al-Ḥalīm

The Forbearing, who does not rush to punish

Say it: al-Ḥalīm. A recording by our own reciter is on its way.

Heard together with: al-Ḥalīm / aṣ-Ṣabūr

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

Human patience is short: a parent's anger rises in seconds

But: Patience is spent, then gone

Episode 2

Ancient trees: a Great Basin bristlecone pine about 4,800 years old ('Methuselah'): endurance, not forbearance

Episode 3

Weak: no instrument for forbearance. Earth's stable orbit over ~4.5 billion years

But: Stability that is mechanical, not chosen

Episode 4

Take away provocation, haste, temper, the need to act now.

Not more patience than ours, but forbearance that is never provoked.

From the tradition: Classical: al-Ḥalīm sees disobedience and is not provoked to haste. Exodus 34:6 'slow to anger' (erekh appayim)

On screen

Gandalf's patience with Gollum saves the world by accident. al-Ḥalīm's patience with us is on purpose.

In scripture: Q 35:41; 35:45; 2:263; 12:92. Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:15
The same thread in Jewish and Christian scripture: Strong. Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:15
In the universe: 35:41: orbital stability over billions of years, wonder only
In nature: The Green Planet (BBC 2022): ancient trees
In people: Joseph (peace be upon him) to his brothers: (Q 12:92)
In science: Dendrochronology: tree-ring counts; geology's deep time

Living it

Hold back anger; delay judgement

Its kind

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

In the Qur'an: 2:225; 2:235; 64:17

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

Sources for this page

api.quran.com; sefaria.org Exod 34:6, Ps 86:15; LOTR card