At-Tawwab
Allah is At Tawwab, The One who beckons for our return. He repeatedly turns mankind towards repentance should they journey temporarily on the wrong path. Allah is lenient and restores grace to those who repent and forgives those who seek forgiveness.
From the root t-w-b which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to return to return to goodness, to repent to be restored to be rewarded for deeds to be repeatedly summoned or called
Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance. (Quran 110:3)
And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allah. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful. (Quran 4:64)
O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah;
indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful. (Quran 49:12)
Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance. (Quran 110:3)
Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. (Quran 2:128)
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Name: |
Al-Halim |
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Al-Halim in Arabic: |
اَلْحَلِیْمُ |
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Arabic root: |
(ح ل م) |
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Al-Halim meaning in English: |
The Forbearing, The Indulgent, The Clement One |
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Al-Halim meaning in Urdu: |
بڑا بردبار اور برداشت کرنے والا |
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Appearance in the Quran: |
11 |
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Tasbeeh: |
The scholars have not prescribed any set amount or limit; however, believers can include it in daily invocations (dua) or remembrance (dhikr) |
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Asma ul Husna with similar meanings: |
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Al-Halim pronunciation in Arabic is Al-ḥalīm, also written as Al-Haleem. The word Halim is derived from the root word (ح ل م), which has these classical Arabic connotations: to be forbearing, mild, lenient, clement, forgiving, gentle, deliberate, leisurely in manner, not hasty, calm, serene, to manage one’s temper, to exhibit moderation.
Al-Halim indicates the trait of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as the One who lavishly bestows favors, both outward and inward, to His creation despite their many acts of disobedience and transgression. He is gentle upon those who disobey Him and is merciful if they repent. He blesses them respite so that they may become repentant. Al-Halim is verbatim translated as "The Forbearing" or "The Clement One," conveying the forbearance, leniency, and restraint of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). As Al-Halim, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) exemplifies the pinnacle of patience and tolerance, demonstrating His unparalleled mercy and forgiveness in the face of an inadequate human’s shortcomings.
Al-Halim emphasizes Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) Power and Mercy to not only delay punishment despite human transgressions but also provide every being with abundant opportunities to repent and redeem themselves. Essentially, it describes His infinite mercy and compassionate nature, as He withholds the ultimate and immediate retribution to allow His creation a chance to rectify their actions. It is not merely an expression of Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) divine patience or “forbearance” but also a manifestation of His divine wisdom for mankind, as He is All-Knowing, All-Wise. Practically, Al-Halim represents Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) deliberate “will” to delay consequences, giving His creation the time they may need for self-correction, spiritual growth, and eventually, the pursuit of righteousness.
The following verses from the Quran are among the few where this attribute of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) is directly and explicitly mentioned:
وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُم بِهِۦ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنتُمْ فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّآ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًۭا مَّعْرُوفًۭا ۚ وَلَا تَعْزِمُوا۟ عُقْدَةَ ٱلنِّكَاحِ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ أَجَلَهُۥ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ فَٱحْذَرُوهُ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌۭ [2:235]
Translation: “There is no blame on you for subtly showing interest in ⌜divorced or widowed⌝ women or for hiding ⌜the intention⌝ in your hearts. Allah knows that you are considering them ⌜for marriage⌝. But do not make a secret commitment with them—you can only show interest in them appropriately. Do not commit to the bond of marriage until the waiting period expires. Know that Allah is aware of what is in your hearts, so beware of Him. And know that Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.”
إِن تُقْرِضُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا يُضَـٰعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ شَكُورٌ حَلِيمٌ [64:17]
Translation: “If you lend to Allah a good loan, He will multiply it for you and forgive you. For Allah is Most Appreciative, Most Forbearing.”
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا۟ مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْتَقَى ٱلْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا ٱسْتَزَلَّهُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوا۟ ۖ وَلَقَدْ عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌۭ [3:155]
Translation: “Indeed, those ˹believers˺ who fled on the day when the two armies met were made to slip by Satan because of their misdeeds. But Allah has pardoned them. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.”
Reflecting on the attribute of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), Al-Halim benefits the believers by reassuring them that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has given them ample opportunities to rectify their affairs. The significance of Al-Halim is realized by contemplating the name, inviting believers to reflect on the Divine patience of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), His leniency and tolerance towards His creation. The name fosters a deep spiritual connection with Allah's divine qualities and encourages believers to emulate these virtues.
Incorporating the name into daily remembrance (Dhikr) helps train the mindful Muslim to embody this trait of Allah as a personal envoy on this earth. Al-Halim can be included in Dhikr, the remembrance of Allah, with its repetition used as a way to internalize the concept of divine forbearance in daily actions and dealings with others. Including Al-Halim in daily supplications (duas) lets believers seek the Forbearing Mercy of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), especially during times of personal tribulations or when seeking forgiveness for their sins.
The traits of Allah can be attached to the names when naming a child after Al-Halim. It holds symbolic significance, instilling spiritual connection and signifying the parents' desire for the child to embody patience, tolerance, and compassion. By naming children with the attributes of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), parents can cultivate such virtues in the 2 generation. Parents hope that by associating a child with the name Al-Halim, they will instill a sense of forbearance and kindness, contributing to the development of a morally upright individual. This becomes a way to seek blessings for their child. Attaching Al-Halim to the names reflects their desire for Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) blessings and guidance.
Al-Lateef, "The Subtle" or "The Gentle" reflect Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) subtle and gentle approach in dealing with His creation. Similarly, Al-Rahim, “The Merciful”, emphasizes Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) compassion and enduring mercy.
Al-Ghafoor, “The All-Forgiving,” is often paired with Al-Halim, and this pair has appeared several times in the Quran ([17:44], [3:155], [2:235]). Together, these names exquisitely epitomize the mercy and forbearance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), but that does not mean He waits to punish those who sin. He allows us the chance to learn and grow; we must not forget that He loves to forgive, as He is the most forgiving.
Other mentions in the Quran of the attribute al-Halim of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) are:
قَوْلٌۭ مَّعْرُوفٌۭ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌۭ مِّن0