Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
The term “Al-Qadim” is not among the established Beautiful Names of Allah, because it has not been established in the Book of Allah or in the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ that it is one of His names.
The Names of Allah تعالى are tawqifi: they are established only through revelation. Therefore, Allah may only be named by what He has named Himself or what His Messenger ﷺ has named Him.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:
“This expression is found neither in the Book of Allah nor in the Sunnah of His Prophet ﷺ. Indeed, the name ‘Al-Qadim’ is not among the Names of Allah تعالى, even though ‘Al-Awwal’ is one of His Names.”
Ibn Abi al-‘Izz al-Hanafi رحمه الله explained that theologians included “Al-Qadim” among the names of Allah, but it is not among His Beautiful Names. In Arabic, qadim means something that precedes something else. Thus, one may say: “This is ancient” and “this is recent,” as Allah تعالى says:
﴿Until it returns like the old date stalk.﴾ [Ya-Sin: 39]
He رحمه الله explained that the name established by revelation is “Al-Awwal” (The First), which is more comprehensive in expressing absolute precedence. Allah تعالى says:
﴿He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He has knowledge of all things.﴾ [Al-Hadid: 3]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“O Allah, You are the First, and there is nothing before You; and You are the Last, and there is nothing after You.”
Narrated by Muslim.
Thus, Allah تعالى is the First, before Whom there was nothing, and this is the wording established by the Qur’an and Sunnah.
It is important to distinguish between the matter of Allah’s Names and Attributes and the matter of informing about Allah.
The Names of Allah are tawqifi, meaning that only names established by evidence may be affirmed.
As for statements used to describe or inform about Allah, this category is broader. It is permissible to use expressions that have a correct meaning when speaking about Allah, even if they are not among His Beautiful Names, provided that the expression does not contain a false or deficient meaning.
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:
“What falls under the category of informing about Him تعالى is broader than what falls under the category of His Names and Attributes. For example, ‘the thing,’ ‘the existent,’ and ‘the self-subsisting’ may be used to inform about Him, but they are not included among His Beautiful Names and Supreme Attributes.”
He also said:
“What is used regarding Him in the matter of Names and Attributes is tawqifi, whereas what is used in statements of information does not necessarily have to be tawqifi, such as ‘Al-Qadim,’ ‘the thing,’ ‘the existent,’ and ‘the self-subsisting.’”
Therefore, it may be correct to say that Allah تعالى is qadim if a sound meaning is intended, such as that He existed before all created beings. However, it should not be said that “Al-Qadim” is one of Allah’s Beautiful Names.
Based on the above, “Al-Qadim” is not one of Allah’s established Names, and therefore naming someone “Abd al-Qadim” does not appear to be permissible.
There is a difference of opinion among scholars concerning names formed with “Abd” followed by words that have not been established as Names of Allah, but which are commonly used when referring to Allah, such as Abd al-Sattar, Abd al-Nasir, Abd al-Mun‘im, and Abd al-Mughni, and similar names.
Some scholars prohibited such names because it has not been established that these expressions are among Allah’s Names, while others permitted them if, when used absolutely, the expression clearly refers to Allah.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymin رحمه الله was asked about names formed with “Abd” followed by expressions that had not been established as among Allah’s Beautiful Names, such as “Abd al-Sattar,” “Abd al-Mughni,” “Abd al-Hadi,” and “Abd al-Mun‘im.” He answered that, in his view, the correct position is that it is permissible to form such names when the expression, when used absolutely, clearly indicates Allah. He included among them these names and “Abd al-Nasir.”
However, “Al-Qadim” is different, because when used absolutely it does not clearly refer to Allah. It can also refer to something else, as is well known in Arabic usage. Therefore, naming someone “Abd al-Qadim” does not appear to be permissible.
It is also not known that scholars have regarded “Abd al-Qadim” as one of the names traditionally used by Muslims or explicitly stated that naming someone by it is recommended.
“Al-Qadim” is not one of Allah’s established Beautiful Names in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
It is permissible to inform about Allah تعالى using the word “qadim” if a correct meaning is intended, because the category of informing about Allah is broader than the category of His Names and Attributes.
The name established in the Qur’an and Sunnah is “Al-Awwal” (The First). Allah تعالى says: ﴿He is the First and the Last.﴾
Naming someone “Abd al-Qadim” does not appear to be permissible because “Al-Qadim” is not an established Name of Allah and, when used absolutely, it does not clearly refer to Allah.
It is preferable, when choosing names beginning with “Abd,” to restrict them to names of Allah that are firmly established.
And Allah knows best.