Al-Karim
Allah is Al-Karim who is the most generous, bountiful and esteemed. He is The One whose kindness knows no bound and is continually giving precious gifts to whoever he wills. He is gracious in giving rewards in multiple even for the smallest acts.
From the root k-r-m which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to be noble, grand, high minded. To be generous, giving, beneficent to be highly esteemed, honored, prized, valued to be excellent, precious, valuable, rare. To be productive, fruitful.
This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful – his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful – then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous.” (Quran 27:40)
O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous. (Quran 82:6)
Allah has written down the good deeds and the bad ones. Then He explained it [by saying that] he who has intended a good deed and has not done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as a full good deed, but if he has intended it and has done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as from ten good deeds to seven hundred times, or many times over. But if he has intended a bad deed and has not done it, Allah writes it down with Himself as a full good deed, but if he has intended it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed. It was related by al-Bukhari and Muslim. (Hadith Qudsi #16)
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Name: |
Al-Karim (The Most Generous) |
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Al-Karim in Arabic: |
ٱلْكَرِيمُ |
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Arabic root: |
(ك ر م) |
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Al-Karim meaning in English: |
The Generous One, The Gracious, The Bountiful |
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Al-Karim meaning in Urdu: |
بہت کرم کرنے والا, شَفيق |
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Appearance in the Quran: |
11 times |
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Tasbeeh: |
Recite Al-Karim anytime during the day to incorporate remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى into your daily routine and to seek forgiveness. |
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Asma-Ul-Husna with similar meaning: |
Al-Barr ( The Kind and Beneficent) Ar-Rauf ( The Kind and Compassionate) Al-Wadud (The Loving) |
Al-Karim is one of the 99 Most Beautiful Names of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. These names are referred to as Asma-Ul-Husna or Attributes of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى as well. The name "Al-Karim" literally translates to The Generous One and The Most Generous.
The name has its roots in kaaf-ra-meem, which has connotations related to being noble and grand, highly esteemed and honored. These roots appear 47 times in the Quran and have several derived forms apart from Al-Karim. The name Al-Karim can mean two things based on these Arabic roots - it means to be generous, and it refers to possessing Utmost Honor. It signifies Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s Generosity and the fact that there is no other being in existence who possesses this Ultimate Generosity and Mercy.
Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) never gets tired of listening to His servant's repentance, and it is He who forgives even if the sins are as high as the skies. Al-Karim also highlights how Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) always Listens to a servant's call and rewards with forgiveness when one repents wholeheartedly. This shows Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)'s Nobility, Mercy, and Ultimate Power. Despite having the Power and Authority to punish for sins, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) chooses to forgive anyone who calls on Him for forgiveness and sustenance.
The Quran highlights these attributes of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) in Surah Al-Alaq,
ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ
“Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.” (Surah Al-Alaq, 96:3)
The Quran also emphasizes on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s attribute of being The Most Generous in Surah Al-Infitar,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ ٱلْكَرِيمِ
“O humanity! What has emboldened you against your Lord, the Most Generous…” (Surah Al-Infitar, 82:6)
As The Generous One, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) continues to bless believers with uncountable bounties. He doesn’t stop blessing His servants even when they are at fault, for He is Al-Karim. He forgives and extends His mercy to anyone who reaches out for help and forgiveness from Him. Being The Most Honorable, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is Al-Karim in all His dealings and affairs.
The name Al-Karim emphasizes Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) love for His creation, where He is ready to grant forgiveness and acceptance to His servants upon repentance. Recitation of this name of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) helps believers stay connected to Islam.
There may be believers who believe their sins are as tall as the skies and maybe even deeper than the oceans. They may have the belief that they are beyond repair and have lost all hope of ever receiving forgiveness for all their wrongdoings. However, with Al-Karim, it is possible to have all your sins forgiven, to be guided to the right path again, and to be subjected to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)'s Mercy. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is the Most Merciful and Generous One, and He overlooks the flaws of His creations as long as they wholeheartedly turn back to Him.
He covers one's flaws and keeps them hidden from the eyes of other believers however, He always has knowledge about everything for He is The All-Knowing. People in the world may not conceal each other's faults and flaws; they would even resort to tearing each other apart. However, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) never exposes one's sins to anyone and always covers it from others for He is Al-Karim, The Generous.
It is known to all believers that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) alone is Worthy of submitting to. He alone should be worshipped, and we must submit before him in obedience. When reciting Al-Karim, believers show submissiveness towards Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It is also Him who can raise us in ranks within this world and the next.
Al-Karim is generous with knowledge as well. He has provided His servants with the purpose of certain obligations as well instead of simply ordering His servants to oblige. An example of this is in Surah Al-Baqarah,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful of Allah˺.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183)
With our Lord possessing such attributes, a believer remains hopeful in all their dealings and affairs. It is a reminder of how Al-Karim will handle our affairs and bless us with his Generosity in every circumstance. Therefore, we must continue to recite this name and remember Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Counting on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and having hopes of help from Him only is how a believer can show utmost faith in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s Mercy.
The name Al-Karim is a Divine attribute and refers to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) being giving, beneficent, highly esteemed, and honorable. Derived from the roots kaaf-raa-meme, the name also has other derivations used throughout the Holy Quran and in ahadith to emphasize Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s Generosity and Nobility.
A few other forms of Al-Karim mentioned in the Quran are Al-Akram, which translates to The Most Generous. It emphasizes on how Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) continues to provide for His servants limitlessly, for He is free of any and all restrictions or limits.
Karimun is another derivation from the same roots as in AL-Karim. The use of the plural in this word signifies how Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is The Provider for all things that exist among His creations. It highlights how Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) Mercy and Generosity are extended to not only human beings but other beings as well.
Istakramuna is another verb used in the Quran to elaborate on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)'s generosity. It is used in the Quran in the context of His creations seeking bounties from Him, hence acknowledging and honoring the attribute of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as Al-Karim.
Because Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) remains unmatchable in His Powers, Akram is another superlative form of the roots appearing twice in the Holy Quran. This word emphasizes on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s endless Mercy that he extends to His creations and everything in existence. His bounty remains infinite, and so does He.
Other similar names to that of Al-Karim with different roots include Al-Barr, which translates to The Kind and Beneficent. Ar-Rauf is also a similar attribute of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), meaning Kind and Compassionate.
Understanding these similar names and variations of the name Al-Karim helps us understand the attributes of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It gives us an idea of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)'s Generosity and boundless giving and continues to remind us of our dependence on Him in all our affairs. It emphasizes how we would be crushed under the weight of our sins without His mercy and constant forgiveness upon a believer's repentance. It is due to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) being Al-Karim that He forgives our sins.
The Quran mentions Al-Karim when describing attributes related to being honorable and being respected. It says,
۞ وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًۭا
“Indeed, We have dignified the children of Adam, carried them on land and sea, granted them good and lawful provisions, and privileged them far above many of Our creatures.” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:70)
It highlights how Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has made the Children of Adam i.e. human beings as “dignified” and honored them.
Al-Karim has also been used to describe the Quran as noble in the Book. Surah Waqi-ah highlights,
إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ
“…that this is truly a noble Quran” (Surah Al-Waqi’ah, 56:77)
Another appearance of Al-Karim in Quran is in Chapter 23 where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)’s Honorable Throne is reiterated,
فَتَعَـٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۖ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْكَرِيمِ ١١٦
“Exalted is Allah, the True King! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Lord of the Honourable Throne.” (Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:116)