Key Facts at a Glance

Meaning & the Arabic Root

The root م-ج-د (m-j-d) carries the core meanings of glory, honour, nobility, and magnanimity. The pattern فَعِيل (faʿīl) indicates an intensive, permanent attribute — the One who possesses majd in the highest, most perfect degree.

Al-Majid is distinguished from Al-Karim (The Generous) by its emphasis on the intrinsic glory and majesty that accompany divine giving: every act of Allah is clothed in splendour. It differs from Al-Jalil (The Majestic) in that al-Majid unites awe-inspiring greatness with beautiful, beneficent action — glory that is also gracious.

Classical lexicons note that majd combines sharaf (nobility), karam (generosity), and ʿuluww (loftiness). Thus the Name points to the One whose very essence is glorious, whose deeds are honourable, and whose gifts confer true dignity upon the recipient.

Al-Majid in the Quran

Quran

The Name al-Majid (with the definite article) occurs once in the Qurʾān, in Sūrat al-Burūj 85:15 (Dhū al-ʿArsh al-Majīd). The root form Majīd (without al-) occurs in Hūd 11:73 (Innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd). The verbal noun majd and related forms appear in several other verses.

Surah al-Buruj 85:15

The only Qurʾānic occurrence of the exact form al-Majid. It ties the Name to the Throne (al-ʿArsh), the symbol of supreme authority, indicating that divine glory encompasses the entire cosmos.

Surah Hud 11:73

The angels address Ibrahim with this description of Allah, pairing al-Majid with al-Hamid (The Praiseworthy). The root appears here without the definite article, yet functions as a divine attribute of glory and praise.

The Hadith Foundation of the 99 Names

Hadith — graded

The primary hadith listing the 99 Names is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 2736 and Sahih Muslim 2677 (the ‘umbrella’ hadith): ‘Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred less one; whoever enumerates them enters Paradise.’ Al-Majid is among those enumerated.

The itemised list appearing in Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi 3507 includes al-Majid, but scholars grade its chain weaker (ḍaʿīf) than the Two Sahihs; it is cited for the wording of the list, not as an independent proof for each Name.

No authentic, specific hadith singling out al-Majid for a particular virtue or wazīfa is established in the canonical collections. Benefits attributed to its recitation belong to the devotional tradition of the Ummah, not to a prophetic prescription.

Classical Commentary

Classical Scholarship — Sunni / Sufi tradition

Imam al-Ghazali (al-Maqsad al-Asna)

Al-Ghazali explains that al-Majid is the One whose glory (majd) is essential and eternal — not acquired. He writes that majd combines three perfections: supreme power (qudra), perfect knowledge (ʿilm), and boundless generosity (karam). Unlike created beings whose glory is fleeting or borrowed, Allah’s glory is inseparable from His essence. To invoke al-Majid is to seek nearness to the Source of all true honour, asking that the servant’s heart be illumined by a reflection of that divine majesty.

Ibn ʿArabi and the Akbarian tradition

In his writings on the Divine Names, Ibn ʿArabi describes al-Majid as the Name that manifests the ‘universal lordship’ (rububiyya ʿamma) — the glory that permeates every atom of existence. He associates it with the throne-verse (85:15) and teaches that the knower (ʿarif) who witnesses this Name sees all creation as a theatre of divine splendour, transforming humiliation into honour by recognising the Majid behind every event.

Benefits of Reciting Ya Majidu

Within the devotional tradition, the following benefits are associated with the sincere and consistent remembrance of Al-Majid. Each reflects the meaning of the Name itself.

• Restoration of dignity
  Because al-Majid is the Source of all true honour, the tradition records that frequent invocation helps a believer recover self-respect after humiliation or loss of status, tracing to the Name’s meaning of intrinsic glory.
• Increase in lawful provision
  The Name unites majesty with generosity; recitation is believed to attract rizq that comes with baraka and without degradation, reflecting the generous glory of al-Majid.
• Relief from oppression
  Calling upon the Lord of the Throne, the All-Glorious, is traditionally associated with divine intervention for the wronged, since the Throne signifies ultimate justice.
• Healing of heart ailments (spiritual)
  The glory of al-Majid dispels the darkness of despair and envy; practitioners recite it to cleanse the heart of rancour and replace it with noble contentment.
• Success in righteous endeavours
  Invoking the Name before undertaking a noble task seeks the ‘glorious’ outcome — one marked by excellence and acceptance — because the Name embodies perfection of action.
• Nearness to Allah in prayer
  The pairing of al-Majid with al-Hamid in 11:73 suggests that praising Allah through this Name draws the servant into the circle of the praised and the glorious.
• Protection from disgrace in the Hereafter
  Traditional manuals mention reciting Ya Majidu as a means to seek a glorious station on the Day of Judgement, aligning with the Name’s eschatological resonance in the Throne verse.

Traditional Wazifa Practices (with Sources)

Devotional Tradition — South Asian wazifa literature

The following practices are drawn from the South Asian Urdu wazīfa manual genre (e.g., Ism-e-Aʿzam collections) and the living instruction of Sufi silsilas. They are devotional traditions, not prophetic prescriptions; no specific count or duration is mandated by Shariah. Heavy or fixed-duration practices (chillas, counts above ~500) are traditionally undertaken with a qualified teacher’s guidance. Recitation is for spiritual support alongside medical treatment, never as a substitute, and outcomes are entrusted to Allah’s wisdom.

• Qurʾānic dua after each salah
  Recite Sūrat al-Burūj 85:15 (Dhū al-ʿArshi al-Majīd) three times after every fard prayer, then ask Allah for honour, provision, and relief from any oppression. This anchors the practice directly in the Qurʾānic occurrence of the Name.
• Daily litany (wird) of 100
  Recite Ya Majidu 100 times in the morning (after Fajr or sunrise) and 100 times in the evening (after Maghrib), with presence of heart, intending the restoration of dignity and baraka in livelihood. This moderate count is widely mentioned in wazīfa manuals for general well-being.
• Focused need-fulfilment (hajat) — 1,111 with teacher
  For a specific pressing need, some traditions prescribe 1,111 repetitions in one sitting (or over a few days) after ʿIsha, preceded and followed by salawat. Because this exceeds the usual daily wird, it should only be attempted under the supervision of a knowledgeable shaykh who can monitor spiritual etiquette (adab).
• Forty-day chilla (spiritual retreat)
  A dedicated 40-day practice: 3,000 repetitions daily (divided across the day), maintaining wuduʿ, fasting on Mondays/Thursdays if possible, and avoiding sin. This intensive form is strictly a silsila transmission; the seeker must have explicit permission and regular check-ins with their guide.

Etiquette (Adab) of Reciting Ya Majidu

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Al-Majid mean?

Al-Majid means The All-Glorious, the One who possesses perfect, essential glory (majd) — a glory that combines supreme majesty, boundless generosity, and eternal nobility. It is an intensive attribute from the root م-ج-د.

Does Al-Majid appear in the Qurʾān?

Yes. The exact form al-Majid occurs once, in Surah al-Buruj 85:15 (Dhū al-ʿArshi al-Majīd). The root form Majīd (without al-) appears in Surah Hud 11:73 (Innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd).

How is Al-Majid different from Al-Karim and Al-Jalil?

Al-Karim emphasises generous giving; Al-Jalil emphasises awe-inspiring greatness. Al-Majid unites both: it is glory that is inherently generous and generosity that is inherently glorious — the majestic bestowal of honour.

How many times should I recite Ya Majidu?

There is no fixed number in the Shariah. Common traditional wirds range from 100–300 daily. Larger counts (1,000+, chillas of 3,000/day for 40 days) are devotional customs transmitted through teachers and should only be undertaken with qualified guidance.

Can anyone recite Ya Majidu, or is initiation required?

Any Muslim may recite this Name as dhikr or dua; no formal initiation is needed for moderate daily recitation. However, the intensive practices (high counts, chillas, specific Hajat formats) are traditionally done under a shaykh’s supervision to ensure correct adab and spiritual safety.

Continue the series: Al-Karim · Al-Jalil · Al-Wahhab · All 99 Names of Allah