Al-Halim (الْحَلِيْمُ) means The Forbearing. It is name 32 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Al-Ḥalīm sees the sins of His servants and does not rush to punish them. He gives time to repent, and keeps the heavens and earth from falling though people disobey.
The root and its meaning
Al-Halim comes from the Arabic root ح ل م (ḥ-l-m), which carries the sense of forbearance, not rushing to punish.
Where it is in the Quran
Al-Ḥalīm comes in the Quran with Al-Ghafūr, Al-ʿAlīm, Al-Ghaniyy and Ash-Shakūr.
Surah Faatir 35:41
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ أَن تَزُولَا ۚ وَلَئِن زَالَتَآ إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًۭا
Innal laaha yumsikus samaawaati wal arda an tazoolaaa; wa la'in zaalataaa in amsa kahumaa min ahadim mim ba'dih; innahoo kaana Haleeman Ghafooraa
Indeed, Allah holds the heavens and the earth, lest they cease. And if they should cease, no one could hold them [in place] after Him. Indeed, He is Forbearing and Forgiving.
Quran 35:41. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.
Surah Al-Baqara 2:225
لَّا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا كَسَبَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌۭ
Laa yu'aakhi zukumul laahu billaghwi feee aymaa nikum wa laakiny yu'aakhi zukum bimaa kasabat quloo bukum; wallaahu Ghafoorun Haleem
Allah does not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He imposes blame upon you for what your hearts have earned. And Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing.
Quran 2:225. 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 حَلِيْمُ (Yā Ḥalīm) and ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "Yā Ḥalīm, do not take me for what I did before I repented."
From the Sunnah
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ رَبُّ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
Lā ilāha illallāhul-ʿaẓīmul-ḥalīm, lā ilāha illallāhu rabbul-ʿarshil-ʿaẓīm, lā ilāha illallāhu rabbus-samāwāti wa rabbul-arḍi wa rabbul-ʿarshil-karīm
There is no god but Allah, the Magnificent, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the Noble Throne. (The dua of distress.)
Sahih al-Bukhari 6346; Sahih Muslim 2730
- Quran 35:41, translation by Sahih International.
- Quran 2:225, translation by Sahih International.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6346; Sahih Muslim 2730.
Our teachers will check the Arabic, transliteration and meanings on this page before launch.
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.