al-Ghaffār

The One who forgives, again and again

Begin the series ↓

Recited as it sounds in the Qur'an, 38:66.

Heard together with: al-Ghaffār / al-Ghafūr / al-ʿAfuww / at-Tawwāb

Start with what we know

Then take away everything it needs. What is left is not a bigger version of us. It is the Name.

Episode 1

In us

A human forgives once or twice; 'seventy times seven' is set as the ideal (Matthew 18:22)

But: Memory keeps the hurt; patience wears down

Episode 2

In nature

Weak link: animals reconcile after conflict (primate reconciliation studies, de Waal)

Episode 3

At our best

DNA repair: 'a host of molecular systems continuously monitor and repair DNA' (Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015 press release); mismatch repair reduces copying errors 'by about a thousandfold'

But: Repair fails sometimes; errors accumulate; we age

Episode 4

The Break

Take away a limit of times, memory of the wrong, the need for the wrongdoer to repay.

Not forgiveness that tries one more time, but forgiveness with no count.

Read: Q 20:82; 39:53

From the tradition: Root gh-f-r: to cover, as a helmet (mighfar) covers. al-Ghazālī: al-Ghaffār shows the beautiful and veils the ugly

On screen

Phil gets the day again because something is stuck. al-Ghaffār gives the day again because He is forgiving.

Where it shows up

In scripture: Q 20:82; 39:53; 71:10-12. Exodus 34:7; Micah 7:18
The same thread in Jewish and Christian scripture: Strong. Exodus 34:7 'forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin'; Micah 7:18 'Who is a God like You, forgiving iniquity'
In the universe: Weak link. Honest gap
In nature: Our Planet 'Fresh Water' (Netflix official YouTube): rain returning to dry land (71:11)
In people: Prison chaplaincy and victims who meet offenders (restorative justice)
In science: Molecular biology: three DNA repair systems mapped by Lindahl, Modrich and Sancar (Nobel 2015)

Living it

Cover others' faults; forgive repeatedly

Its kind

Act: something done: mercy shown, provision given, a prayer answered.

In the Qur'an: 20:82; 38:66; 71:10

Watch and listen

Films, documentaries and voices that reach towards this Name. Each links out to where you can watch it.

Noah

FreefilmNoahA dark, ambitious retelling of Noah (peace be upon him) that wrestles with judgement and mercy.2014 · 138 · Darren Aronofsky (dir.); Regency / Protozoa · Stream: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus; Free: JustWatch TV Free, Rakuten TV, Plex; Rent/buy: Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video, YouTubeArtwork not shown: it pictures a prophet.

Trailer ↗Where to watch in the UK ↗

Sources for this page

nobelprize.org chemistry 2015 press release; api.quran.com; sefaria.org Exod 34:7, Micah 7:18