Al-Ghaffār
The Ever-Forgiving
Root غ ف ر (gh-f-r). Lane gives ghafarahu as ‘he covered, veiled, concealed, or hid, it’, and says this is the primary signification; forgiveness is the covering of sin. The term maghfira simply means forgiveness. Ghufrān also means forgiveness, as seen in Qur'an 2:285. Ghāfir, mentioned in Qur'an 40:3, means forgiver. Istaghfara indicates seeking forgiveness. ‘Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, the Exalted in Might, the Perpetual Forgiver.’ (38:66)
The root
غ ف رgh-f-r
Covering. Lane gives ghafarahu as 'he covered, veiled, concealed, or hid, it', and says this is the primary signification; forgiveness is the covering of sin.
- مَغْفِرَةmaghfiraforgiveness
- غُفْرَانghufrānforgiveness (2:285)
- غَافِرghāfirforgiver (40:3)
- اسْتَغْفَرَistaghfarahe sought forgiveness
Pronunciation
الْغَفَّارُ
al-ghaf-FAAR
In the Qur'an
رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفَّارُ
Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, the Exalted in Might, the Perpetual Forgiver."
38:66 · Sahih International