Al-Ghafūr Al-Ghaffār (The All-Forgiving, the Superb Forgiver)
Abu Tawīl came to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “What do you think about a man who committed all sins, sparing nothing at all. Can he repent?”
He said:
“Have you embraced Islam?” He replied: “As for me, I testify that there is no god except Allah, alone with no partner, and that You are the Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Yes, do good deeds and give up bad ones, and Allah will turn them all into good deeds.” He said: “And my serious sins and indecent acts?” He said: “Yes.” Thereupon, he kept saying: “Allah is the Most Great” until he left.
[Narrated by Al-Tabarāni with an authentic chain of narration]
I supplicate Allah and ask for His pardon,
and I know that He is Pardoning and Forgiving.
If sins are great in the sight of people,
they are indeed small compared to Allah’s mercy.
We will talk now about one of the names of Allah, which when sinners and pious believers hear, their hearts feel attached to it and they become joyful and hopeful. It is the name “Al-Ghafūr” and “Al-Ghaffār”.
Allah Almighty says:
{inform My servants that I am the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.}
[Surat al-Hijr: 49]
He also says:
{And said: “Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Superb Forgiver.}
[Surat Nūh: 10]
And He says:
{...Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness...}
[Surat an-Najm: 32]
“Ghafūr” and “Ghaffār” are derived from “ghafr”, which means concealment and covering.
Our Lord, Exalted be He, is the One Who covers the sins of His servants, letting no one else see them, and Who pardons their misdeeds.
Allah, Exalted be He, forgives their sins time after time, endlessly. Each time a person sins and repents, He forgives him.
