Name 91 of 99
الضَّارُّ
Ad-Darr – The Distresser, the One who allows harm
- Transliteration
- Ad-Darr
- Meaning
- The Distresser, the One who allows harm
- Arabic root
- ض ر ر
- Theme
- Sovereignty and kingship
Meaning of Ad-Darr
Ad-Darr means that no harm or affliction can occur except by Allah's decree. It does not mean that Allah is unjust; harm may be a test, a consequence of deeds, or a means of purification. The Quran says that if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him.
This name does not appear in this form in the Quran. Many scholars point out that this name is best mentioned together with its complementary name, so that the meaning is understood as part of Allah's perfect wisdom rather than in isolation.
Paired name: Ad-Darr is often mentioned together with An-Nafi' (The Benefactor).
Ad-Darr in the Quran
The exact form Ad-Darr is not used in the Quran, but its meaning is affirmed through a related word from the same root:
Related verse
سَيَقُولُ لَكَ ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ شَغَلَتْنَآ أَمْوَٰلُنَا وَأَهْلُونَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ ضَرًّا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ نَفْعًۢا ۚ بَلْ كَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۢا
Those of the wandering Arabs who were left behind will tell thee: Our possessions and our households occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us! They speak with their tongues that which is not in their hearts. Say: Who can avail you aught against Allah, if He intend you hurt or intend you profit? Nay, but Allah is ever Aware of what ye do.
Related verse
وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّۢ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُۥٓ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍۢ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ
If Allah touch thee with affliction, there is none that can relieve therefrom save Him, and if He touch thee with good fortune (there is none that can impair it); for He is Able to do all things.
Reflection
Hardship is a reason to turn to Allah, since only He can remove it.
Related names: sovereignty and kingship
Frequently asked questions
What does Ad-Darr mean?
Ad-Darr (الضَّارُّ) means "The Distresser, the One who allows harm". Ad-Darr means that no harm or affliction can occur except by Allah's decree. It does not mean that Allah is unjust; harm may be a test, a consequence of deeds, or a means of purification. The Quran says that if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him.
Is Ad-Darr mentioned in the Quran?
Ad-Darr does not appear in exactly this form, but its meaning is affirmed in the Quran through a related word from the same root, for example in Surah Al-Fath 48:11 and Surah Al-An'am 6:17.
The list of 99 names follows the order of the narration in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3507, without the name “Allah”, and adds Al-Ahad from Sunan Ibn Majah 3861. The hadith that Allah has ninety-nine names is in Sahih al-Bukhari 2736 and Sahih Muslim 2677. Quran text: Tanzil (Uthmani); translation: Marmaduke Pickthall (1930, public domain).