The Name You Call Upon on Laylatul Qadr | Allah's Names Ep. 27 | Dr. Omar Suleiman | Ramadan Series 2026

Mar 16, 2026

A reflective look at invoking Allah's name Al-'Afuww on Laylatul Qadr and its power to erase records. Aisha's single-question dua and its simple, transformative request are explored. The difference between pardon and forgiveness is unpacked through vivid metaphors and Abu Bakr's real-life example. Practical reminders include daily sunnah practices and the final verses of Al-Baqarah as doors to complete pardon.

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ANECDOTE

Aisha's Question That Gave A Single Dua

Aisha (RA) asked the Prophet what to say if she found Laylatul Qadr, prompting a single simple dua instead of a long list.
The Prophet taught her Allahumma innaka afuun tuhibbul afwa fa'afu anni, a short comprehensive supplication to ask for pardon.

INSIGHT

Al-'Afuww Versus Al-Ghafoor Explained

Al-'Afuww (the pardoner) erases sins completely, unlike Maghfira which covers sins and shields consequences.
The Arabs described عف as a wind sweeping the desert so not even a footprint remains, meaning total deletion of the record.

INSIGHT

Sin Erasure Means Returning To Zero

If Allah wipes your sins, He returns you to the state of being newborn, as the Prophet said you return to the day your mother gave birth.
This metaphor emphasizes total reset: your sin score becomes zero and new opportunities open instantly.

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What if one sentence could erase your entire record?

On Laylatul Qadr, our mother Aisha (RA) did not ask for a list. She asked one question. The Prophet (PBUH) did not give her a ladder to climb or a prayer to memorize. He gave her one name of Allah, one attribute, and one ask: O Allah, You are Al-'Afuww, the Pardoner. You love to pardon. So pardon me.

In this episode, Dr. Omar Suleiman draws a clear line between Al-Maghfirah, forgiveness, and Al-'Afuww, pardon. Forgiveness covers a sin and protects you from its consequence. Pardon removes the trace entirely, as if the sin never existed. The scholars describe it as a wind sweeping the desert floor so that not even a footprint remains. That is the level of mercy this supplication is reaching for, and it is available to anyone who asks with a sincere heart on Laylatul Qadr.

The story of Abu Bakr (RA) and his relative Mustah brings this out of theology and into real life. Mustah was someone Abu Bakr financially supported, and he was among those who slandered the Prophet's wife, Aisha (RA). When Abu Bakr found out, he cut off the support. Allah then revealed a verse asking whether Abu Bakr would not love for Allah to pardon him. Abu Bakr did not just forgive Mustah. He restored everything he had been giving him, as if nothing had ever happened. That is what Al-'Afuww looks like when it lives inside a person.

Dr. Omar also walks through the Sunnah practice of seeking pardon three times every single day, through the morning and evening remembrances and the final two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah before sleep. These are not just rituals. They are a daily conversation with the one Name of Allah that can wipe a record clean and open every door that sin has closed.

This episode begins with a personal dedication from one brother to another, asking him to care for someone they both love. It is a reminder that on the nights when we carry the heaviest things to Allah, we do not come alone.

00:00 The Question Aisha (RA) Asked on Laylatul Qadr
01:17 The One Dua for the Night of Power
03:05 What Al-'Afuww Actually Means
05:57 Allah Loves to Pardon. Not Just Forgive.
06:40 How Abu Bakr (RA) Exemplified Al-'Afuww
07:43 Asking for Pardon and Protection Every Day
09:27 The Last Two Verses of Al-Baqarah Explained
11:58 Walking Out of This Night with a Clean Slate
13:41 A Closing Du'a for Laylatul Qadr

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NOTE: Only vocals were used in the making of the soundtrack.