Al-Afuww

Abundant in pardon — the One who forgives, who pardons sins so that no liability remains; who effaces and erases sins; who forgives the misdeeds of His servants out of His generosity; and who gives people the disposition to forgive. Allah Almighty says: "Indeed, Allah is Pardoning and Forgiving." (Al-Hajj, 60) "Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." (Az-Zumar, 53) "Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness." (An-Najm, 32) The word 'Afuww occurs in a total of five verses in the Qur'an: in four places together with the name "al-Ghafur," which carries a close meaning, and in one place together with the name "al-Qadir." Al-'Afuww is the One who erases the traces left by the errors and sins of His servants and does not punish them. When the servants abandon the sins they have committed, repent and seek forgiveness from Allah, Allah forgives these sins of theirs and even turns them into good deeds. Allah forgives His sinful servants who repent in this world. And His believing servants who persist in sins and do not repent, He forgives in the Hereafter. The benefits of knowing this name: Every Muslim should know and believe that Allah is the absolute Pardoner and that He can forgive all sins except associating partners with Him. Allah Most High says: "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills." (An-Nisa, 48) The servant, for his part, should forgive people's errors and bear them no rancour. By doing so he attains Allah's praise for those who pardon and the reward He gives. Allah Most High says: "And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation — his reward is [due] from Allah." (Ash-Shura, 40) You should forgive those who wrong you and do you evil. You should know that Allah loves those who forgive.

The noble name Al-Afuww is recited 156 times as "Ya Afuww, jalla jalaluhu" in order to possess beautiful character, for the forgiveness of sins and the covering of faults. To whoever makes much remembrance with the noble name Al-Afuww, saying "Ya Afuww, jalla jalaluhu", the door of divine good pleasure is opened. If it is recited together with the name "Ya Ghafur", the answering of the supplication comes more swiftly.