Discover the meaning of the term Al-mghfra (مغفرة) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min readIt is that the Powerful one veils the ugly deed issuing from one under His power, to the extent that if a servant veils his master's defect for fear of his reproach, it is not said of him that Allah forgave him.
That the Powerful one veil the ugly deed issuing from one under his power, to the extent that if a servant veils his master's defect for fear of his punishment, forgiveness is not ascribed to him.
Derived from 'al-ghifr', the verbal noun of 'ghafara'; its root is veiling; whence 'egg white is more ghfr (veiling) than dirt': that is, veiling. In technical usage: that the Powerful one veil the ugly deed issuing from one under His power.
That the Powerful one veil the ugly deed issuing from one under him, to the extent that if a servant veils his master's defect for fear of his punishment, it is not said that Allah forgave him (al-Ta'rifat p. 239).
It is that the Powerful one veil what issues from one under His power, to the extent that if a servant veils his master's defect for fear of his reproach, it is not said that Allah forgave him.
﴿أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةَ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْعَذَابَ بِٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ ۚ فَمَآ أَصْبَرَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلنَّارِ﴾
« Those are the ones who have exchanged guidance for error and forgiveness for punishment. How patient they are in pursuit of the Fire! »
Surah البقرة : 175
﴿وَلَا تَنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكَـٰتِ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنَّ ۚ وَلَأَمَةٌۭ مُّؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌۭ مِّن مُّشْرِكَةٍۢ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تُنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ وَلَعَبْدٌۭ مُّؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌۭ مِّن مُّشْرِكٍۢ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۖ وَيُبَيِّنُ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ﴾
« And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses to the people that perhaps they may remember. »
Surah البقرة : 221
﴿۞ قَوْلٌۭ مَّعْرُوفٌۭ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌۭ مِّن صَدَقَةٍۢ يَتْبَعُهَآ أَذًۭى ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَنِىٌّ حَلِيمٌۭ﴾
« Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Free of need and Forbearing. »
Surah البقرة : 263
﴿ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًۭا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ﴾
« Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. »
Surah البقرة : 268
﴿۞ وَسَارِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍۢ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ﴾
« And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous »
Surah آل عمران : 133
﴿أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّـٰتٌۭ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ ٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ﴾
« Those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers. »
Surah آل عمران : 136
This term appears in 28 verses of the Quran.