Al-Afuww (العفو) means the Pardoner: the One who wipes away sins and forgoes punishment. Al-Afuww is the name the Prophet ﷺ taught his wife ‘A’ishah to use on Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Decree, in one of the most loved supplications of Ramadan. This article explains the meaning of Al-Afuww, the five verses of the Qur’an where it appears, authentic hadith and supplications, and how the name can shape the way we forgive others.
What Does Al-Afuww Mean?
Al-Afuww comes from the Arabic root ع ف و (‘ayn-fa-waw). Among its meanings are to pardon, to pass over an offence, and to efface or wipe away, as wind wipes away footprints in the sand.
Scholars who wrote on the names of Allah, such as al-Ghazali, explain that ‘afw (pardon) goes further than covering a sin: it erases it. Maghfirah (forgiveness, as in Al-Ghafoor) carries the meaning of covering and protecting from the consequences, while ‘afw carries the meaning of wiping away. Both are from Allah’s mercy, and in practice believers seek both.
Al-Afuww in the Qur’an
Allah describes Himself as al-‘Afuww five times in the Qur’an, each time paired with another name: four times with Al-Ghafoor (the Forgiving) and once with Al-Qadeer (the Competent). The translations below are Saheeh International, from Quran.com.
- “…Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.” (4:43)
- “For those it is expected that Allah will pardon them, and Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.” (Qur’an 4:99)
- “If [instead] you show [some] good or conceal it or pardon an offense – indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Competent.” (Qur’an 4:149)
- “…Indeed, Allah is Pardoning and Forgiving.” (Qur’an 22:60)
- “…But indeed, Allah is Pardoning and Forgiving.” (Qur’an 58:2)
The pairing in 4:149 is worth reflecting on. Allah invites us to pardon others, and reminds us that He pardons although He is fully able to punish. True pardon is a choice made from strength, not weakness.
The Laylat al-Qadr Supplication
‘A’ishah asked the Prophet ﷺ what she should say if she knew which night was Laylat al-Qadr. He said:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘anni
“O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning, [Generous,] You love pardon, so pardon me.” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3513, graded sahih by Darussalam)
The word “Generous” appears in square brackets because it is found in some copies of at-Tirmidhi and not others, so the shorter wording above is the one most commonly taught.
More Authentic Hadith on Seeking Pardon
The Prophet’s Daily Repentance
“By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6307, narrated by Abu Hurairah)
Ramadan and Laylat al-Qadr
“Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1901)
A Morning and Evening Supplication
Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet ﷺ never left these words in the morning and evening: “O Allah, I ask Thee for security in this world and in the Hereafter: O Allah! I ask Thee for forgiveness and security in my religion and my worldly affairs, in my family and my property; O Allah! conceal my fault or faults, and keep me safe from the things which I fear…” (Sunan Abi Dawud 5074, graded sahih by al-Albani)
How to Seek Allah’s Pardon
- Stop the sin and resolve sincerely not to return to it.
- Feel genuine regret for what you have done.
- Put right any wrong done to other people where you can, including returning what belongs to them.
- Ask Allah for pardon with sincerity, using the supplications above.
- Follow a bad deed with a good one, and keep going: do not despair.
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’” (Qur’an 39:53)
Living the Meaning of Al-Afuww: Pardoning Others
Because Allah loves pardon, pardoning others is one of the most beautiful ways to act on this name. It means letting go of grudges, not reminding people of past mistakes, and being generous in overlooking faults, especially among family and friends.
Abu Bakr and Mistah
Abu Bakr as-Siddiq used to support his poor relative Mistah financially. When Mistah joined in spreading the false accusation against ‘A’ishah, Abu Bakr swore he would stop. Allah then revealed:
“And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 24:22)
Abu Bakr said that he would indeed love Allah to forgive him, and he resumed his support of Mistah. The full account is narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari 4750.
Good Times to Seek Pardon
- The last third of the night
- While in prostration (sujud)
- Between the call to prayer and the iqamah
- During the last ten nights of Ramadan, seeking Laylat al-Qadr
- On the Day of ‘Arafah
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Al-Afuww and Al-Ghafoor?
Both express Allah’s forgiveness. Scholars explain that Al-Ghafoor carries the sense of covering sins and protecting from their consequences, while Al-Afuww carries the sense of wiping them away. In the Qur’an the two names often appear together.
How many times is Al-Afuww mentioned in the Qur’an?
Allah is described as al-‘Afuww five times: 4:43, 4:99, 4:149, 22:60 and 58:2.
Al-Afuww in Arabic Calligraphy
Many families like to display this name during Ramadan and all year round as a reminder of the Laylat al-Qadr supplication. Our Al-Afuww calligraphy digital download presents العفو as a printable design, and our 99 Names of Allah print shows all the names together. Both are digital downloads supplied as high-resolution JPEG files for printing at home or at a local print shop; no physical item is shipped. Custom designs can be requested.
