Concept of the Name

Linguistic Meaning:

Linguistic Meaning:

At-Tawwab is one of the names of Allah, in the form of an intensive pattern (on the scale of fa’’al).

Imam Al-Ghazali explained the name of Allah, At-Tawwab, by saying: "He is the One who returns to facilitating the means of repentance for His servants, again and again, by revealing to them His signs, sending them warnings, and making them aware of the dangers of sins. Through His warnings and alerts, they realize the consequences of their misdeeds, feel fear, and return to repentance. In return, Allah’s grace returns to them through acceptance." 

[Al-Maqsad al-Asna fi Sharh Asma' Allah al-Husna, by Abu Hamid Muhammad bin Muhammad Al-Ghazali Al-Tusi (died 505 AH), p. 139].

Al-Saadi also said: "At-Tawwab is the One who continuously accepts the repentance of those who repent and forgives the sins of those who turn to Him. Whoever sincerely repents to Allah, Allah will accept their repentance."

And Allah's repentance to His servant is of two types:

The first is that He inspires repentance in the heart of His servant, turning him toward Allah in repentance and submission. The servant then fulfills the conditions of repentance: abandoning sins, feeling regret for committing them, resolving not to return to them, and replacing them with good deeds.

The second type is Allah’s acceptance of the servant’s repentance, answering it, and erasing the sins through it. Indeed, sincere repentance wipes away what came before it. 

[Tafsir Asma' Allah al-Husna, by Abu Abdullah Abdul Rahman bin Nasir bin Abdullah bin Nasir bin Hamad Al-Saadi (died 1376 AH), p. 176].

The author of Al-Tatamma (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned: "It is worth noting that repentance is the call of all the Messengers. If we begin with the story of Adam (peace be upon him), we find "Then Adam received words from his Lord, and He accepted his repentance". The cause of that repentance is well-known." [Qur’an: 2: 37]

Then Noah (peace be upon him) says: "My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house as a believer and all the believing men and women". [Qur’an: 71: 28]

And Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) says in the Qur’an: "Show us our rituals and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful." [Qur’an: 2: 128]

[Al-Jumu' Al-Bahiyya of the Salafi Creed, mentioned by Al-Shanqeeti in his Tafsir Adwa' Al-Bayan, Abu Al-Mundhir Al-Minyawi, 2/441].

And this name must have an attachment, for repentance must be offered to be accepted. One of the chapters of the Quran is (Surah At-Tawbah).

References from the Quran

Occurrences in the Qur'an: 

First: The verses in which the word "At-Tawwab التواب" (The Accepting of Repentance) appears are found in six places.

"Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of Repentance,the Merciful." [Qur’an: 2: 37]

View More

References from the Sunnah

Occurrences in the Prophetic Sunnah

Narrated by Abdul-Rahman bin Yazid bin Mu'awiyah that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: The words that Adam received from his Lord were: "O Allah, there is no deity except You. Exalted are You, and with Your praise. I have done wrong and I have wronged myself, so have mercy on me, for You are the best of those who show mercy. O Allah, there is no deity except You. Exalted are You, and with Your praise. I have done wrong and I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful."

[Reported by Ibn Abi Shaybah in his Musannaf 6/31, No. 29251, and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Iman 9/361, No. 6775].

View More

Approach of the Salaf with the Name

Worship by the Name

Worshipping Allah through His Name At-Tawwab

1. The Heart's Awareness of the Attribute of Repentance, Indicated by Allah’s Name "At-Tawwab" (The Acceptor of Repentance):

This awareness creates in the heart love and hope resulting from the heart’s understanding of the meaning of Allah’s Name "At-Tawwab." This love inspires hope and drives the person to perform acts of obedience and hasten towards good deeds, seeking the pleasure of the beloved (Allah) and drawing closer to Him. [The Impact of Faith in Fortifying the Islamic Ummah Against Destructive Ideas, Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jarbou', 2/478].

View More

Videos

View More

Audios

# Title Author Play
View More

Books

View More

Articles

View More

Cards

...