Name 32 of 99
الْحَلِيمُ
Al-Halim – The Forbearing
- Transliteration
- Al-Halim
- Meaning
- The Forbearing
- Arabic root
- ح ل م
- Theme
- Forgiveness
Meaning of Al-Halim
Al-Halim is the One who does not hasten to punish despite seeing people's disobedience. He gives them time to reflect and repent, although He is fully able to act. His forbearance comes from His strength and wisdom, not from weakness.
Al-Halim in the Quran
Al-Halim appears in the Quran as a name or description of Allah. Two of the verses where it occurs:
لَّا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا كَسَبَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌۭ
Allah will not take you to task for that which is unintentional in your oaths. But He will take you to task for that which your hearts have garnered. Allah is Forgiving, Clement.
وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُم بِهِۦ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنتُمْ فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّآ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًۭا مَّعْرُوفًۭا ۚ وَلَا تَعْزِمُوا۟ عُقْدَةَ ٱلنِّكَاحِ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْكِتَٰبُ أَجَلَهُۥ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ فَٱحْذَرُوهُ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌۭ
There is no sin for you in that which ye proclaim or hide in your minds concerning your troth with women. Allah knoweth that ye will remember them. But plight not your troth with women except by uttering a recognised form of words. And do not consummate the marriage until (the term) prescribed is run. Know that Allah knoweth what is in your minds, so beware of Him; and know that Allah is Forgiving, Clement.
Reflection
Allah's patience with us is an opportunity to repent, and a model of patience with others.
Related names: forgiveness
Frequently asked questions
What does Al-Halim mean?
Al-Halim (الْحَلِيمُ) means "The Forbearing". Al-Halim is the One who does not hasten to punish despite seeing people's disobedience. He gives them time to reflect and repent, although He is fully able to act. His forbearance comes from His strength and wisdom, not from weakness.
Is Al-Halim mentioned in the Quran?
Yes. Al-Halim is mentioned as a name or description of Allah in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:225 and Surah Al-Baqarah 2:235.
The list of 99 names follows the order of the narration in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3507, without the name “Allah”, and adds Al-Ahad from Sunan Ibn Majah 3861. The hadith that Allah has ninety-nine names is in Sahih al-Bukhari 2736 and Sahih Muslim 2677. Quran text: Tanzil (Uthmani); translation: Marmaduke Pickthall (1930, public domain).