Al-Ghaffaar

Ghaffaar is derived from the verb Ghafara which means to hide or to protect.

Allah Ta'ala is called Al-Ghaffaar because He conceals the sins of His servants. That is, He forgives and pardons them. Thus, Al-Ghaffaar means the Great Forgiver who is full of grace and kindness for His servants. The grace and kindness of Allah Ta'ala does not have any limits. If, for example, a person happens to commit the same sin 70 times in a single day and every time he asks for forgiveness from Allah Ta'ala, then Allah Ta'ala will forgive him all 70 times.

Allah Ta'ala forgives all types of sins. One must not think that there are some sins that are unforgivable. In front of the grace of Allah Ta'ala, there is nothing that cannot be pardoned. Obviously there is only one sin that Allah Ta'ala will not forgive. It is Shirk and Kufr. If a person left this Dunya in Shirk and Kufr, then this sin will not be forgiven. But if a person repents of his sins, Shirk and Kufr before he passes away, then a Kaafir of a century also can be pardoned in the blink of an eye by His immense grace.

To forgive sins is solely in the hands of Allah Ta'ala. It is not in the hands of anyone. It is not in the hands of Peer, Sheikh, Wali or 'Alim. Allah Ta'ala says in Qur'aan-e-Karim:

"...And who can forgive sins besides Allah..." (S3/V135)

Allah Ta'ala is not tired of forgiving. A person must not believe that he is such a big sinner (Gunehgaar) that he cannot be forgiven. Allah Ta'ala is not like Insaan who is bored, fed up or tired of something. Allah Ta'ala is not motivated or influenced by any condition or circumstance. Allah Ta'ala is angry without being carried away by anger. Likewise, Allah Ta'ala is pleased without being carried away by joy. Thus, one must think that one's Rabb, Allah Ta'ala is Al-Ghaffaar whose door of forgiveness remains wide open at all time. In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah Ta'ala says:

"Oh my servant, if you approach me with an amount of sins that can fill the earth and you ask me for forgiveness, I will forgive you and this will not affect me/I do not care."

The attribute of Al-Ghaffaar contains a message of hope. It is the hope of being pardoned by Al-Ghaffaar who is filled with immense pity for his servants. It is a hope that continues to remain despite the gravity of the sin committed. The door of this hope is open 24 hours a day. There is no rain, sun, cyclone or bad weather that prevents it from remaining open. It is a door that is not guarded by any guardian who prevents someone from entering at any time that he wishes. But one must not commit sin with the hope that one can be pardoned later. This is called abusing kindness. Who knows, perhaps one may not have the time or the will to ask for forgiveness. This is like deliberately making oneself sick with the hope of using an antidote that is in one's possession. But it is also possible that one may not get the courage to take it or that one does not even get the time to take it.

That is why one should always do one's best not to disobey Allah Ta'ala. And one must not underestimate any sin. One must avoid both major and minor sins. If ever an error has occurred, then one must not delay to ask for forgiveness. Asking for forgiveness guarantees salvation and total well-being. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"The one who clings to Istighfaar (asking forgiveness) as a principle, Allah Ta'ala opens a path for him from all difficulties. He relieves him of all the problems and provides his provision for him in an unexpected way. (Abu Daawud)

[English version of "Al-Ghaffaar" – Al Jamiat – Vol.5 No.15]