Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
It is established in the Noble Qur’an and the Prophetic Sunnah that “Al-Qādir” is one of the Names of Allah تعالى, and that power and ability are among His magnificent attributes indicated by revelation.
Allah تعالى says:
﴿قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَادِرٌ عَلَىٰ أَن يُنَزِّلَ آيَةً وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ﴾
“Say: Indeed, Allah is able to send down a sign, but most of them do not know.”
[Al-Anʿām: 37]
And He سبحانه says:
﴿قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ﴾
“Say: He is the One capable of sending punishment upon you from above you or from beneath your feet.”
[Al-Anʿām: 65]
And He عز وجل says:
﴿أَوَلَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم بَلَىٰ وَهُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ﴾
“Is not He who created the heavens and the earth able to create the like of them? Yes indeed, and He is the Supreme Creator, the All-Knowing.”
[Yā-Sīn: 81]
And He سبحانه says:
﴿فَقَدَرْنَا فَنِعْمَ الْقَادِرُونَ﴾
“So We determined, and excellent are We in determining.”
[Al-Mursalāt: 23]
It is also established in Sahih Muslim, in the hadith mentioning the entry of the people of Paradise into Paradise, that Allah تعالى says:
“But I am capable of whatever I will.”
Narrated by Muslim (187).
The scholars have also included “Al-Qādir” among the Names of Allah تعالى. Ibn Mandah رحمه الله said:
“Among the Names of Allah عز وجل are: Al-Qadīr, Al-Qādir, and Al-Muqtadir.”
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn رحمه الله said:
“Al-Qādir is a Name, Al-Qadīr is a Name, and Al-Muqtadir is a Name, even though all of them are derived from a single attribute, because each has a particular meaning that distinguishes it from the others.”
Therefore, it is not correct to deny the Name “Al-Qādir” when it is established in the texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
The Name of Allah “Al-Qādir” indicates that Allah تعالى possesses perfect power and ability, that nothing can render Him incapable, and that He is capable of whatever He wills. He does whatever He wills according to His wisdom and power.
Among the manifestations of His perfect power is that He created the heavens and the earth, brought all creatures into existence, and governs their affairs. Nothing in the earth or the heavens can render Him incapable.
Belief in the power of Allah تعالى is part of believing in the greatness of the Lord سبحانه and the perfection of His attributes.
Since the Name “Al-Qādir” is established as one of the Names of Allah تعالى, being named “ʿAbd al-Qādir” is permissible, because it consists of attributing servitude to one of the Names of Allah تعالى.
The meaning of “ʿAbd al-Qādir” is: the servant of Allah, Al-Qādir—that is, one who belongs to Allah تعالى and is submissive to Him.
It is not correct to claim that this name is disliked or unlawful merely on the assertion that “Al-Qādir” is not one of the Names of Allah. Such an assertion contradicts what is established in the Qur’an and Sunnah and what the scholars have stated.
“Al-Qādir” is one of the established Names of Allah تعالى. It occurs explicitly in the Noble Qur’an, and the Sunnah also establishes Allah’s attribute of perfect power.
Accordingly, saying “Allah is Al-Qādir” or “Allah تعالى is capable of all things” is correct. Likewise, being named “ʿAbd al-Qādir” is permissible because it attributes servitude to one of the Names of Allah تعالى.
A Muslim should exercise care and verification in matters concerning the Names and Attributes of Allah, should not attribute a religious ruling to Islam without knowledge, and should not deny what has been established by the texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
And Allah تعالى knows best.