Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The Name “Al-Mājid” has been mentioned in some hadiths transmitted concerning the Names of Allah تعالى.
It appears in the well-known hadith narrated by al-Tirmidhi concerning the enumeration of Allah’s Names, from Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه, where “Al-Mājid” is included among the Names.
It is also mentioned in the hadith of Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه, in the sacred hadith, where Allah تعالى says:
“That is because I am Generous and Majestic; I do whatever I will…”
Narrated by Ahmad and al-Tirmidhi.
Scholars have differed regarding the authenticity of these hadiths and, consequently, regarding the establishment of the Name “Al-Mājid” for Allah تعالى.
Some scholars considered the Name “Al-Mājid” established for Allah تعالى, based on their authentication or acceptance of the hadiths in which it is mentioned.
Among them is Ibn Mandah رحمه الله, who included “Al-Mājid” among the Names of Allah تعالى.
Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله was also asked whether “Al-Mājid” is one of Allah’s Names, and he answered in the affirmative, citing the hadith:
“That is because I am Generous and Majestic.”
According to this position, “Al-Mājid” is one of Allah’s Names, and consequently it is permissible to form a name of servitude from it, such as “ʿAbd al-Mājid”.
On the other hand, a number of scholars held that the hadiths in which Allah’s Names are enumerated—including the famous hadith of al-Tirmidhi—do not establish this addition.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله explained that the hadith in which the ninety-nine Names of Allah are specifically enumerated is not authentically established from the Prophet ﷺ, and that additions to the enumeration of the Names may have come from the compilation of some narrators.
Likewise, the hadith of Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه in which Allah تعالى is described as “Generous and Majestic” was considered weak by some scholars.
Based on this, some scholars did not affirm “Al-Mājid” as a Name of Allah تعالى, because Allah’s Names are tawqīfī—they can only be established by an authentic revealed text.
In terms of meaning, Al-Mājid indicates greatness, nobility, glory, abundant goodness, generosity, and vastness in bounty.
This meaning is among the meanings of perfection appropriate to Allah تعالى. There is no disagreement that Allah possesses every attribute of perfection. The disagreement here concerns establishing the word “Al-Mājid” as one of His Names, based on whether the relevant evidence is authentically established.
Therefore, it is important to distinguish between two matters:
Since scholars have differed regarding the establishment of the Name “Al-Mājid”, based on their disagreement over the authenticity of the hadiths in which it occurs, the issue is one of scholarly disagreement.
Those who affirm “Al-Mājid” as a Name of Allah permit the name “ʿAbd al-Mājid.”
Those who do not affirm the Name do not consider it appropriate to use it, because names expressing servitude should only be formed from the established Names of Allah.
Therefore, whoever wishes to exercise caution when naming his children may choose a name whose establishment as one of Allah’s Names is agreed upon, such as “ʿAbd Allah” and “ʿAbd al-Raḥmān.”
The Name “Al-Mājid” has been mentioned in some hadiths, but scholars have differed regarding the authenticity of the hadiths in which it occurs. Those who authenticated or accepted them affirmed “Al-Mājid” as one of Allah’s Names, while those who considered them weak did not establish the Name, because Allah’s Names are tawqīfī.
Accordingly, the issue of “ʿAbd al-Mājid” is based on this scholarly disagreement: whoever affirms the Name permits forming a name of servitude from it, while whoever does not establish it does not permit doing so.
This is an issue of scholarly disagreement concerning the establishment of the Name, and it is not a matter on which scholars are unanimously agreed.
And Allah تعالى knows best.