As regarding the Attribute al-Muqtadir, the Almighty has said,

“They rejected all Our signs, so We overtook them after the manner of a Mighty, Powerful One” (Qur’an, 54:42).

Al-Muqtadir is a superlative of al-Qadir which enhances the prestige and awe inspired by the latter. Al-Muqtadir controls everything through His might which encompasses all His creation. His might is endless. He is the One Who manages all affairs, Who manifests His might to the souls through the light of His Attribute al-Muqtadir and thus grants them serenity and security.

They recognize and venerate His might in the late hours of the night and at both ends of the day. The meaning it suggests is:

“the One Whose Might is Great, Who, through His overwhelming Power, controls all His creatures; He subdues everyone and everything in His domain. He decreed, so existence came to be as a manifestation of His might: ‘... and Allah holds power over all things’” (Qur’an, 18:45).

One of the signs of the good manners of a believer in as far as al-Muqtadir is concerned is that this Attribute will always fill his heart, and he always remembers it, so much so that a ray of its light will shine on him and will always surround him. The following is a tradition related by Jabir ibn Abdullah‎ as-Salami1:

The Messenger of Allah (S) used to teach his companions to follow istikhara2 in all matters just as he used to teach them the text of the Holy Qur’an. He used to always repeat saying, “If one of you decides to do something, let him prostrate twice besides what is incumbent on him then say: ‘Lord! I seek Your istikhara and Your help to enable me to achieve what I aspire! I plead to You to grant me of Your favors, for You can and I cannot, and You know and I do not, and You know the unknown.

Lord! If You know that this matter (and here you indicate what it is) is good for me sooner or later, or good for my creed or sustenance, or for the ultimately good end of my affairs, then decree it for me and ease it for me, then bless it for me. Lord! If You know that it is evil for me regarding my creed or the ultimate end of my affairs, or regarding my matter sooner or later, then take me away from it and enable me to acquire goodness wherever it may be, then make me pleased therewith.’”

The Attribute al-Muqtadir, Praised and Glorified is He, is mentioned verbatim in two verses of the Holy Qur’an: in verses 42 and 55 of Surah al-Qamar (Moon, Ch. 54), and once in verse 45 of Surah al-Kahaf (Ch. 18).

• 1. Jabir ibn Abdullah‎ as-Salami is the same as Jabir ibn Abdullah‎ as-Ansari about whom a footnote is already included in this book although he is too well known to be identified; he needs no introduction.
• 2. Istikhara means seeking assistance from the Almighty in order to make a weighty decision about doing or not doing an important thing. It is done in different ways the most common of which is the combination of performing prayers (2 rek’at) followed by the recitation of a supplication seeking guidance then the recitation of the Holy Qur’an. It is very highly recommended when you are not sure about something. Allah is always there to guide His servants to the right course. If you are still in doubt, refer to Bukhari, Sahih, Vol. 2, Book (Chapter) 2, hadith 263.