Name 14
الْغَفَّار
Al-Ghaffar
The Ever-Forgiving, who covers and pardons faults again and again.
About
Al-Ghaffar comes from the root gh-f-r, whose first meaning is to cover or conceal; a helmet that protects the head in battle is called a mighfar. Maghfira is the covering and pardoning of wrongdoing.
The intensive fa''al pattern of Al-Ghaffar stresses how often and how repeatedly forgiveness is given: each time a person returns and regrets, they are forgiven anew. The name also speaks of dignity being preserved as faults are covered. Allah does not only pardon His servant's mistake; He covers it without exposing it.
Al-Ghaffar appears in verses such as Ta-Ha 20:82, Sad 38:66, Az-Zumar 39:5, Ghafir 40:42 and Nuh 71:10, while the related name Al-Ghafur appears very frequently. Noah's call to his people in Nuh 71:10 to seek forgiveness shows the hopeful face of this name.
From the Qur'an
And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. …
But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.
Reflection
A past mistake may still be circling in your mind. Al-Ghaffar reminds you that the door of return never closes and that a fresh start is always possible. As someone who hopes to be forgiven, you can choose to cover other people's faults rather than expose them. Today, try covering a mistake instead of magnifying it.
Today's practice
When you notice someone's small mistake today, let it pass without pointing it out in front of others.
- Dhikr
- 1281times
- The abjad value of the Name
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