الْغَفَّارُ
14. Al-Ghaffar
The Forgiving
Meaning of Al-Ghaffar
The One who is the greatest forgiver, who forgives the sins of His servants again and again. No matter how many times someone sins, if they sincerely repent, Allah will forgive them. His forgiveness is vast and covers all types of sins.
Benefits of Reciting Al-Ghaffar
- Completely removes the despair that comes from repeated sins, replacing it with a powerful hope in Allah's endless willingness to forgive.
- Encourages a habit of immediate repentance ('Tawbah'), teaching us to turn back to Him right after a mistake, no matter how many times it happens.
- Inspires a forgiving nature in us. When we reflect on how much Allah forgives us, it becomes easier to forgive the mistakes of others.
Al-Ghaffar in the Quran
Mentioned 5 times in the Quran, including 'And indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes' (20:82).
How to Make Dua with 'Ya Ghaffar'
When making dua with this name, the focus is on sincere and repeated repentance. It's an appeal to the One who never tires of forgiving, even if we tire of sinning.
After Falling into the Same Sin Again
"'Ya Ghaffar, I am weak and I have returned to this sin again. But Your forgiveness is greater than my sin. You are the Perpetual Forgiver, so please forgive me one more time.'"
For Overall Forgiveness
"'Ya Ghaffar, forgive all my sins, the minor and the major, the first and the last, the ones I know and the ones I do not know.'"
When Finding it Hard to Forgive Someone
"'Ya Ghaffar, just as I stand in need of Your endless forgiveness for my many faults, please soften my heart to forgive the faults of others.'"
Frequently Asked Questions
Al-Ghaffar emphasizes repeated forgiveness (forgiving again and again). Al-Ghafur emphasizes the vastness of the forgiveness (forgiving any sin, no matter how great). Al-Afuww (The Pardoner) is even higher, as it implies completely erasing the sin as if it never happened.
The only unforgivable sin is 'Shirk' (associating partners with Allah) IF one dies upon it without repenting. For any other sin, no matter how great, the door of repentance to Al-Ghaffar is open until the moment of death. As the Quran says, '...do not despair of the mercy of Allah' (39:53).
In English, it means 'The Ever-Forgiving' or 'The Perpetual Forgiver'. Its main benefit is that it is the ultimate antidote to despair. It ensures that a believer never loses hope in Allah's mercy, no matter how many times they have erred.
Quick Quiz
Question 1: Al-Ghaffar means Allah forgives:
Question 2: Which name of Allah signifies erasing a sin completely as if it never happened?
Download All 99 Names as a PDF
For your convenience, we have compiled all 99 names of Allah with their meanings into a single, beautifully designed PDF file. It's perfect for printing, memorizing, and reflecting on the go.
Download Free PDF Now