Al-Halīm – Allah is Most Forbearing

The Qur’an refers to Allah as “the Forbearing” eleven times. For instance, Allah says: “Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing.” [Sūrah al-Baqarah: 225]

Allah says: “Kind speech and forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury; and Allah is Self-Sufficient, Forbearing.” [Sūrah al-Baqarah: 263]

Allah is Forbearing. He does not hasten to punish his creatures for their sins. He is patient and withholds His wrath.

Allah says: “If Allah were to punish people according to what they deserve. He would not leave on the face of the Earth a single living creature: but He gives them respite for an appointed term.” [Sūrah Fātir: 45]

This is why we say in our supplications: “O You who are Forbearing towards those who disobey you…”. All people commit sins and disobey their Lord, but Allah continues to give us respite in His kindness and forbearance, and He does not hasten on His punishment.

Take a moment and visualize the whole world, all the people living on its surface in the east and west, and consider how many sins are committed every minute: consider all the fraud, injustice, deception, theft and licentiousness going on, not to mention disbelief in Allah. From this, we can get a glimpse of how forbearing Allah is to us.

To describe Allah as Forbearing is to give witness to His strength. Forbearance implies having might and power. We do not say that a person is forbearing unless that person, when angered, holds back and willfully refrains from doing what he or she is capable of doing in response to that anger. As for someone who is weak and incapable of taking vengeance, and for this reason alone suffers the abuse of others, such a person is not described as forbearing. Forbearance is an attribute of the strong, not the weak.

Moreover, the attribute of forbearance shows the lofty virtues of the one who possesses it. When someone in a position of power shows forbearance, it means that he or she understands the value of patience and self-restraint. It places that person above the foolishness and banality of those who have been abusive, by not stooping down to their level.

Forbearance is inseparable from the attributes of strength and power, and it is an attribute of Allah who does not hasten to punish his servants for their sins, even though He is fully capable of doing so. He is patient with his servants, though they disobey Him and even deny that He exists. He is kind to them and calls them to righteousness; He preserves their health and continues to provide for their every need.

If the sinner would only think for a moment that those very sins are carried out with the hands, the eyes, and the other means that Allah has provided, the sinner would in shame refrain from disobeying Allah.

This is why, on the Day of Judgment, “…their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them regarding what they used to do.” [Sūrah al-Nūr: 24]

Source: IslamToday