Is it permissible for a repentant sinner to ask God to erase his sins from his record of deeds so that they are not presented to him on the Day of Resurrection and he is not questioned about them? And is that considered an transgression in supplication? And what are the implications of erasing them regarding the earth's testifying to what he did? And what is the meaning of God's name "Al-Afuww" (The Pardoner) in the supplication "O Allah, You are the Pardoner, You love pardon, so pardon us"?

'Al-Afuww' (The Forgiver) is one of Allah's beautiful names, meaning the One who erases sins and overlooks them. Many texts indicate that good deeds efface evil deeds, such as His (the Almighty's) saying: "Indeed, good deeds do away with evil deeds," and the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "And follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out." Scholars have differed on whether this means their complete erasure from a person's record, or if the person will be shown them on the Day of Resurrection and then they will be erased thereafter. This difference of opinion underpins the permissibility of supplicating for the effacement of sins and for them not to be displayed to the servant on the Day of Resurrection. So, for one who repents with sincere repentance, even if the sin is shown to him on the Day of Resurrection, it will not harm him; rather, it is for him to recognize Allah's favor upon him, His concealment of his faults, and His forgiveness of him.