Al-‘Afuww: Oft-Pardoning!

Suuratun – Nisaa’ Verse 149.

إِن تُبْدُوا۟ خَيْرًا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ أَوْ تَعْفُوا۟ عَن سُوٓءٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا ﴿١٤٩

149. Whether you (mankind) disclose (by good words of thanks) a good deed (done to you in the form of a favour by someone), or conceal it, or pardon an evil, … verily, Allah is Ever Oft-Pardoning, All-Powerful.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir Volume 3, Page 16.

Allah said,

﴿إِن تُبْدُواْ خَيْراً أَوْ تُخْفُوهْ أَوْ تَعْفُواْ عَن سُوءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوّاً قَدِيراً ﴾

(Whether you disclose a good deed, or conceal it, or pardon an evil; verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful)

﴿فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوّاً قَدِيراً﴾

(Verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful)

It was reported that some of the angels who carry Allah’s Throne praise Him saying, “All praise is due to You for Your forbearing even though You have perfect knowledge (in all evil committed).” Some of them supplicate, “All praise is due to You for Your forgiving even though You have perfect ability (to punish).”

An authentic Hadith states,

«مَا نَقَصَ مَالٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ، وَلَا زَادَ اللهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلَّا عِزًّا، وَمَنْ تَوَاضَعَ للهِ رَفَعَهُ الله»

(No charity shall ever decrease wealth, and Allah will only increase the honor of a servant who pardons, and he who is humble for Allah’s sake, then Allah will elevate his grade.)