the sun and the moon subservient (to His will): each runs to an assigned term; surely He is the
Mighty, the oft-Forgiving. (39:5)
As regarding the verse saying, "Inform My servants that I am the Forgiving, the
Merciful" (Qura'n, 15:49), some companions of the Prophet were once indulged in laughter as
the Messenger of Allah passed by. He greeted them then said to them, "Do you laugh while
the fire is before you?" They regretted and felt extremely depressed. He soon went back to
them and said, "Gabriel has just come to me and said that Allah asked why I caused some of
His servants to lose hope in His mercy," then he repeated 39:5 quoted above.
The lot of one who wishes to personify the Attribute "al-Ghafoor" is that he constantly seeks
His forgiveness; he forgives His servants time and over again. This is the key to obtaining the
forgiveness of Allah as referred to in 24:22: "Do not let those among you who possess grace
and abundance swear against giving to the near of kin and the poor and those who have fled
in Allah's way; they should pardon and overlook. Do not you love that Allah would forgive
you? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."
- "Al-Shakoor"
Allah has said, "So that He may pay them back their rewards in full and give them more out
of His grace: surely He is the Forgiving, the One Who multiplies the rewards" (Qura'n,
35:30). Linguistically, "al-Shakoor" is derived from the root word shukr which conveys the
meaning of: an increase. Arabs describe a land as such if its plants are abundant. They
describe an animal as such if it is fattened. Plants sustained by a little amount of water are
called shakoor. Al-Shakoor thanks quite often, Who appreciates acts of righteousness, charity
and kindness. A servant of Allah who is shakoor is one who perseveres to thank his Lord by
obeying Him and by carrying out the obligations which He has mandated on him. Shukr is
recognition and propagation of goodness.
Al-Shakoor, Allah, appreciates even the few good deeds His servants do, doubling His
rewards for them. His way of thanking them is by giving them of His bounties though He was
the One Who enabled them to do such good deeds in the first place. He planted in their hearts
the desire to do them, then He provided for them all the means to carry them out. He enables
His servants to be grateful for the blessings which He bestows upon them, so He rewards
them even for small acts of obedience to Him with an abundance of His good things. He
grants for a few days' endeavor a bliss in the hereafter that never ends.
Al-Shakoor accepts the little and Who gives a lot. Allah has called Himself al-Shakoor in
order to tell us that He rewards His servants for thanking Him; hence, the reward for such
gratitude is called shukr, just as the penalty for a bad deed is called bad; He has said, "And the
recompense of evil is a like punishment" (Qura'n, 42:40).