KNOWLEDGE
THE NAME OF ALLAH, AL-‘AFUW is mentioned five times in the Qur’an.
WHO IS AL-‘AFUW?
- He is the One Who erases sins and overlooks disobedience. It is similar to Al-Ghafoor; however, it has a greater meaning since forgiveness is to cover up, while pardoning is to erase.
- Sins require forgiveness while pardoning is when we are not doing our good deeds in the best way. Pardoning is to make our standard and quality of good deeds higher. Surely there are shortcomings in our prayer and gratitude.
TYPES OF PARDONING
1. GENERAL PARDONING
- Allah pardons the sinners by averting the punishment because of their sins. He could easily cut-off all supplies and blessings from them, but out of His pardoning, He provides them despite them insulting and disbelieving in Him.
2. SPECIAL PARDONING
- This is for those who repent, seek forgiveness, supplicate, worship Allah and hope for the reward from Him. Whoever repents to Allah with a sincere repentance, then Allah will forgive the doer regardless of the sin committed.
- He removes all traces of the sin from the people’s hearts, minds and book of records, and He will replace that sin with good deeds.
- He will not ask the doer about his sin on the Day of Judgement.
IMPACTS
- We should love to pardon others because Allah loves to pardon. The more we pardon, the more we will be elevated and honored.
- Always ask Allah for pardoning and well-being. Well-being is not only in our body and health, but in our faith, mind and families.
IN THE QUR’AN
فَأُولَٰئِكَ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَعْفُوَ عَنْهُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا
“For these there is hope that Allah will forgive them, and Allah is Ever Oft Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving."
[Surah An Nisa’a [4:99]]
IN THE SUNNAH
Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “What do you think I should say in my supplication, if I come upon Laylatul-Qadr?" He said: "Say: 'Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul-'afwa, fa'fu 'anni (O Allah, You are All-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me.”
[Sunan Ibn Majah 3850]