Al-'Afuww
Allah is Al-Afuw, The One who pardons sins and leaves no trace of any fault. He also pardons evil intentions if they do no materialize.
From the root ‘a-f-a which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to forgive, pardon to pass over, forgo, absolve to obliterate all traces, efface, remove to kill-off, allow to die to turn away from punishing, not see, annul to make unapparent, imperceptible to give spontaneously, to give without constraint to give more than what is due
Those who pronounce thihar among you [to separate] from their wives – they are not [consequently] their mothers. Their mothers are none but those who gave birth to them. And indeed, they are saying an objectionable statement and a falsehood. But indeed, Allah is Pardoning and Forgiving. (Quran 58:2)
That [is so]. And whoever responds [to injustice] with the equivalent of that with which he was harmed and then is tyrannized – Allah will surely aid him. Indeed, Allah is Pardoning and Forgiving. (Quran 22:60)
If [instead] you show [some] good or conceal it or pardon an offense – indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Competent.(Quran 4:149)
For those it is expected that Allah will pardon them, and Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving. (Quran 4:99)
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Name: |
Al-Afuww |
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Al-Afuww in Arabic |
العفو |
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Arabic root: |
ع-ف-و |
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Al-Afuww meaning in English: |
"The Pardoner," "The One Who Pardons Completely", "The One Who Erases Sins" |
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Al-Afuww meaning in Urdu |
"معاف کرنے والا" یا "گناہوں کو مٹانے والا" |
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Appearance in the Quran: |
5 Times |
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Tasbeeh: |
Recite as many times as you desire; there is no specific prescribed amount. |
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Asma ul Husna with similar meaning: |
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Al-Afuww (العفو) translates to "The Pardoner" or "The One Who Pardons Completely," which signifies that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the All Forgiver and not only forgives sins but erases all traces of them. This divine attribute goes beyond mere forgiveness as it involves the removal of the sin as though it was never committed.
The name "Al-Afuww is an attribute that gives perfect and ultimate meaning to the mercy of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) . It portrays His great mercy and forgiveness towards his creatures by forgiving their inadequacies. This attribute of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) inculcates a profound sense of hope and relief in the hearts of the believers as they know in their hearts that their past mistakes can be entirely erased if they sincerely repent and seek His pardon.
Several verses of the Holy Quran testify to the fact that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) speaks of Himself as being Al-Afuww.
In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:238), He says:
وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَمًا
“And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or associate anything with Him and whoever kills a person without right or commits unlawful sexual intercourse – then he will have incurred a grave sin.”
This verse highlights the severity of certain sins, yet it implicitly affirms Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) attribute of Al-Afuww, as sincere repentance can lead to forgiveness. There are also many ahadeeth from the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) which stress the importance of asking for forgiveness and the fact that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is All-Forgiving. He instructs the believers to repent sincerely to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and believe in His immense compassion and the attribute Al-Afuww.
The name Al-Afuww yields a deep insight into Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) boundless mercy and compassion. When pondering this divine attribute, one becomes more thankful for His mercy and desire to purify His people. It makes us more humble and grateful, and it reminds us of the fact that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is eager to erase all our actions. The acquisition of understanding and memorization of the names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is essentially a part of fiqh in the Islam, particularly during difficult and trying times like these that the Ummah is in, Al-Afuww offers comfort and hope.
Now, the reciting of Al-Afuww in our daily prayers enables us to improve our interaction with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It can be said as a du’a or as a tasbeeh after each of the prayers has been recited. When seeking blessings, invoking the name Al-Afuww increases the likelihood of prayers being answered, reminding us of Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) boundless mercy. Constant remembrance of Al-Afuww frees the heart and brings about tranquility.
In the case of recitation of Al-Afuww, there is no prescribed number of times but the approach should be consistent and genuine. Creating a rhythm or setting a recitation routine is beneficial to avoid all distractions. Reciting Al-Afuww in the morning, particularly after the Fajr prayers, creates a good ambiance for the whole day, while the night remembrance helps practice repentance. In attempting to remember in solitude, it is possible to take the act of desire to another level by offering a heartfelt reflection. This name is particularly appropriate when asking for forgiveness or in a trial period.
Al-Afuww can also be incorporated into everyday informal discussions to impact people’s lives. Forgiving others and being compassionate are associated with Al-Afuww. When one tries to be like Al-Afuww, for instance, by forgiving others and being merciful, one is closer to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) .
The name Al-Afuww (العفو), which means “The Forgiver,” is associated with other of Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) names that denote His forgiving nature.
The last name Al-Ghaffar (الغفار) points to Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) forgiveness as an ongoing and all-encompassing process. At-Tawwab (التواب), meaning ‘The Accepter of Repentance,’ reiterates on the fact that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is indeed forgiving to those who ask for his forgiveness. Ar-Raheem (الرحيم), “The Merciful,” and Ar-Ra’oof (الرؤوف), “The Compassionate,’ are the two Attributes of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) that demonstrate His tender care for His Creation. Al-Haleem (الحليم), “The Forbearing” refers to the patient nature of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) towards human beings’ follies. Lastly, Al-Ghafur (الغفور), which means the “The Oft-Forgiving,” refers to the Mercy of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and His consistent and compassionate forgiving nature.
Altogether, these names add to our comprehension of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as Al-Afuww and remind us of the unfathomable mercy of Allah and the complete removal of sins as a reward for repentance to Him.
The divine attribute Al-Afuww (العفو), which means"The Pardoner," is highlighted in various Quranic verses and Hadith, emphasizing Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) readiness to completely forgive and erase the sins of those who sincerely seek His pardon.
In Surah An-Nisa (4:149), Allah says:
"إِن تُبْدُوا خَيْرًا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ أَوْ تَعْفُوا عَن سُوءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا"
Translation: "If you show good, conceal it, or pardon an offense, surely Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Powerful."
This verse underscores Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) attribute of pardoning, emphasizing His immense power and capacity to forgive completely. Another mention is in Surah Ash-Shura (42:25):
"وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُوا عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ"
Translation: "And it is He who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do."
This verse highlights Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) mercy as Al-Afuww, reassuring believers that He not only accepts repentance but also completely erases their sins. A Hadith reported in Sahih Bukhari mentions a supplication that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) used to make frequently:
"اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي"
Translation: "O Allah, You are the Pardoner, and You love to pardon, so pardon me."
This supplication aptly summarizes Al-Afuww as it urges the worshippers to turn to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) with humility because He loves to forgive. These references are a stark reminder to the believers of Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) infinite mercy and call them to repent to Him in hope, knowing that Allah is ever ready to forgive and wipe out sin from among His servants.