The pool of Sacred Fish in Sanliurfa, Turkey, where Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod. Held to be sacred by Jews, Christians and Muslims

Ar-Rahim

The Most Merciful.

God bestows Mercy in abundant measure. But there is Mercy that comes before the need arises, the Grace which is ever watchful and flows from God, the Most Gracious to all His creatures, protecting them, preserving them, guiding them and leading them to clearer light and higher life.

God’s Mercy is in all things and for all things. Our faculties and understanding are instances of His Grace and Mercy. Each among His creatures benefits from others and contributes to the benefits of others, and is thus an instance of God’s Mercy to them. His Mercy is universal and all pervasive.

Ar-Raheem refers to Allah Almighty’s Mercy and the extra Mercy that He shows towards His creatures in this life. He also shows it towards them in the hereafter by forgiving their sins and raising them to higher degrees of honour.

He is the source of infinite Mercy. This Mercy is upon our sins, upon our heart, that gives sustenance to this world and provides eternal salvation in the Hereafter.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of God said “Allah Most High has one hundred portions of Mercy. He has sent only one portion upon the universe and divided it among all His creation. The feeling of Mercy and Compassion that His creatures feel among themselves is out of that share. The other ninety-nine portions He has saved for the Day of Judgement, when He will bestow them upon the faithful.”

“In the Name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy.”

‘My Mercy encompasses everything.’  (Quran 7:156)

‘He is the One who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.’ (Quran 2:54)

‘Truly, Allah is full of kindness, the Most Merciful toward mankind.’ (Quran 2:143)

‘Our Lord, You encompass everything in Mercy and Knowledge.’  (Quran 40:7)

‘The servants of the God of Mercy are those who walk upon the earth humbly, and when the ignorant address them, they reply, ‘Peace!’  (Quran 25:63)

Benefits in the belief of this Name include:

  • Showing gratefulness to God for the Mercy He shows towards us and for the numerous blessings He has bestowed on us.
  • Acquiring the quality of Mercy and showing it towards others.
  • Thinking of God and having good expectations of Him, exercising patience in times of trials and tribulations, hoping to have our sins forgiven and looking forward to Allah’s help and assistance.
  • Striving to receive God’s Mercy by doing things that will help us to reach this noble goal, including:
    • Observing good moral character and showing Mercy and kindness to God’s creation.
    • Remembering God, Exalted is He, asking for His forgiveness and demonstrating humility towards Him.
    • Doing acts that He likes and abandoning those that He does not like.
    • Reflecting upon our actions, so we can improve them and reflecting upon the Holy Quran and the Hadith of the Prophet.

And God knows best.