Episode 1In us
Human forgiveness covers some wrongs; others we cannot forgive
But: Memory, pain, justice for others
The 99 Names · Name 34 of 99 · Act
الْغَفُورُal-Ghafūr
The All-Forgiving, whose forgiveness is vast
Recited as it sounds in the Qur'an, 85:14.
Heard together with: al-Ghaffār / al-Ghafūr; al-Ghafūr al-Wadūd (85:14)
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
Episode 2In nature
Skin heals over a wound; scar tissue remains
Episode 3At our best
Mount St Helens: after the 1980 eruption, NASA Landsat shows plants slowly returning across the blast zone; 'the dead plants and insects, the windblown organic matter… slowly create pockets of soil' (NASA Earth Observatory)
But: Takes decades; the scar remains
Episode 4The Break
Take away the scar, the memory, the size of the wrong.
Not forgiveness that leaves a scar, but forgiveness wider than the wrong.
From the tradition: Classical: Ghafūr = vastness of forgiveness, Ghaffār = its repetition. Psalm 103:12 'As east is far from west, so far have our sins been removed from us'
On screen
Javert could not live with being forgiven. al-Ghafūr's forgiveness is offered to people who can't believe it either (39:53).
Where it shows up
- In scripture
- Q 39:53; 85:14; 15:49. Psalm 103:12
- The same thread in Jewish and Christian scripture
- Strong. Psalm 103:12; Exodus 34:7
- In the universe
- NASA Earth Observatory 'World of Change: Devastation and Recovery at Mt. St. Helens'
- In nature
- Forest after fire: Our Planet 'Forests'
- In people
- Victims who forgave (signpost The Forgiveness Project)
- In science
- Ecology: primary succession on volcanic ground
Watch and listen
Films, documentaries and voices that reach towards this Name. Each links out to where you can watch it.
Sources for this page
earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/StHelens; api.quran.com; sefaria.org Ps 103:12