QUESTION:
Salaamu Alaikum Ya Sheikh, is there a specific prayer recited for Ramadan or the last ten days?
Aminu Kabiru, Abuja
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ANSWER:
Amin Alaikum Salaam. Tirmidhee and others report: `A’ishah asked: “O Messenger of Allaah! If I was to know which night is the night of qadr, what should I say therein?” He answered: “Say: ‘O Allaah! Verily, You are One who Pardons (`Afuww) and You love pardoning (`afw), so pardon (`afw) me!’”
Al-`Afuww is a Name of Allaah. It is often translated to mean the One who pardons or forgives.
`Afuww comes from `afw. `Afw linguistically means to leave or abandon a thing. It linguistically also means a profuse growth or an abundant increase.
Therefore, Al-`Afuww as a Name of Allaah means the One who leaves (or abandons) sins and their consequences.
In other words, He forgives sins and abandons any form of punishment resulting from that sin. Furthermore, it has a connection to the linguistic meaning of abundant growth in that Allaah continuously forgives sins and leaves off different forms of punishment.
Essentially, this Name denotes overlooking (by way of mercy) an error and thereafter abandoning the trials and sicknesses resulting from it.
The `Afw of Allaah upon the creation is of two types:
This is manifested upon the creation in this life. It is not restricted to any set of people. This is why the disbelievers and the criminals amongst the Muslims are not taken to account and punished immediately for their disbelief and disobedience. This is why He continues to provide for them and give them bounties despite their crimes.
Al-`Afuww continues to withhold or leave off the devastating consequences of their crimes. If it was not for this Quality of our Rabb, the entire world would have been engulfed in torment.
Allah knows best