Islam > Asma > The Most Forbearing
Updated on 13 August 2026 at 4:39 AM
📖 1 min readThe Most Forbearing is one of the 99 beautiful names of Allah. Its meaning: The One who does not hasten to punish despite His complete power.
To pronounce the name The Most Forbearing in Arabic, we say: Al-Halim.
It is written in Arabic: الحليم.
From the Arabic root ح-ل-م (h-l-m, forbearance), on the pattern فَعِيل (fa'il), it denotes one who does not hasten punishment despite full power.
The Name “The Most Forbearing” means: The One who does not hasten to punish despite His complete power. It affirms a perfection belonging to Allah without defect, limit, or resemblance to creation. In al-Ghazali’s perspective, the believer never claims to share the divine attribute in its reality; instead, the Name gives an orientation suited to the condition of a servant.
Meditating on this Name calls the believer to resist haste, persevere in obedience, and allow each matter to unfold in its proper time. Knowledge of the Name thereby becomes worship, refinement of character, and trust in Allah alone.