Al-Haleem (The Forbearing)

The Name of Allaah Al-Haleem is mentioned in the Noble Qur’an in eleven verses, such as:

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Baqarah (2:235):

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ

“And know that Allaah knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. And know that Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.”

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) also said in Surat al-Baqarah (2:263):

قَوْلٌ مَعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ

“Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than charity followed by injury. And Allaah is Rich (free of all wants) and He is Most Forbearing.”

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Ahzab (33:51):

وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَلِيمًا

“Allaah knows what is in your hearts. And Allaah is Ever All-Knowing, Most Forbearing.”

In Surat Fatir (35:41), Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said:

إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا

“Truly, He is Ever Most Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving.”

The meaning of the Name:

Ibn Jarir said: “Haleem means, Who bears with tolerance and patience, does not hasten the punishment for His slaves for their sins.”[Jamie-ul-Bayan 2/327]

He also said: “He is forbearing with those who disbelieve in Him and with those who associate partners with Him in worship from among His creation. He does not hasten the punishment for them.” [Jamie’-ul-Bayan 22/95]

Al-Khattabi said: “He, Who pardons and tolerates. Neither is He provoked by anger nor is He disquieted by the ignorance of an ignorant person, or the disobedience of a sinner. Whoever forgives with incapacity (i.e. someone who is weak) does not deserve to be called Haleem, because Haleem (the Forbearing) is the One Who forgives with having the ability to punish and Who is not hasty in punishing.” [Sha’n ad-Du’aa]

Ibn al-Hassar said: “If one asked how forbearance includes deliberateness whereas the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) counted them (as two characteristics) when he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to Ashaj Abd Qais (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu): ‘Verily, you possess two such qualities which Allaah loves: forbearance and deliberateness.’ [Muslim] One must bear in mind that deliberateness could be without forbearance while forbearance never can be correct except with deliberateness.

Deliberateness is to leave hastiness in a matter that occurs incidentally. Therefore, forbearance includes deliberateness!

The forbearing one cannot be except wise, putting the matters in their proper places. He is knowledgeable and able, because if he is not able, then his forbearance is blemished with incapacity, weakness and failure; and if he is not knowledgeable, then his abandonment of revenge is due to ignorance; and if he is not wise then his forbearance is out of foolishness, and so on…” [Al-Kitab al-Asna by al-Qurtubi]

Al-Asbahani said: “He is Forbearing with who has disobeyed Him; because if He would have wanted to punish him, He is able to do that, however, He is patient with him and gives him a respite.

A person can be named Haleem and attributed with forbearance. The difference between the forbearance of the creation and Allaah’s forbearance is:

The attribute of clemency (forbearance) of humans is usually earned (attained) at an old age; it is not an inborn quality.

A person’s forbearance changes with sickness, anger and incidents during different events. It perishes with the death of the person, while Allaah’s Forbearance is eternal and never perishes.

The human being may bear (tolerate) one thing while he cannot tolerate another thing. In addition, he may bear whom he has no ability to overpower, while Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) bears all with ability.” [Al-Hujjah Fil-Mahajjah]

Ibn Kathir (Rahimahullaah) said: “Allaah is Haleem Ghafour, i.e. He is Ever Most Forbearing and Oft-Forgiving, because He sees His servants disbelieving in Him and disobeying Him, yet He is patient and gives them time; He waits and does not hasten the punishment, and He conceals the faults of others and forgives them.” [Tafseer Ibn Kathir 3/56]

Shaikh as-Sa’dee (Rahimahullaah) said: “Al-Haleem (the Forbearing) is the One Who bestows favors, both outward and inward, lavishly to His creation despite their many acts of disobedience and transgression. He is gentle with those who disobey Him and in censuring them so that perchance they may repent, and He gives them respite so that they may become sorrowful and return to Him in repentance.” [Tayseer al-Kareem 5/304]

The impact of belief in this Beautiful Name:

1-  Affirming the Attribute of Forbearance to Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) implies pardoning the sinners from among His slaves and delaying their punishment, while hoping for their repentance from their sins.

2-  Allaah’s Forbearance with His slaves and not hastening the punishment for them is from Allaah’s Perfect Attributes.

His Forbearance  is not because He is not Able to overpower them or because of His failure, Allaah is far above being attributed with any such deficient attributes.

His Forbearance implies forgiveness and pardon or giving them respite with ability of overpowering them. Nothing can escape Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) and nothing can cause failure to Him [i.e. He cannot be prevented by anything].

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat Fatir (35:44):

أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَكَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَلِيمًا قَدِيرًا

“Have they not traveled in the land, and seen what was the end of those before them – though they were superior to them in power? Allaah is not such that anything in the heavens or in the earth escapes Him [i.e. cause failure to Allaah]. Verily, He is All-Knowing, All-Able.”

His Forbearance also implies His Knowledge about the deeds of His slaves. He knows the fraud of the eyes and what the breasts conceal

He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Ahzab (33:51):

وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَلِيمًا

“Allaah knows what is in your hearts. And Allaah is Ever All-Knowing, Most Forbearing.”

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) joined between His forbearance and knowledge to inform us that He knows what is in our hearts and knows our deeds, therefore if we commit any wrong or violate His prohibitions, we should hasten towards repentance and asking forgiveness; indeed He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.

His Forbearance with His creation is not because He is in need of them. However, He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) is patient with them, pardons them and forgives them in spite of His Richness and being free of all wants and needs. He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Baqarah (2:235):

اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ

“Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.”

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) joined between His Name Haleem (Forbearing) and Ghaniy (Rich) in Surat al-Baqarah (2:263):

وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ

“And Allaah is Rich, and He is Most-Forbearing.”

This indicates that His Forbearance is free of all wants. He shows Forbearance with His slave though He is Rich and in no need of them.

3-  Allaah’s Forbearance is great, and it appears in His patience with His creation. Patience is included in the forbearance, hence every forbearer is patient. It is affirmed in the Sunnah that Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) is attributed with patience.

Narrated Abu Musa al-Asha’ri (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu), that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “None is more patient than Allaah against the harmful and annoying words He hears (from the people): they ascribe a son (offspring or children) to Him, yet He bestows upon them health and provision.” [Al-Bukhari]

Al-Haleemi said: “Al-Haleem is the One, Whose blessings and favors are not held back from His slaves because of their sins. He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) provides the sinner as He provides the obedient, and He keeps him, although he is indulged in his sins, the same as He keeps the pious. Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) may protect him from calamities even though he is heedless, not remembering Him or invoking Him, the same as He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) protects the pious worshipper who is asking Him and busy worshipping Him.” [Al-Minhaj fii Shu’batil-Iman]

Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) tells us about His patience with the creation, even though they do wrong. If He were to punish them for what they have done, there would be no living creature left on the surface of the earth i.e., He would have destroyed every animal on earth after destroying the sons of Adam. However, the Lord – Magnificent is His Glory – is Forbearing and He covers people’s faults. He waits until the appointed time i.e., He does not rush to punish them. If He did, then there would be no one left.

He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat an-Nahl (16:61):

وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِمْ مَا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ وَلَكِنْ يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ

“And if Allaah were to punish (all) mankind for their wrongdoing, He would not leave on it (the earth) a single moving creature, but He defers them to an appointed term; and when their term comes, they can neither delay nor advance it an hour (or a moment).”

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat al-Kahf (18:58):

وَرَبُّكَ الْغَفُورُ ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُهُمْ بِمَا كَسَبُوا لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ الْعَذَابَ بَلْ لَهُمْ مَوْعِدٌ لَنْ يَجِدُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ مَوْئِلًا

“And your Lord is Most Forgiving, Owner of mercy. Were He to call them to account for what they have earned, then surely, He would have hastened their punishment. But they have their appointed time, beyond which they will find no escape.”

Therefore, the delay of punishment from the wrongdoers is nothing but mercy with them, but the people are deceived with this respite and their hearts do not feel or realize the Mercy of Allaah and His Wisdom, until He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) seizes them with His Justice and Power, when their appointed term, which He has set for them, comes.

• Had it not been for Allaah’s Forbearance and Forgiveness, the heavens and the earth would shake because of the sins of mankind.

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat Fatir (35:41):

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ أَنْ تَزُولَا وَلَئِنْ زَالَتَا إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا

“Verily, Allaah grasps the heavens and the earth lest they move away from their places and if they were to move away from their places, there is not one that could grasp them after Him. Truly, He is Ever Most Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving.”

The heavens and earth are about to move because of the sins of the people, but Allaah grasps them with His Forbearance and Forgiveness.

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) has mentioned about the disbelief of some of His slaves in Surat Maryam (19:90):

تَكَادُ السَّمَوَاتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنْشَقُّ الْأَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدًّا

“Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins.”

Even though Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) has mercy and gives respite to the people, some ignorant people refuse that mercy and respite and ask Allaah to hasten for them the punishment, as Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat Yunus (10:11):

وَلَوْ يُعَجِّلُ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ الشَّرَّ اسْتِعْجَالَهُمْ بِالْخَيْرِ لَقُضِيَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَجَلُهُمْ

“And were Allaah to hasten for mankind the evil (they invoke for themselves) as He hastens for them the good (they invoke), then they would have been ruined.”

Likewise, Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) said about the disbelievers of Makkah:

وَإِذْ قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ هَذَا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ أَوِ ائْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

“And (remember) when they said: ‘O Allaah! If this (the Qur’an) is indeed the Truth (revealed) from You, then rain down stones on us from the sky or bring on us a painful torment.'” (Al-Anfal 8:32)

Note: The delay of punishment from the disbelievers is only in this life, whereas in the Hereafter, their punishment will neither be lightened, nor will they be given respite.

Al-Aqleeshi said: “It is witnessed that the punishment is delayed in this life for the disbelievers and the wicked people among the sinners. We see them disbelieve in Allaah and disobey Him while Allaah is granting them well-being, and they are enjoying the blessings of Allaah.

However, in the Hereafter the punishment is raised only from the sinners among the monotheists, whereas the disbelievers have no portion of that mercy nor will they have that opportunity.” [Al-Kitab al-Asna]

4-  It is permissible to attribute the creation with forbearance. Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) described His Prophets with this quality, when He (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat at-Tawbah (9:114):

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ

“Verily, Ibrahim (Abraham) was Awwah (i.e. used to invoke Allaah with humility, glorify Him and remember Him much) and he was forbearing.”

Similarly, He (‘Azza wa Jall) said in Surat Hud (11:75):

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُنِيبٌ

“Verily, Ibrahim (Abraham) was (without doubt) forbearing, used to invoke Allaah with humility, and was repentant (to Allaah all the time, again and again).”

Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) mentioned the statement of the people of Shu’aib (‘Alayhis-Salaam) about him:

إِنَّكَ لَأَنْتَ الْحَلِيمُ الرَّشِيدُ

“Verily, you are the forbearer, right-minded!”

In Surat as-Saffat (37:101), Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said:

فَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِغُلَامٍ حَلِيمٍ

“So We gave him (Ibrahim) the glad tidings of a forbearing boy [i.e. Ishaq (‘Alayhis-Salaam)].”

Forbearance is one of the greatest characteristics that Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) loves His slaves to be attributed with. It is a characteristic which Allaah and His Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) both love, as mentioned earlier in the narration of Ashaj Abd Qais.

What should be our attitude? How can we act upon the belief in this Name?

1-  Al-Qurtubi said: “It is incumbent upon whoever knows that his Lord is Forbearing with whomever disobeys Him, to be forbearing with whoever opposes him in opinion and contradicts his order. He should train himself to pardon and not take revenge from whoever wronged him until forbearance becomes one of his characteristics.”

And as you like that your master would be  forbearing with you, then you must forbear with whatever you own because you are worshipping Allaah with this attribute and hoping for the reward for it.

Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said in Surat ash-Shura (42:40):

وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِثْلُهَا فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ

“The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whomever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allaah.”

And in verse (42:43), Allaah (Subhana wa Ta’ala) said:

وَلَمَنْ صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَمِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ

“And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives, that would truly be from the things recommended by Allaah.” [Al-Kitab al-Asna]

2-  If we believe that He is Most Forbearing, then we hope for the good from Him and never despair of His Mercy and we ask Him to pardon us and forgive us.

3-  Forbearance is a great virtue. Whoever is seeking the reward from Allaah and hoping for the good from Him, then, he has to be attributed with forbearance.

Forbearance will not be correct except with deliberateness, which is the opposite of hastiness.

Narrated Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu): “I heard the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying: ‘Knowledge is sought by learning, forbearance is sought by forbearing. Whoever seeks the good, he will be granted and whoever is avoiding the evil, he will be protected’.” [Al-Khateeb and authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jamie no. 2328]

Sources:

📚  An-Nahj al-Asma Fii Sharh Asma ‘Ullahil-Husna, by Shaikh Muhammad An-Najdi.

📚 Al-Asma’ul-Husna was-Sifatil-‘Ulaa, by Abdul-Haadi Wahba.

🌿