Last night, I had a conversation with a friend of mine who I’m blessed to now call a sister. Allah brought us together through the Qur’an and has kept us on this journey together. I confided in her regarding a matter that I felt stuck in and felt like the odds were stacked against me.

And I told her, although nothing feels like it’s going as planned, I have Husn-u-Dhan billāh, a good opinion and hope in Allah that things will work out. Although at face value, and in reality, my circumstances don’t look to be the most optimal at the moment, I believe that Allah does not work within my reality; Allah’s reality is different. And this has been the thread of hope I’ve held onto.

After Fajr, I got a notification. It was a voice note from her, and it was just what I needed to hear. She reminded me to increase in my istighfār (seeking forgiveness from Allah) and salawāt (sending blessings and salutations upon the Messenger ﷺ), because istighfār opens doors of rizq (sustenance), unties knots, removes obstacles, mends beneficial relationships, and dissolves harmful ones. She said to me, “I know you do, Alhamdulillah. Just increase it, increase it, especially now.”

As I listened to her, I broke down crying because I needed that reminder. Allah tells us in the Qur’an, “Continue to remind. For certainly reminders benefit the believers.” [51:55]. And so I was thankful to her, and especially grateful to Allah for using her as a vessel for that reminder. Then I was reminded of the ayats in Surah Nuh [71], where Allah tells us through Nuh, telling his people:

“saying, ‘Seek your Lord’s forgiveness, ˹for˺ He is truly Ever-Forgiving. [10] He will shower you with abundant rain, [11] supply you with wealth and children, and give you gardens as well as rivers.’” [12]

I took it as a sign that Allah chose His Names Al-Ghāfir, Al-Ghaffūr, and Al-Ghaffār; the Forgiver, the Oft-Forgiving, and the Ever-Forgiving, as the Names I would walk with today. Al-Ghāfir forgives our sins, covers them, and protects us from them. Al-Ghaffūr is the One who forgives over and over and over again. Al-Ghaffār is the One who is intense in His Forgiveness; He forgives the gravest of sins, no matter their enormity.

And so, as I carried on throughout the day, I continued to call upon Him with these Names. After Isha, I joined my tadarus group to continue with our recitation of Qur’an for the month. And subhān’Allah, Allah drew my attention to page 67, Juz 4, ayats 133–139 of Surah Ali ‘Imran [3]. Right off the bat, the first ayah on the page tells us:

“And hasten towards forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those mindful ˹of Allah˺.” [3:133]

It was as if Allah was opening up for me access to Him, to His Forgiveness. Earlier in the day, He allowed me to know Him as Al-Ghāfir, Al-Ghaffūr, and Al-Ghaffār. And now, as the day ends, He is opening His doors, inviting me closer to Him through His Forgiveness. And to Allah belongs the most Praise and Thanks.

The ayats continued, and I found myself immersed, enamored, and in awe of the magnanimity of Allah as I read ayah after ayah calling me toward His Forgiveness.

Ya Rabbī, Ya Ghāfir, forgive my sins, the ones I know and the ones I do not know. Ya Ghaffūr, forgive me for what I have done in the past, in the present, and what I have yet to do in the future. Ya Ghaffār, forgive me for what I have done publicly and privately, those that are minor, and do not make me among those who go near the major sins.

Ya Rabb, You who never get tired of hearing the call of Your servant, allow me to taste the freshness of Your mercy and the greatness of Your forgiveness. Ya Rahman, do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye. Ya Ghaffār, make me among those who hasten toward Your forgiveness, remember You, and turn to You in repentance.

By Your Mercy, I ask You for the reward of Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, with gardens under which rivers flow. And write me down among those who are righteous, O Most Merciful of those who show mercy. Amīn Ya Rabb.

With Love,

Ibtisam