coercive leadership or claim that force becomes good whenever it carries a religious label.
Restoration without a guaranteed timetable
The mending sense can support prayer after grief, fracture, or failure. Restoration may include treatment, reconciliation where safe, new capacity, or patience with what cannot be reversed. No repetition count guarantees that a relationship or body will return to a former state. Human repair requires consent, expertise, and accountability; prayer accompanies those means.
Other Names
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Al-Jabbar justify forcing another person to obey?
No. The divine name does not grant humans unlimited coercive authority. Human power remains bounded by justice, rights, and accountability.
Sources
- Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Kur'an Yolu Tefsiri (Haşr 59:23)
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, "Cebbâr" maddesi
- Râgıb el-İsfahânî, el-Müfredât, “c-b-r” maddesi
- English Translation — Noor International Center (v1.1.2)
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam — Esmâ-i Hüsnâ — in Turkish
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — The 99 Names of God — in Turkish
Prepared by: Kadir Özbek · Updated: