He may swiftly penalize some of them. He witnesses the transgression of transgressors and
the disobedience of those who disobey Him without being provoked by anger or
overwhelmed by wrath, and He does not rush to penalize despite His ability to do so. Allah
has said, "Had Allah destroyed men on account of their iniquity, He would not have left on
earth a single creature" (Qura'n, 16:61).
Al-Haleem does not bring about a swift vengeance; had He intended to effect revenge at a
later time, He would have been called spiteful, vengeful, and if He does not intend to seek
revenge at all, then surely He is Forgiving. He can also be called al-Haleem if He does not
intend to seek revenge at all provided He does not declare His intention. If He does declare it,
He then is called Forgiving. Al-Haleem quite often overlooks sins and covers up
shortcomings. He forgives after having covered up. He safeguards His affection for His
servants. His promise is good. He fulfills His promise. Al-Haleem shields those who indulge
in sins with His forgiveness, Who pardons those who violate His laws, Who is not slighted by
the rebellion of the rebellious, and no oppression of any oppressor can ever provoke Him.
The Holy Qura'n has described some of Allah's messengers as Haleem; for example,
Abraham, the Friend of Allah, is described as, "... most surely Abraham was very tender-
hearted, forbearing" (Qura'n, 9:114), and in Surat Hud, he is praised likewise: "Most surely
Abraham was forbearing, tender-hearted, oft-returning (to Allah)" (Qura'n, 11:75). The Holy
Qura'n states the following in Surat al-Saffat about Ishmael "So We gave him the glad tidings
of a boy [Ishmael] possessing forbearance" (Qura'n, 3:101). ilm is a gracious and a noble
attribute, so much so that one tradition recorded in Al-Athir cites the Messenger of Allah
saying, "Hilm is the master of all good conduct." It also records another such tradition saying,
"One who is Haleem is almost on the same footing with Allah's prophets." Hilm enjoys a high
status and esteem despite the abundance of one's sins and the repetition of one's repentance.
Allah has said, "Allah does not call you to account for what is vain of your oaths, but He will
call you to account for what your hearts have earned, and Allah is Forgiving,
Forbearing" (Qura'n, 2:225). He has also said, "The seven heavens declare His glory and the
earth, too, and those who are in them, and there is not a single thing but glorifies and praises
Him, but you do not understand their glorifying; surely He is Forbearing, Forgiving" (Qura'n,
17:44).
A forbearing and munificent person, then, is one who often forgives the sins and conceals the
shortcomings. He is the one who forgives after shielding one's sins, who safeguards his
compassion, who is true to his word, who forgives those who break his law, who is not stirred
by the rebellion of transgressors, nor is he provoked by oppression. Allah's Munificence
regarding the sinners is great: "... and He is the Most High, the Great" (Qura'n, 2:255).
It is narrated that Abraham saw a man committing a sin, so he prayed Allah to cause him to
perish, and so it happened. He saw a second and a third, and he repeated his plea, and they,