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الْعَفُوُّ

Al-Afuww (العفو): Meaning of Allah’s Name

Name 82 of 995 verses of the Quran

Al-Afuww: The One Who pardons again and again

Recitation: Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary · 24 voices to choose from

Explanation of the name Al-Afuww

The One Who was and is known with the Attribute of Forgiveness. The One Who is described as having Forgiveness and Compassion. Everyone is in dire need of His forgiveness just as they are in dire need of His Mercy and Kindness. Allaah has promised forgiveness to the one who fulfils its conditions, He said,

"…and indeed I am All-Forgiving to him who repents, believes, does righteous deeds and then remains constant in doing them." (20:82)

"Whether you disclose a good deed, or conceal it, or pardon an evil... verily Allaah is the Forgiving, Most Merciful." (4:152)

— ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sa‘di · Explanation shared with: Al-Ghafur, Al-Ghaffar

God, the Exalted said: “……verily, Allah is Ever Oft-Pardoning, All-Powerfull”. (An-Nisa: 149).

The Linguistic Meaning:

Al-Aafuww: Is overlooking the sin, not punishing in spite of it, and also has the meaning of: more and plentiful.

God, the Exalted, is Al-Aafuww: Often pardons and forgives His slaves’ sins, for He disregards the misdeeds and removes their effects from the slaves, erasing them from the records of the angels-writers, and He doesn’t hold the slaves responsible for these sins on the Day of Resurrection, making them forget the sins, so as not to be ashamed by them. He replaces every sin by a Hasana (good deed, or good credit). He, the Exalted, is always giving benevolence, giving abundant favors and grants.

The Grandeur of Al-Aafuww

His Pardoning comes after patience and waiting, and out of super accountability, He, the Exalted said: “… verify, Allah is Ever Oft-Pardoning, All-Powerful”. (An-Nisa: 149). And His Pardoning is glorious as He indicated to His slaves the ways of getting His Pardoning, ways among their deeds or sayings.

— Maher bin Moqaddam

The name in the Quran

This name occurs in 5 verses of 3 surahs.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا ۝٤٣

O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janābah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women [i.e., had sexual intercourse] and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allāh is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.

Explanation: Al-Mukhtasar

O you who have faith in Allah and follow His Messenger, do not pray when you are drunk, until you recover from your drunkenness, and can tell what you are saying. (This ruling was before alcohol was completely forbidden.) Do not pray when you are in a state of major ritual impurity, and do not enter the mosques when you are in that state, except in passing, until you have washed your body. If you have an illness and cannot use water because of it, or if you are travelling, or have answered the call of nature, or have had sexual relations with women, and you cannot find water, then find clean earth, and wipe your faces and hands with it. Allah pardons your shortcomings and is Forgiving to you.

Surah An-Nisa, Verse 43

فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَعْفُوَ عَنْهُمْ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا ۝٩٩

For those it is expected that Allāh will pardon them, and Allāh is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.

Explanation: Al-Mukhtasar

Perhaps Allah will pardon such people through His mercy and grace. Allah always pardons His servants and forgives those who repent to Him.

Surah An-Nisa, Verse 99

إِن تُبْدُوا۟ خَيْرًا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ أَوْ تَعْفُوا۟ عَن سُوٓءٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا ۝١٤٩

If [instead] you show [some] good or conceal it or pardon an offense - indeed, Allāh is ever Pardoning and Competent.

Explanation: Al-Mukhtasar

If you expose or hide a good statement or action, or if you pardon the person who does bad to you, Allah is Forgiving and Powerful. So let forgiveness be part of your character in order that Allah forgives you.

Surah An-Nisa, Verse 149

ذَٰلِكَ وَمَنْ عَاقَبَ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبَ بِهِۦ ثُمَّ بُغِىَ عَلَيْهِ لَيَنصُرَنَّهُ ٱللَّهُ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورٌ ۝٦٠

That [is so]. And whoever responds [to injustice] with the equivalent of that with which he was harmed and then is tyrannized - Allāh will surely aid him. Indeed, Allāh is Pardoning and Forgiving.

Explanation: Al-Mukhtasar

The aforementioned, i.e. those who migrated in the path of Allah being entered into paradise, and permission for the wronged to avenge justly without incurring sin. If the oppressor returns to his oppression, Allah will help the oppressed. Indeed, Allah overlooks the sins of the believers and forgives them.

Surah Al-Hajj, Verse 60

Other verse

The name in the hadiths

Monday, October 19, 2026 8 جمادى الأولى 1448 هـ