Al-Muakhkhir, the Delayer

Al-Muakhkhir (الْمُؤَخِّرُ) means The Delayer. It is name 72 in the well-known list of the 99 Names of Allah. Al-Muʾakhkhir delays what He wills: He gives sinners time to repent and sets each thing's term. Nothing comes before its time.

The root and its meaning

Al-Muakhkhir comes from the Arabic root أ خ ر (ʾ-kh-r), which carries the sense of holding back and delaying.

Where it is in the Quran

The exact name is not in the Quran. Its verb is in 71:4: "He will forgive you and delay you for a specified term."

Surah Nooh 71:4

يَغْفِرْ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ أَجَلَ ٱللَّهِ إِذَا جَآءَ لَا يُؤَخَّرُ ۖ لَوْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Yaghfir lakum min zunoobikum wa yu'akhkhirkum ilaaa ajalim musammaa; innaa ajalal laahi izaa jaaa'a laa yu'akhkhar; law kuntum ta'lamoon

Allah will forgive you of your sins and delay you for a specified term. Indeed, the time [set by] Allah, when it comes, will not be delayed, if you only knew.' "

Quran 71:4. Arabic: Uthmani text (Tanzil). English: Sahih International.

Calling on Allah by this Name

Scholars mention this Name together with Al-Muqaddim, so that both sides of what Allah does are kept in mind, and it is not used on its own to call on Him. In your dua, ask for what fits its meaning. For example: "O Allah, give me patience with what You have delayed."

From the Sunnah

أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

Antal-muqaddimu wa antal-muʾakhkhir, lā ilāha illā ant

You are the One who brings forward and the One who holds back. There is no god but You.

Sahih al-Bukhari 1120

1. Quran 71:4, translation by Sahih International.
2. Sahih al-Bukhari 1120.

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The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.