Al-Halim — The Forbearing
Al-Halim is the One who does not hasten to punish, though He has every power and full knowledge of the offence. Forbearance in a human being can come from weakness or ignorance; in Allah it comes from neither, which is what makes the name remarkable. The Quran observes that if Allah were to take people to task for what they have earned, He would not leave a creature on the earth (35:45). Classical scholars read the delay as an open door: time given is an invitation to return.
Updated July 16, 2026
Name 32 of 99
الْحَلِيمُ
Al-Halim
The Forbearing
Where Al-Halim appears in the Quran
لَّا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغۡوِ فِيٓ أَيۡمَٰنِكُمۡ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ قُلُوبُكُمۡۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٞ
Allah will not take you to task for that which is unintentional in your oaths. But He will take you to task for that which your hearts have garnered. Allah is Forgiving, Clement
Arabic text: Tanzil Uthmani (public domain). English translation: Marmaduke Pickthall, “The Meaning of the Glorious Koran” (1930) — public domain.
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