Imam Ghazzali on the subtle meanings of the name Ghaffar: ‘Al-Ghaffar – He who is full of forgiveness – is the one who makes manifest what is beautiful and conceals what is ugly. Sins are among the ugly things which He conceals, by letting a cover fall over them in this world, and refraining from requiting them in the nest. Do forgiving is concealing.’ ‘The first concealing concerning man is that He made the ugly parts of his body, which the eyes find disgusting, to be enclosed inside it, covered by the beauty of its exterior. How great is a difference between the exterior of a person and his interior parts, in cleanness and uncleanness, in ugliness and beauty! Consider what it is that He makes manifest and what He conceals. ‘The second concealing consists in His having made the inmost part of man’s heart the abode of his blameworthy thoughts and his ugly intentions so that no one can discover his secrets. For if people were to discover what occurs to one’s mind in the course of his wicked thoughts, what deception and betrayal, or what evil thoughts concerning people be hidden in his conscience, they would detest him; indeed they would take steps to take his life and destroy him. Consider how one’s secrets and weak spots are hidden from others!’ ‘The third concealing consists in His forgiving him the sins buy which he deserves to be disgraced before all creatures. Indeed He has promised to change one’s evil deeds into good deeds, to cover ones disgusting sins with merit of his good deeds if one dies as a believer.’
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 17:01:11 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015