Al-Latif
/æl ləˈtiːf/noun
An Arabic divine name in Islam meaning “the Subtle” or “the Gentle,” referring to God’s subtle knowledge, kindness, and unseen care.
Did you know?Al-Latif is one of the traditional 99 Names of God in Islam and appears in the Qur’an, including 6:103 and 67:14, where it is associated with profound subtlety and complete awareness.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Islamic Arabic
Arabic
laṭīf
“Subtle, delicate, refined, gentle, or kind; derived from the Arabic root l-ṭ-f.”
7th Century
Qur’anic Arabic
al-Laṭīf
““The Subtle” or “The Gentle,” used as a divine epithet in the Qur’an.”
8th–10th Centuries
Classical Arabic
al-Laṭīf
“A theological name emphasizing God’s hidden knowledge, gentleness, and care.”
Medieval Period
Arabic/Islamic scholarship
al-Laṭīf
“A recognized Name of God in devotional, theological, and mystical traditions.”
Modern English
English
Al-Latif
“An English transliteration of the Arabic divine name, also written Al-Lateef or Al-Latif.”