...
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Say, "He (is) Allah, the One.
Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute.
Not He begets and not He is begotten.
And not is for Him equivalent any [one]."
The Quran introduces Allah as arRahman arRaheem. One hundred and thirteen surahs begin with the statement: With the name of Allah, arRahman arRaheem (Arabic: بِسۡمِ اللهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ). The only surah which doesn't begin with this invocation is the ninth surah, which is a declaration of war against the polytheists of Mecca after two decades of inviting them to faith.
We have a list of ninety-nine names or attributes of Allah. The predominant names are arRahman and arRaheem. Including the Bismillah of only the first surah, the name arRahman is mentioned fifty-seven times, and arRaheem one hundred and sixteen times, in their nominal form. In other grammatical forms, the root ر ح م occurs several times, as can be seen in the corpus.quran.com website:
The triliteral root rā ḥā mīm (ر ح م) occurs 339 times in the Quran, in nine derived forms:
- 28 times as the form I verb raḥima (رَّحِمَ)
- 12 times as the noun arḥām (أَرْحَام)
- four times as the noun arḥam (أَرْحَم)
- once as the noun ruḥ'm (رُحْم)
- 57 times as the nominal raḥmān (رَّحْمَٰن)
- 114 times as the noun raḥmat (رَحْمَة)
- 116 times as the nominal raḥīm (رَّحِيم)
- once as the noun marḥamat (مَرْحَمَة)
- six times as the active participle rāḥimīn (رَّٰحِمِين)
The words arRahman and arRaheem mean Merciful. As some scholars describe it,
- arRahman means a huge amount of immediate mercy, like when you see someone in need and you feel overwhelmed with compassion, and do a lot for them
- arRaheem means constantly merciful, in that His Mercy is not like our mercy which wears out after a while. Allah continues to be permanently merciful, and this aspect of His Mercy is exclusively for the believers who will succeed in the Hereafter.
The Quran informs us that Allah has a Nafs. In fact, twice does Allah warn us against His Nafs.
Our nafs is in pledge for what it earns. We are repeatedly invited to submit our will to Allah's Will, that is Islam (submission to Allah's Will), and that is the only Deen (law of recompense / religion) acceptable to Allah. We need to become Muslims.
In Surah alAn'am, twice we find that Allah has decreed upon His Nafs mercy:
قُل لِّمَن مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قُل لِّلَّهِ ۚ كَتَبَ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ١٢
Say, "To whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth?" Say, "To Allāh." He has decreed upon Himself mercy. He will surely assemble you for the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. Those who will lose themselves [that Day] do not believe.
— Saheeh International
Say, “To whom belongs all that is in the heavens and on the earth?” Say, “To Allah.” He has prescribed Mercy for Himself. He will surely gather you on the Day of Resurrection in which there is no doubt.Those who have brought loss to themselves are not going to believe.
— T. Usmani
پوچھو کہ کس کا ہے جو کچھ آسمانوں اور زمین میں ہے کہو سب کچھ اللہ کا ہے اس نے اپنے اوپر رحمت لکھ لی ہے وہ ضرور تم کو جمع کرے گا قیامت کے دن، اس میں کوئی شک نہیں جن لوگوں نے اپنے آپ کو گھاٹے میں ڈالا، وہی ہیں جو اس پر ایمان نہیں لاتے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
That we are here, on Earth, living this life, with all the blessings, and guidance, and the lifetime of opportunities to accept the guidance and submit to Allah's Will, is due to Allah being arRahman.
That the believers have the opportunity to repent from their ignorant ways, and be forgiven, and that they can then hope to find mercy, is Allah being arRaheem.
So, in the same surah, we find:
وَإِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةَ ۖ أَنَّهُۥ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوٓءًۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍۢ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُۥ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ٥٤
And when those come to you who believe in Our verses, say, "Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy: that any of you who does wrong out of ignorance and then repents after that and corrects himself - indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful."
— Saheeh International
When those who believe in Our verses come to you, say to them, “Peace on you. Your Lord has prescribed for Himself mercy, so that if any one of you does an evil deed out of ignorance and thereafter repents and mends his ways, then (you will see that) He is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.
— T. Usmani
اور جب تمھارے پاس وہ لوگ آئیں جو ہماری آیات پر ایمان لائے ہیں تو ان سے کہو کہ تم پر سلامتی ہو تمھارے رب نے اپنے اوپر رحمت لکھ لی ہے بے شک تم میں سے جو کوئی نادانی سے برائی کر بیٹھے پھر اس کے بعد وہ توبہ کرے اور اصلاح کرلے تو اللہ بخشنے والا مہربان ہے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Surah alAn'am presents the example of Allah repeatedly coming to our rescue in this world, His aspect of arRahman taking precedence:
قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُۥ تَضَرُّعًۭا وَخُفْيَةًۭ لَّئِنْ أَنجَىٰنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ ٦٣
Say, "Who rescues you from the darknesses of the land and sea [when] you call upon Him imploring [aloud] and privately, 'If He should save us from this [crisis], we will surely be among the thankful.'"
— Saheeh International
Say, “Who is the One who delivers you from the darkness of the land and the sea when you supplicate Him in humility and in low tones (promising): ‘If He delivers us from this, We shall truly become grateful?’”
— T. Usmani
کہو، کون تم کو نجات دیتا ہے خشکی اور سمندر کی تاریکیوں سے، تم اس کو پکارتے ہو عاجزی سے اور چپکے چپکے کہ اگر خدا نے ہم کو نجات دے دی اس مصیبت سے تو ہم اس کے شکر گزار بندوں میں سے بن جائیں گے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍۢ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ ٦٤
Say, "It is Allāh who saves you from it and from every distress; then you [still] associate others with Him."
— Saheeh International
Say, “Allah delivers you from it and from every pain; Yet still, you associate partners with Him.”
— T. Usmani
کہو، خدا ہی تم کو نجات دیتا ہے اس سے اور ہر تکلیف سے، پھر بھی تم شرک کرنے لگتے ہو
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
قُلْ هُوَ ٱلْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًۭا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًۭا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ ٦٥
Say, "He is the [one] Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you [so you become] sects and make you taste the violence of one another." Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand.
— Saheeh International
Say, “He is fully capable that He should send a punishment from above you or from beneath your feet, or to put you in confusion through divisions, and make some of you taste troubles through some others.” See how We bring forth explaining verses from different angles, so that they may understand.
— T. Usmani
کہو، خدا قادر ہے اس پر کہ وہ تم پر کوئی عذاب بھیج دے تمھارے اوپر سے یا تمھارے پیروں کے نیچے سے یا تم کو گروہ گروہ کر کے ایک کو دوسرے کی طاقت کا مزہ چکھا دے دیکھو، ہم کس طرح دلائل مختلف پہلوؤں سے بیان کرتے ہیں تاکہ وہ سمجھیں
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
وَكَذَّبَ بِهِۦ قَوْمُكَ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ ۚ قُل لَّسْتُ عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍۢ ٦٦
But your people have denied it while it is the truth. Say, "I am not over you a manager [i.e., authority]."
— Saheeh International
Your people have rejected it (the Qur’ān) while it is the whole truth. Say, “I am not appointed as a taskmaster over you.
— T. Usmani
اور تمھاری قوم نے اس کو جھٹلادیا ہے حالاں کہ وہ حق ہے کہو، میں تمھارے اوپر داروغہ نہیں ہوں
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
لِّكُلِّ نَبَإٍۢ مُّسْتَقَرٌّۭ ۚ وَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ٦٧
For every news [i.e., happening] is a finality; and you are going to know.
— Saheeh International
For every event there is a point (of time and place) to occur, and you will soon know (it).”
— T. Usmani
ہر خبر کے ليے ایک وقت مقرر ہے اور تم جلد ہی جان لو گے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا۟ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِۦ ۚ وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ٦٨
And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.
— Saheeh International
When you see those who indulge in (blaspheming) Our verses, turn away from them until they become occupied with some other discourse. If Satan should cause you to forget (this instruction), then do not sit with the unjust people after recollection.
— T. Usmani
اور جب تم ان لوگوں کو دیکھو جو ہماری آیتوں میں عیب نکالتے ہیں تو ان سے الگ ہوجاؤ، یہاں تک کہ وہ کسی اور بات میں لگ جائیں اور اگر کبھی شیطان تم کو بھلادے تو یاد آنے کے بعد ایسے بے انصاف لوگوں کے پاس نہ بیٹھو
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
وَمَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ وَلَـٰكِن ذِكْرَىٰ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ ٦٩
And those who fear Allāh are not held accountable for them [i.e., the disbelievers] at all, but [only for] a reminder - that perhaps they will fear Him.
— Saheeh International
Those who fear Allah are not responsible for any (evil) act in the account of these (infidels), except for advising them, so that they may be careful.
— T. Usmani
اور جولوگ اللہ سے ڈرتے ہیں ، ان پر ان کے حساب میں سے کسی چیزکی ذمہ داری نہیں ، البتہ یاد دلانا ہے شاید کہ وہ بھی ڈریں
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
وَذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ لَعِبًۭا وَلَهْوًۭا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَذَكِّرْ بِهِۦٓ أَن تُبْسَلَ نَفْسٌۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِىٌّۭ وَلَا شَفِيعٌۭ وَإِن تَعْدِلْ كُلَّ عَدْلٍۢ لَّا يُؤْخَذْ مِنْهَآ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُبْسِلُوا۟ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ ۖ لَهُمْ شَرَابٌۭ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ ٧٠
And leave those who take their religion as amusement and diversion and whom the worldly life has deluded. But remind with it [i.e., the Qur’ān], lest a soul be given up to destruction for what it earned; it will have other than Allāh no protector and no intercessor. And if it should offer every compensation, it would not be taken from it [i.e., that soul]. Those are the ones who are given to destruction for what they have earned. For them will be a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment because they used to disbelieve.
— Saheeh International
Avoid those who have taken their faith as fun and games. The worldly life has deceived them. Preach with it (the Qur’ān), lest one should be seized for what he did, in a way that he should have neither a helper besides Allah, nor an intercessor. Should he offer every (sort of) ransom, it will not be accepted from him. Those are the ones who are seized for what they themselves earned. For them there is a drink of boiling water, and a painful punishment, because they used to disbelieve.
— T. Usmani
ان لوگوں کو چھوڑو جنھوں نے اپنے دین کو کھیل تماشا بنا رکھا ہے اور جن کو دنیا کی زندگی نے دھوکے میں ڈال رکھا ہے اور قرآن کے ذریعہ نصیحت کرتے رہو تاکہ کوئی شخص اپنے کيے میں گرفتار نہ ہوجائے، اس حال میں کہ اللہ سے بچانے والا کوئی مدد گار اور سفارشی اس کے ليے نہ ہو اگر وہ دنیا بھر کا معاوضہ دے تب بھی وہ قبول نہ کیا جائے یہی لوگ ہیں جو اپنے کيے میں گرفتار ہوگئے ان کے ليے کھولتا ہواپانی پینے کے ليے ہوگا اور درد ناک سزا ہوگی اس ليے کہ وہ کفر کرتے تھے
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
The Quran amply warns us, repeatedly, again and again informing us of Gardens beneath which waters flow, and Fires of great punishment. The Quran makes it very clear that the life of the Hereafter is immortal, and the residence in either is permanent.
arRahman arRaheem is graciously offering us the Gardens as our eternal home, but he will not compel anyone to make that choice. We are free to choose. Only through His Mercy can we be saved.
...
Also read:
The State of Muslims in the twenty-first century
Prayers - The Need for Allah's Help
... and Join Me with The Reformed
...
...
