Al-Latif
/al laˈtiːf/noun
An Arabic name of God in Islam meaning the Subtle, the Gentle, or the Kind.
Did you know?Al-Latif is one of the Qur’an’s divine names, appearing alongside the idea that God perceives hidden and imperceptible realities.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*lṭp
“A reconstructed root associated with gentleness, refinement, and subtle kindness.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
laṭīf
“Gentle, subtle, delicate, kind, or finely perceptive.”
Qur’anic Arabic
Arabic
ٱللَّطِيفُ (al-Laṭīf)
““The Subtle” or “The Gentle,” one of the divine names of God.”
Medieval Islamic theology
Arabic
al-Laṭīf
“A divine attribute emphasizing hidden benevolence and action through imperceptible means.”
19th–20th Century
English
Al-Latif
“An English transliteration of the Arabic divine name used in Islamic writing and devotional contexts.”
Modern English
English
Al-Latif
“A Qur’anic name for God commonly translated as the Subtle, the Gentle, or the Most Kind.”