Name 30 of 99
اللَّطِيفُ
Al-Latif – The Subtle, the Most Kind
- Transliteration
- Al-Latif
- Meaning
- The Subtle, the Most Kind
- Arabic root
- ل ط ف
- Theme
- Knowledge and awareness
Meaning of Al-Latif
Al-Latif combines two meanings: the One whose knowledge reaches the finest and most hidden details, and the One who is gentle and kind to His servants in ways they often do not notice. He brings about good through subtle means. The Quran often pairs it with Al-Khabir.
Al-Latif in the Quran
Al-Latif appears in the Quran as a name or description of Allah. Two of the verses where it occurs:
أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ
Should He not know what He created? And He is the Subtile, the Aware.
لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ ٱلْأَبْصَٰرَ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ
Vision comprehendeth Him not, but He comprehendeth (all) vision. He is the Subtile, the Aware.
Reflection
Many blessings arrive quietly and in unexpected ways; noticing them deepens gratitude.
Related names: knowledge and awareness
Frequently asked questions
What does Al-Latif mean?
Al-Latif (اللَّطِيفُ) means "The Subtle, the Most Kind". Al-Latif combines two meanings: the One whose knowledge reaches the finest and most hidden details, and the One who is gentle and kind to His servants in ways they often do not notice. He brings about good through subtle means. The Quran often pairs it with Al-Khabir.
Is Al-Latif mentioned in the Quran?
Yes. Al-Latif is mentioned as a name or description of Allah in Surah Al-Mulk 67:14 and Surah Al-An'am 6:103.
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).