Al-Ghaffar — The Repeatedly Forgiving

Al-Ghaffar is built on an intensive form, so it describes forgiveness given again and again, without limit and without wearying. The root ghafara means to cover, so forgiveness here is Allah concealing a fault and then not holding it against the person. Classical scholars distinguish it from Al-Ghafur by emphasis: Al-Ghafur points to the depth of the forgiveness, Al-Ghaffar to its repetition. Nuh calls his people to seek forgiveness from their Lord because He is Ghaffara (71:10).

Updated July 16, 2026