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Concept of God in the Qur’an By Dr. Muhammad Sharif Chaudhry
CHAPTER 2
GOD'S ATTRIBUTES

1. God’s Names and Attributes

2. The All-Knowing (God’s Knowledge)

3. Living, Eternal

4.  Helper, Protector

5. The Merciful

6. The Forgiving

1 – God’s Names and Attributes

The proper Name of Almighty God is Allah Who has other ninety nine attributive names which all have been mentioned in the Qur’an, the revealed book of Islam. The word Allah is the Arabic name of God and it consists of two words: “Al” and “Ilah”. The first one is the definite article, while the second one means “the being who is worshipped”. When these two words were joined the letter “i” at the beginning of the second word was dropped for easier pronunciation and thereby the two words became inseparable merging into one word “Allah”. Thus “Allah” means “The God”, i.e., “the supreme being who is worshipped by all creatures and to whom all turn and pray for fulfillment of their needs.”

The Ninety-Nine Attributive Names of Allah denote Attributes of the Almighty. For example, God’s Name Ar-Rahman means the most compassionate as in showing mercy God does not distinguish between pious and sinners. Al-Khaliq is another name of God which denotes the attribute of creation which basically belongs to God. Ar-Raziq means the ‘Provider’ and it denotes Allah’s attribute of providing sustenance to all His creatures. Thus each name of the Almighty highlights each or sometimes more of His attributes. Although memorizing all these Names of God is not discouraged but the greatest merit lies in that if the attributes contained in these names are followed instead of repeating the names on a rosary like a parrot. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported to have said: “Imbue thyself with divine attributes”. God is Ar-Rahim (the most Merciful), so a human being should also show mercy to his fellow beings. Similarly God is Ghafoor (the most forgiving) so a believer should also follow this divine attribute and forgive the faults of his fellows.

One of the Names of God is the greatest (called Ism-e-Azim) but nobody knows which it is and where to find it. There exists a great difference of opinion among the jurists and scholars about the greatest name of Allah. According to a tradition of the Prophet of Islam, the greatest name of Allah is in these two verses: verse no. 163 of the Qur’an’s chapter 2 and verse no 2 of its chapter 3.

Hafiz Ibn-e-Hajr Asqalani, great Muslim scholar and commentator of the Holy Qur’an, in his book Fathul-Bari, has statedly drawn up a list of the verses wherein all the names of Allah are found. Generally following verses are identified to contain the 99 Attributive names of God.

1 (1-3); 2(115, 126, 128, 158, 163, 255, 263); 3(2, 8, 62); 4(1, 43, 45, 85, 86); 6(14, 18, 65, 74, 102, 104, 115); 11(57, 61, 73); 12(21, 39, 64); 13(9, 23); 16(70, 91); 17(44, 65, 110); 18(110); 19(47); 20(14, 82); 21(112); 22(17); 24(20, 25, 35); 25(30, 31); 27 (9, 40); 28(58); 30(52); 32(22); 34(26); 36(81); 38(65); 39(36); 40(3, 15, 20, 22); 42(19, 28); 51(58); 52(28); 54(55); 57(3); 59(22, 24); 85(14); 87(1); 96(3); 112(1-2);

Following are 99 Attributive Names of the Almighty:

Following are some of the Verses of the Qur’an which contain Allah’s Names and also call upon the believers to invoke Allah with these names so that their prayers be accepted:

1.       Praise be to Allah, Lord of the World,
The Beneficent, the Merciful.
Owner of the Day of Judgment, ––1: AL–Fatihah: 1-3

2.       He is Who created for you all that is in the earth. Then turned He to the heaven, and fashioned it as seven heavens. And He is knower of all things. ––2: Al–Baqarah: 29

3.       Unto Allah belong the East and the West, and whithersoever ye turn, there is Allah’s countenance. Lo! Allah is All-Embracing, All-knowing. ––2: Al–Baqarah: 115

4.       Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them. While they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous. ––2: Al–Baqarah: 255

5.       Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal.
 ––3: Al–Imran: 2

6.       Lo! This verily Is the true narrative. There is no God save Allah, and lo! Allah is the Mighty, the Wise. ––3: Al–Imran: 62

7.       He selecteth for His mercy whom He will. Allah is of infinite bounty. ––3: Al–Imran: 74

8.       But Allah is your protector, and He is the best of helpers.
 ––3: Al–Imran: 150

9.       Will they not rather turn unto Allah and seek forgiveness of Him? For Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. ––5: Al–Ma’idah: 74

10.   He is the Omnipotent over His slaves, and He is the Wise, the Knower. ––6: Al–An’am: 18

11.   Allah’s are the fairest names. Invoke Him by them. And leave the company of those who blaspheme His names. They will be requited for what they do. ––7: Al–A’raf: 180

12.   Announce, (O Muhammad) unto My slaves that verily I am the Forgiving, the Merciful. ––15: Al–Hijr: 49

13.   Say (unto mankind): Cry unto Allah, or cry unto the Beneficent, unto whichsoever ye cry (it is the same). His are the most beautiful names. And thou (Muhammad), be not loud voiced in thy worship not yet silent therein, but follow a way between. ––17: Bani Isra’il: 110

14.   Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord, verily the sea would be used un before the Words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof to help. ––18: Al–Kahf: 109

15.   Allah! There is no God save Him. His are the most beautiful names. ––20: Ta Ha: 8

16.   Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is knower of all things. ––24: An–Nur: 35

17.   And cry not unto any other god along with Allah. There is no God save Him. Everything will perish save His countenance. His is the command, and unto Him ye will be brought back.
 ––28: Al–Qasas: 88

18.   And if all the trees in the earth were pens, and the sea, with seven more seas to help it, (were ink), the words of Allah could not be exhausted. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.
 ––31: Luqman: 27

19.   Say: Our Lord will bring us all together, then He will judge between us with truth. He is the All-knowing judge.
 ––34: Saba: 26

20.   O mankind! Ye are the poor in your relation to Allah. And Allah! He is the Absolute, the Owner of Praise.
 ––35: Al–Fatir: 15

21.   The Forgiver of sin, the Accepter of repentance, The Stern in punishment, The Bountiful. There is no God save Him. Unto Him is the journeying. ––40: Al–Mu’min: 3

22.   Lo! Allah! He it is that giveth livelihood, the Lord of unbreakable might. ––51: Adh–Dhariyat: 2

23.   Blessed be the name of thy Lord, Mighty and Glorious!
 ––55: Ar–Rahman: 78

24.   He is the First and the Last, and the Outward and the Inward; and He is Knower of all things. ––57: Al–Hadid: 3

25.   He is Allah, than whom there is no other God, the knower of the invisible and visible. He is the Beneficent, the Merciful. He is Allah, than whom there is no other God, the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One, Peace, the Keeper of Faith, the Guardian, the Majestic, the Compeller, the Superb. Glorified be Allah from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him).
He is Allah, the Creator, the Shaper out of naught, the Fashioner. His are the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifieth Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise. ––59: Al–Hashr: 22-24

26.   Lo! He it is Who produceth, then reproduceth,
And He is the Forgiving, the Loving,
Lord of the Throne of Glory,
Doer of what He will. ––85: Al–Buruj: 13-16

27.   Say: He is Allah, the One!
Allah, the eternally Besought of all!
He Begetteth not nor was Begotten.
And there is none comparable unto Him. ––112: Al–Ikhlas: 1-4

Following are some of the Ahadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which call upon the believers to count Allah’s Names and beseech Allah with His Names.

1.     Abu Hurairah reported that the Apostle of Allah said: there are 99 names (one hundred but one) for Allah. Whoso counts them will enter Paradise. And in a narration: And He is one and loves what is single. (Bukhari, Muslim)

2.    Boraidah reported that the Apostle of Allah heard a man say: ‘O Allah! I beseech Thee as Thou art Allah. There is no deity but Thou, the One, Free from want, One who begets not nor was begotten, and there is no equal like Him”. He said: He has beseeched Allah with His greatest name. If He is implored with it, He gives; and if He is invoked with it, He responds.
 (Tirmizi, Abu Daud)

3.     Asma’-bn-Yezid reported that the Apostle of Allah said: The greatest name of Allah is in these two verses: “And your Lord is one God; there is no deity but He; the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful” (2:163) and in the opening of the Family of Imran – “Alif, Lam, Mim; He is Allah; there is no deity but He, the Ever-living, the Eternal”
 (Tirmizi, Abu Daud, Ibn Majah, Darimi)

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2 – The All Knowing (God’s Knowledge)

God has knowledge of everything, of whatsoever is in the heavens and in the earth. He knows what you hide in your breasts or reveal it. He knows that which is in the heavens and that which is in the earth. He knows what is in front of you and that which is behind you, while you encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. God knows your secrets and your utterances and He knows what you earn. It is only God who knows what is in the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but He knows it, not a grain amid the darkness of the night, naught of wet or dry but it is noted in a clear record. God is the Knower of the invisible and the visible and He knows which every female bears. Only He knows the secrets of the heavens and the earth and with Him are the keys of the invisible. According to the Qur’an, only God has the knowledge of the unseen. None of His creatures, no mortal nor even any messenger has knowledge of the unseen until and unless God gives him some of such knowledge. Only He knows when the doomsday would come, He knows which is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will earn and in what land it will die. He knows which goes down into the earth and that which comes forth from it, and that which descends from the heaven and that which ascends into it. No female bears or brings forth, save with His knowledge. No secret conference of three takes place but He is their fourth, nor of five but He is their sixth, nor of less than that or more but he is with them. In short, God’s knowledge of the seen and unseen, of visible and invisible, of past, present and future, of hidden and known, of everything in the earth or in the heavens, is perfect, total and absolute. Out of His grace, He makes part of His knowledge available to His servants.

Allah has granted man some knowledge ever since He intended to appoint man as vicegerent on earth. Man, however, allows himself to be dazzled by the limited knowledge which has been given to him and sometimes becomes so arrogant as to forget the existence of God who created the universe and bestowed many blessings on man.

The following verses of the Qur’an bring into focus God’s knowledge:

1.     Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, The Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His Throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous.
 ––2: Al–Baqarah: 255

2.     Lo! nothing in the earth or in the heavens is hidden from Allah. ––3: Al–Imran: 5

3.     Say, (O Muhammad): Whether ye hide that which is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knoweth it. Her knoweth that which is in the heavens and that which is in the earth, and Allah is Able to do all things. ––3: Al–Imran: 29

4.     He is Allah in the heavens and in the earth. He knoweth both your secret and your utterance, and He knoweth what ye earn.
 ––6: Al–An’am: 3

5.     And with Him are the keys of the invisible. None but He knoweth them. And He knoweth what is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falleth but He knoweth it, not a grain amid the darkness of the earth, naught of wet or dry but (it is noted) in a clear record. ––6: Al–An’am: 59

6.     Allah Knoweth that which every female beareth and that which the wombs absorb and that which they grow.
And everything with Him is measured.
He is the knower of the invisible and the visible, the Great, the High Exalted.
Alike of you is he who hideth the saying and he who noiseth it abroad, he who lurketh in the night and he who goeth freely in the daytime. ––13: Ar–Ra’d: 8-10

7.      Say (unto them, O Muhammad): He Who knoweth the secret of the heavens and the earth hath revealed it. Lo. He ever is Forgiving, Merciful. ––25: Al–Furqan: 6

8.      O my dear son! Lo! though it be but the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Lo Allah is Subtile, Aware. ––31: Luqman: 16

9.       Lo! Allah with Him is knowledge of the Hour. He sendeth down the rain, and knoweth that which is in the wombs. No soul Knoweth what it will earn to-morrow, and no soul knoweth in what land it will die. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.
 ––31: Luqman: 34

10.   He Knoweth that which goeth down into the earth and that which cometh forth from it, and that which descendeth from the heaven and that which ascendeth into it. He is the Merciful, the Forgiving. ––34: Saba: 2

11.   Allah created you from dust, then from a little fluid then He made you pairs (the male and female). No female beareth or bringeth forth save with His knowledge. And no one groweth old who groweth old, nor is aught lessened of his life, but it is recorded in a Book. Lo! that is easy for Allah. ––35: Al-Fatir: 11

12.   Lo! Allah is the Knower of the Unseen of the Heavens and the earth. Lo He is Aware of the secret of (men’s) breasts.
 ––35: Al-Fatir: 38

13.   Unto Him is referred (all) knowledge of the Hour. And no fruits burst forth from their sheaths, and no female carrieth or bringeth forth but with His knowledge. And on the day when He calleth unto them: Where are now My partners? They will say: We confess unto Thee, not one of us is a witness (for them). ––41: Ha Mim As-Sajdah: 47

14.   Hast thou not seen that Allah knoweth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. There is no secret conference of three but He is their fourth, nor of five but He is their sixth, nor of less than that or more but He is with them wheresoever they may be; and afterward, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did. Lo! Allah is Knower of all things. ––58: Al-Mujadilah: 7

15.   He is the Knower of the unseen, and He revealth unto none His secret, save unto every messenger whom He hath chosen, and then He maketh a guard to go before him and a guard behind him. ––72: Al–Jinn: 26-27

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3 – Living, Eternal

According to the Qur’an, God is Ever–Living or Alive and Eternal. Eternal life is a life which neither starts nor ends at any point in time. Such life is absolutely above the concept of time which is always attached to the lives of creatures. Lives of creatures run for limited periods starting at one point in time and coming to end at other point in time. God is only one Who can be described as Eternal or Ever-living as no start or end in terms of time can be attributed to His life. The concept of Eternal life also refers to a self-sustaining life which is not derived from any outside source, and this concept also applies only to Allah as lives of creatures are not eternal because those are given to them by the creator. According to the Qur’an, everything will perish and pass away except the Countenance of the Almighty Allah. Thus speaks the Qur’an about this attribute of God:

1. Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him……
    ––2: Al–Baqarah: 255

2. Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal.
    ––3: Al–Imran: 2

3. And faces humble themselves before the Living, the Eternal. And he who beareth (a burden of) wrongdoing is indeed a failure (on that Day). ––20: Ta–Ha: 111

4. And trust thou in the Living One Who dieth not, and Hymn His praise. He sufficeth as the Knower of His bondmen’s sins.
    ––25: Al–Furqan: 58

5. And cry not unto any other god along with Allah. There is no God save Him. Everything will perish save His countenance. His is the command, and unto Him ye will be brought back.
    ––28: Al–Qasas: 88

6. He is the Living One. There is no God save Him. So pray unto Him, making religion pure for Him (only). Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds! ––40: Al–Mu’min: 65

7. Everyone that is thereon will pass away; There remaineth but the countenance of thy Lord of Might and Glory.
    ––55: Ar–Rahman: 26-27

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4 – Helper, Protector

According to the Qur’an, Allah is the Protector and He is the best of helpers. He is Protecting Friend of those who believe and He brings them out of darkness into light. If God is your helper, none can overcome you. But if He withdraws His help, then none can help you. Indeed Allah is the best Protecting Friend, a blessed Patron and blessed Helper. The Holy Qur’an says:

1. Allah is the Protecting Friend of those who believe. He bringeth them out of darkness into light. As for those who disbelieve, their patrons are false deities. They bring them out of light into darkness. Such are rightful owner of the Fire. They will abide therein. ––2: Al–Baqarah: 257

2. But Allah is your Protector, and He is the best of helpers.
    ––3: Al–Imran: 150

3. If Allah is your helper none can overcome you, and if He withdraw His help from you, who is there who can help you? In Allah let believers put their trust.
    ––3: Al–Imran: 160

4. Allah knoweth best (who are) your enemies. Allah is sufficient as a Friend, and Allah is sufficient as a Helper.
    ––4: An–Nisa: 45

5. And if they would deceive thee, then lo! Allah is sufficient for thee. He it is Who supporteth thee with His help and with the believers. And (as for the believers) hath attuned their hearts. If thou hadst spent all that is in the earth thou couldst not have attuned their hearts, but Allah hath attuned them. Lo! He is Mighty, Wise. O Prophet! Allah is sufficient for thee and those who follow thee of the believers. ––8: Al–Anfal: 62-64

6.  …… So establish worship, pay the poor-due, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protecting Friend. A blessed Patron and a blessed Helper. ––22: Al–Hajj: 78

7. Lo! We verily do help Our messenger, and those who believe, in the life of the world and on the day when the witnesses arise, ––40: Al–Mu’min: 51

8. Had Allah willed, He could have made them one community but Allah bringeth whom He will into His mercy. And the wrong-doers have no friend nor helper. Or have they chosen protecting friends besides Him? But Allah, He (alone) is the protecting Friend. He quickeneth the dead, and He is Able to do all things. ––42: Ash–Shura: 8-9

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5 – The Merciful

The Qur’an tells us that God is the Beneficent and the Most Merciful. God is the most Merciful of all who show mercy. He has prescribed for Himself mercy. Who does evil and then repents and starts doing right, God forgives him and shows him His mercy. God is merciful to individuals as well as to nations. According to traditions of Prophet Muhammad, God has written in a record that His mercy surpasses His wrath. God has one hundred mercies out of which He kept ninety-nine with Him and distributed only one among Jinn, men and all animals. God is more affectionate to His servant than a mother is for her child.

The Holy Qur’an says:

1. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the world, the Beneficent, the Merciful. ––1: Al–Fatihah: 1-2

2. Your God is One God; there is no God save Him, the Beneficent, the Merciful. ––2: Al–Baqarah: 163

3. And when those who believe in Our revelations come unto thee, say: Peace be unto you! Your Lord hath prescribed for Himself mercy, that whoso of you doeth evil and repenteth afterward thereof and doeth right, (for him) lo! Allah is For- giving, Merciful. ––6: Al–An’am: 54

4. Thy Lord is the Absolute, the Lord of Mercy. If He will, He can remove you and can cause what He will to follow after you, even as He raised you from the seed of other folk.
    ––6: Al–An’am: 134

5. He said: My Lord! Have mercy on me and on my brother; bring us into Thy mercy, Thou are the Most Merciful of all who show mercy. ––7: Al–A’raf: 151

6. Ask pardon of your Lord and then turn unto Him (repentant) Lo! My Lord is Merciful, Loving. ––11: Hud: 90

7. And Job, when he cried unto his Lord, (saying): Lo! adversity afflicteth me, and Thou are Most Merciful of all who show mercy.
   Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he suffered, and We gave him his household (that he hadlost) and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store, and a remembrance for the worshippers.
    ––21: Al–Anbiya: 83-84

8. Lo! There was a party of My slaves who said: Our Lord! We believe, therefore forgive us and have mercy on us for Thou art best of all who show mercy; ––23: Al–Muminun: 109

9. And (O Muhammad) say: My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for Thou art best of all who show mercy. ––23: Al–Muminun: 118

10. And put thy trust in the Mighty, the Merciful.
     ––26: Ash–Shuraa: 217

About God’s Mercy, the Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are:

1. Abu Hurairah reported that the Apostle of Allah said: When Allah created the creation, He wrote a record which is near Him above His Throne: Verily My mercy surpassed My wrath (and in a narration: prevailed upon my wrath).
    (Bukhari, Muslim)

2. Abu Hurairah reported that the Apostle of Allah said: There are for Allah one hundred mercies of which He sent down one mercy among jinn, men, beasts, birds and insects. They are therewith at amity with one another, therewith they show kindness to one another, therewith the animals show affection to their young ones; and Allah kept in abeyance ninety nine mercies with which He will show mercy to His servants on the Resurrection Day. Agreed upon it. And in a narration of Muslim from Salman, there is a similar report, and in its last he said: When there will appear the Resurrection day, He will make it perfect with this mercy.

3. Abu Hurairah reported that the Apostle of Allah said: If a believer could know how much of the punishment is near Allah, nobody would hope for His paradise; and if a polytheist could know how much of mercy is near Allah, nobody would be despaired of His Paradise. (Bukhari, Muslim)

4. Omar-al-Khattab reported: Captives came to the Prophet among whom was a woman whose breast was oozing with milk. She was running. When she found a boy out of the captives, she took him and kept him attached to her bosom and suckled him. The Prophet said to us: Can you magine that this woman can throw her child unto the fire? ‘No’ we said, ‘she cannot throw him’. He said: Allah is more affectionate to His servants than this woman for her child. (Bukhari, Muslim)

5. Abdullah-b-Omar reported: We were with the Prophet in one of his holy wars. He passed by a people. He said: Who is this people? They replied: We are Muslims. A woman was kindling a fire under her pot and her son was with her. When the fieak of fire rose high, she took it to a side. Then the Apostle of Allah came (there) and she asked: Are you the Apostle of Allah? ‘Yes’ said he. She said: My father and mother be sacrificed to thee, is not Allah the most Merciful among the merciful? ‘Yes’ he replied. She asked: Is not Allah more affectionate to His servants than a mother for her child? ‘Yes’ said he. She said: A mother does not certainly cast her child into fire. Then the Apostle of Allah burst into tears. Afterwards he raised his head towards her and said: Allah will not punish His servants for their sins except one who is disobedient, rebellious, raising rebellion against Allah and refusing to say – There is no God but Allah.’ Ibn Majah.

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6 – The Forgiving

God is Forgiving, Merciful. According to the Qur’an, God may forgive every sin other than that of polytheism. He may not forgive those who are disbelievers in Him and who associate partners unto Him. Whoso commits a sin and then seeks pardon of God sincerely, God shows His clemency and pardons him so much so if a person is forced by necessity and eats a forbidden (Haram) thing like swineflesh, God forgives him. Although God is strong in punishing yet He is rich in pardon for mankind despite their wrong doing. Were God to take mankind to task for their wrong doing, He would not have left on land any living creature. Those who repent, and believe and do good works, God may change their evil deeds to good deeds instead of pardoning them only. According to traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), when a sinner beseeches God, He forgives his sins even if they are as numerous as to reach the clouds of heaven or there are earthful of sins provided the sinner does not set up partners with God. So the believers have been advised by the Prophet to seek forgiveness of God at least hundred times a day.

Following Verses of the Qur’an highlight God’s attribute of forgiveness:

1. He hath forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swineflesh, and that which hath been immolated to (the name of) any other than Allah. But he who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. ––2: Al–Baqarah: 173

2. But he who feareth from a testator some unjust or sinful clause, and maketh peace between the parties, (it shall be) no sin for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
    ––2: Al–Baqarah: 182

3. 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.
    ––2: Al–Baqarah: 225

4. Lo! Allah forgiveth not that a partner should be ascribed unto Him. He forgiveth (all) save that to whom He will. Whoso ascribeth partners to Allah, he hath indeed invented a tremendous sin. ––4: An–Nisa: 48

5. Yet whoso doeth evil or wrongeth his own soul, then seeketh pardon of Allah, will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful.
    ––4: An–Nisa: 110

6. But Whoso repenteth after his wrongdoing and amendeth, lo! Allah will relent toward him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
    ––5: Al–Maidah: 39

7. They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no God save the One God. If they desist not from so saying a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve.
   Will they not rather turn unto Allah and seek forgiveness of Him? For Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. ––5: Al–Maidah: 98

8. Know that Allah is severe in punishment, but that Allah (also) is Forgiving, Merciful. ––5: Al–Maidah: 39

9. But those who do ill deeds and afterward repent and believe – Lo! for them, afterward, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
    ––7: Al–A’raf: 153

10. And they bid thee hasten on the evil rather than the good, when exemplary punishments have indeed occurred before them. But lo! thy Lord is rich in pardon for mankind despite their wrong, and lo! thy Lord is strong in punishment.
     ––13: Ar–Raad: 6

11. If Allah were to take mankind to task for their wrongdoing, He would not leave hereon a living creature, but He reprieveth them to an appointed term, and when their term cometh they cannot put (it) off an hour nor (yet) advance (it).
     ––16: An–Nahl: 61

12. Then lo! thy Lord – for those who do evil in ignorance and afterward repent and amend – lo! (for them) thy Lord is afterward indeed Forgiving, Merciful. ––16: An–Nahl: 119

13. And let not those who posses dignity and ease among you swear not to give to the near of kin and to the needy, and to fugitives for the cause of Allah. Let them forgive and show indulgence. Yearn ye not that Allah may forgive you? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. ––24: An–Nur: 22

14. Save him who repenteth and believeth and doth righteous work; as for such, Allah will change their evil deeds to good deeds. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. ––25: Al–Furqan: 70

15. Say: O My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgiveth all sins. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. ––39: Az–Zumar: 53

Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about God’s Attribute of forgiving sins of His servants are:

1. Abu Hurairah reported that the apostle of Allah said: By Allah, I seek pardon of Allah and return penitently to Him every day more than seventy times. (Bukhari)

2. Abu Zarr reported that the Apostle of Allah said in the matter of what he had narrated from the blessed and Almighty Allah Who said: O My servants! I have made injustice unlawful on Me and made it unlawful for you. O My servants! don’t do injustice to one another. Every one of you is misguided except one whom I guide. So seek guidance from Me and I shall grant you guidance. O My servants! Everyone of you is hungry except one whom I give food. So seek food from Me and I shall give you food. O My servants! Everyone of you is naked except one whom I give cloth. So seek cloth from Me and I shall give you cloth. O My servants! You commit sins day and night and I forgive all sins. So seek forgiveness from Me and I shall forgive you. O My servants! You will not be able to injure Me and so do Me injury; you will not be able to do Me benefit and succeed in doing benefit. O my servants! If your former and later (generations) and your men and your Jinn aspire as the one with the purest heart among you, that will not increase anything from My dominion. O My servants! If your former and later generations and your men and your Jinn were as wicked as the man with the most wicked heart among you, that will not decrease anything from My dominion. O My servants! If your former and later generation and your men and your Jinn stand in one lofty place and beseech Me and I give everyone what he asked, that will not decrease what is near Me except as a needle decreases when it is put into sea. O My servants! These are your actions which I shall count for you and thereafter compensate them for you. Let him who wishes good, praise Allah; and let him who wishes other than that blame no one but himself. (Muslim)

3. Ayesha reported that the Apostle of Allah said: When a servant recognises his sin and then repents, Allah accepts his repentance. (Bukhari, Muslim)

4. Abu Hurairah reported that the Apostle of Allah said: By one in Whose hand there is my life, if you had not committed sins, Allah would have destroyed you and brought a people who would then commit sins and would seek forgiveness from Allah and Allah would forgive them. (Muslim)

5. Abu Hurairah reported that the Apostle of Allah said: A man committed a sin and said: O Lord! I have committed a sin, so forgive it. His Lord said: Does My servant know that he has got a Lord who forgives sins and punishes him? I have pardoned My servant. Thereafter he tarried so long as Allah wished. Afterwards he committed a sin, and so he said: O Lord I have committed a sin and so forgive it. He said: Does My servant know that he has got a Lord who can forgive sins and punish him? I have pardoned My servant. Thereafter he tarried so long as Allah wished. Afterwards he committed a sin. He said: O Lord! I have committed another sin and so forgive me therefore. He said: Does My servant know that he has got a Lord who can forgive sins and punish him? I have pardoned My servant. So Let him do what he wishes. (Bukhari, Muslim)

6. Jundub reported that the Apostle of Allah narrated: A man said: By Allah, Allah will not forgive so and so. Then the Almighty Allah said: Who is he who swears that I shall not forgive so and so, but I have forgiven so and so and nullified your actions, (or as he said). (Muslim)

7. Anas reported that the Apostle of Allah said: The Almighty Allah said: O son of Adam! I will forgive you as long as you implore Me and hope in Me inspite of what you have done, and I don’t care. O son of Adam! If your sins are so numerous as to reach the clouds of heavens and thereafter if you seek forgiveness from Me, I would forgive you and I don’t care. O son of Adam! If you were to meet Me with an earthfull of sins and then if you were to meet Me without settings up anything with Me, I would certainty come to you with an earthfull of forgiveness. (Ahmad, Darimi, Tirmizi, (Approved, Rare))

8. Ibn Omar reported that the Apostle of Allah said: Allah accepts the repentance of a man so long as he is not at the point of death. (Tirmizi, Ibn Majah)

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