Al-Ghafur (الْغَفُوْرُ) means The All-Forgiving. It is name 34 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Al-Ghafūr forgives sins, however great, for whoever turns to Him. Scholars say Al-Ghaffār stresses how often He forgives, and Al-Ghafūr how completely.
The root and its meaning
Al-Ghafur comes from the Arabic root غ ف ر (gh-f-r), which carries the sense of covering and forgiving.
Where it is in the Quran
Al-Ghafūr is among the most repeated names in the Quran, usually with Ar-Raḥīm.
Surah Az-Zumar 39:53
۞ قُلْ يَٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Qul yaa'ibaadiyal lazeena asrafoo 'alaaa anfusihim laa taqnatoo mirrahmatil laah; innal laaha yaghfiruz zunooba jamee'aa; innahoo Huwal Ghafoorur Raheem
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."
Quran 39:53. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Surah Al-Hijr 15:49
۞ نَبِّئْ عِبَادِىٓ أَنِّىٓ أَنَا ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Nabbi' 'ibaadeee annneee anal Ghafoorur Raheem
[O Muhammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Quran 15:49. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Calling on Allah by this Name
Allah says: "And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them" (7:180). Begin your dua with يَا غَفُوْرُ (Yā Ghafūr) and ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "Yā Ghafūr, forgive what I remember and what I have forgotten."
From the Sunnah
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَارْحَمْنِي، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Allāhumma innī ẓalamtu nafsī ẓulman kathīran wa lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā ant, faghfir lī maghfiratan min ʿindik, warḥamnī, innaka antal-ghafūrur-raḥīm
O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly, and no one forgives sins but You, so forgive me with forgiveness from You and have mercy on me. You are the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. (Taught to Abu Bakr for his prayer.)
Sahih al-Bukhari 834; Sahih Muslim 2705
- Quran 39:53, translation by Sahih International.
- Quran 15:49, translation by Sahih International.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 834; Sahih Muslim 2705.
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