Name 22 of 99
الْخَافِضُ
Al-Khafid – The Abaser, the One who lowers
- Transliteration
- Al-Khafid
- Meaning
- The Abaser, the One who lowers
- Arabic root
- خ ف ض
- Theme
- Justice and judgement
Meaning of Al-Khafid
Al-Khafid is the One who lowers whomever He wills, such as the arrogant and the oppressor. It is understood together with Ar-Rafi', the One who raises. Status in this world can be reversed by Allah at any time.
This name does not appear in this exact form in the Quran; it is included in the list narrated by at-Tirmidhi. 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: Al-Khafid is often mentioned together with Ar-Rafi' (The Exalter).
Al-Khafid in the Quran
This name is not found in this exact form in the Quran. It is part of the list of names narrated in Jami' at-Tirmidhi (3507), and scholars have explained its meaning from the Arabic language and from the general teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.
Reflection
Worldly rank is never permanent, so it should not lead to pride.
Related names: justice and judgement
Frequently asked questions
What does Al-Khafid mean?
Al-Khafid (الْخَافِضُ) means "The Abaser, the One who lowers". Al-Khafid is the One who lowers whomever He wills, such as the arrogant and the oppressor. It is understood together with Ar-Rafi', the One who raises. Status in this world can be reversed by Allah at any time.
Is Al-Khafid mentioned in the Quran?
Al-Khafid does not appear in this form in the Quran. It is part of the well-known list of 99 names narrated in Jami' at-Tirmidhi (3507).
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).