Names of Allah – Forgiveness 1 | Ramadan Series
An Editor feature entry written for Ijtema readers (if you’re using a feed reader and the Arabic/Unicode text doesn’t display properly please click on the entry link to continue reading on the Ijtema website)
Continuing with the (sorry, much delayed) Part 2 of the Ramadan Names of Allah series here on Ijtema (Part 1 here), we take a look at Names pertaining to forgiveness. We focus on Al-Ghafūr and Al-’Afūww, and briefly point out related Names. Jumping right in ..
Al-Ghafūr
This name is derived from the root word gha-fa-ra (غـفـر) which can be roughly translated in the verb form as covering or concealing for protection. It would be a disservice to simply translate this as “forgive.” In this context, Allah SWT is the one who covers our sins and protects us from their consequences. The Name Al-Ghafūr is of the al-fa’ūl structure; a verb in this form means one who does the act to a perfect level. It describes the quality of the act.
A related name Al-Ghaffar is derived from the same root word but whose morphology refers to quantity: one who continually and infinitely does the verb. Allah, Al-Ghafūr and Al-Ghaffar, continually covers and conceals our evil deeds. At the opposite end, Allah SWT is also Ash-Shakūr: He gives us more than we deserve when we do good deeds.
This word is different from another word in Arabic which means to cover: sa-ta-ra (سـتـر), and which forms the root of another of Allah’s Names: As-Sittīr. Allah loves to cover and hide our faults and sins from those around us, and doesn’t like us to publicize our sins to the world 1.
Combination of Names
The name Al-Ghafūr occurs a whopping 91 times in the Qur’an, and appears paired with the name Ar-Rahīm 72 times (غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ – Ghafūr-ur-Rahīm). This combination of names is something most of us (including myself until quite recently) unfortunately pay little attention to.
Each Name has a unique meaning of majesty and perfection but the combination of two (or more!) names gives rise to yet another unique meaning. Allah SWT has chosen to place these Names together for a reason, and we should ponder over it. For example, from the combination Ghafūr-ur-Rahīm we learn Allah covers our sins because He is Merciful and Compassionate. And one of the things that makes Him Merciful and Compassionate is that He protects us from the consequences of our sins! (Look over Part 1 for all the other rich meanings this phrase may take)
The classical scholar Imam Ibn-ul-Qayyim wrote on the concept of combining Names (the translation of which is):
“And when two Names or Attributes occur together, yet another characteristic is formed, and this would not be present were the Names separate. Examples of this are الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيد (Al-Ghani-ul-Hamīd) and الْعَفُوًّا قَدِير (Al-Afūww-ul-Qadīr) and الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيم (Al-’Azīz-ul-Hakīm). So His self-sufficiency (ghinā) is an attribute of perfection, as is His ḥamd, and the combination of ghinā and ḥamd is yet another perfection … “
Let’s take a brief look at each of the three examples Imam Ibn-ul-Qayyim gave: Al-Ghani-ul-Hamīd combines self-sufficiency and being one worthy of praise. So Allah SWT is driving home the point that He is self-sufficient even without our praise! Al-Afūww-ul-Qadīr combines Power and Forgiveness: Allah SWT is all-Powerful and can do as He pleases, yet He chooses to forgive us. The last one Al-’Azīz-ul-Hakīm combines Power and Strength with Justness, Wisdom and Power to Legislate. With human beings, power has the ability (and usually does) corrupt. but Allah SWT is beyond that: despite His Power He is Just and Wise.
(Continued in part 3)
(Part 1 here)
Footnotes:
1. Ya’lā ibn Umayyah (ra) narrated that the Prophet (saws) said that Allah is verily Al-Hayyiy (which implies bashfulness) and As-Sittīr (which implies concealing the sins). He loves modesty and the concealment of faults. [Ahmad, Abu Dāwūd and An-Nasa’i.]References:
1. Aqeedah 102: Light upon Light. Shaykh Yasir Qadhi, AlMaghrib Institute. Chicago 2008.
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