Al-Laṭīf
The Subtle, The Gentle
Root ل ط ف (l-ṭ-f). The Arabic root l-ṭ-f involves fineness and subtlety. E. W. Lane describes laṭufa as being small, slender, or fine. The Qur'anic word yatalaṭṭaf means ‘let him be discreet, careful’ in verse 18:19. Luṭf, from the same root, means gentleness and kindness. According to Lisān al-ʿArab, Al-Laṭīf, when said of Allah, means the One gentle with His servants, and al-Rāghib adds His knowledge of the finest details in things. ‘Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the Subtle, the Acquainted.’
The root
ل ط فl-ṭ-f
Fineness and subtlety. Lane gives laṭufa as 'it was small, or little; slender, thin, or fine'. Of Allah, Lisān al-ʿArab explains al-Laṭīf as the One gentle with His servants; al-Rāghib adds knowledge of the finest details of things.
- يَتَلَطَّفْyatalaṭṭaflet him be discreet, careful (18:19)
- لُطْفluṭfgentleness, kindness
Pronunciation
اللَّطِيفُ
al-la-TEEF
In the Qur'an
لَا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصَارَ ۖ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ
Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the Subtle, the Acquainted.
6:103 · Sahih International