الْعَفُوُّ
The Forgiver
Al-'Afuww
The Forgiver
The One who completely erases sins and pardons faults, leaving no trace of past transgressions.
Nisâ 4:99
Virtue
Al-'Afuww declares that Allah forgives sins and entirely erases their traces; Al-Ghafur means 'the One who covers,' while Al-'Afuww means 'the One who erases.' In Surah an-Nisa' 4:99 He says: 'It may be that Allah will pardon them; Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.' Al-'Afuww's grace is that the sin is not merely covered; on the Day of Judgment not even a record of it remains. The du'a the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) for Laylat al-Qadr centers on this name: 'Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun, tuhibbu'l-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni.' The servant who reflects on this name hopes their past be entirely erased.
Related Hadith
'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I said: 'O Messenger of Allah! If I reach Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say?' He taught me: 'Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun, tuhibbu'l-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni.'
[Tirmizî, Daavât, no. 3513]
