Iqra

Learn the Qur’an, one ayah at a time.

92 of 99

النَّافِعُ

An Naafi’

The Bestower of Benefits

Scroll on for a reflection, and where you’ll meet it

Reflection

Nafʿ is benefit in the practical sense — what actually does some good. Manāfiʿ, from the same root, is what the Qur’an calls the useful things: what people get out of cattle, and out of trade, and even out of the things it warns them about.

It is the twin of the name before it, and neither written form appears in the Qur’an. The pair is always said in one breath because the text says the two verbs in one breath, as the two things only One can do. Good that reaches you through ordinary means is still good that reached you.

Where you’ll meet it

A few of the ayat where this name’s written form appears.