(The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful)

God of the Muslims

In Thy name, we live

Episode 11: Ar-rahman Ar-Raheem

(The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful)

In the name of Allah[1], The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful. All Prayers and Blessings of Allah be upon our master, the most noble Prophet Muhammad (SAWS[2]).

By the end of the first third of Ramadan, are you pleased with your performance thus far? How close were you to Allah (SWT)[3]? Ramadan comes but once a year and no one knows if he/she will live to see next Ramadan, therefore do your best in everything from prayer to supplication to helping others to giving in charity.

Today’s name is related to yesterday's episode The Creator. This name is one of the characteristics of Allah (SWT) with His creation from the beginning of creation to its end. It is the name of Allah "The All Merciful, The Ever Merciful". All the creatures bear witness to this name and to its beautiful meaning. Therefore, the aim of today's episode is to rejoice at the mercy of Allah, The All Merciful, The Ever Merciful.

Allah says what can be translated as, "Say, "By the Grace of Allah, and by His mercy; so with that let them exult; it is more charitable (i.e., better) than whatever they (heap) together. (Literally: whatever they gather)." (TMQ, 10:59).

We will cover six main points:

1- The meaning of the name "The All Merciful, The Ever Merciful"

2- How to sense this name and feel rejoiced.

3- The effect of this name on the universe.

4- Calamities and Ibtila'at (trials).

5- Special mercies of this name.

6- How to live with this name.

The difference between Allah's names Ar-rahman (The All Merciful) and Ar-raheem (The Ever Merciful)

Ar-rahmah (Mercy) is defined as a compassion that implicates a favor bestowed upon creatures so as to make them happy. As for the difference between the two names, it has been subject to ample discussions by Moslem scholars, but it can be simplified as follows: Ar-rahman (The All Merciful) is when Allah (SWT) bestows His mercy upon all the creatures in this universe. Allah says what can be translated as "Say, "Who will take good care of you by night and in the daytime from The All-Merciful?" No indeed, (but) from the Remembrance of their Lord they are veering away." (TMQ, 21:42). However, Ar-raheem (The Ever Merciful) is when Allah (SWT) bestows His special mercy upon the believers only. For example, eating and drinking is a general mercy, while worshiping Allah in Ramadan is a special one.

How to rejoice at the name of Allah The All-Merciful, The Ever Merciful

This joy is sensed throughout the universe. Allah's mercy is manifested in all creatures from the beginning of creation. When Adam (AS) was created, the first thing he did was sneezing. The angels immediately asked him to say: "All praise be to Allah". Then Allah (SWT) said to him: "May my mercy be upon you". In the same way, he very beginning of the ever-glorious Qur'an reads what can be translated as, "In the name of Allah, The All Merciful, The Ever Merciful". (TMQ, 1:1)

The Prophet (SAWS) says that Allah created 100 units of mercy on the day He created the heavens and earth, each of these units can contain all that is between the heaven and earth. Out of these units one mercy is used by His creation for mutual love and affection. On the Day of Judgment, Allah (SWT) will complete and perfect His mercy by adding this one mercy to the remaining ninety nine mercies and bestow them upon the believers. The Prophet (SAWS) confessed that he will enter Paradise, not by his deeds, but by Allah's mercy on him.

Therefore, mercy exists side by side with creation from the beginning of time till the Day of Judgment. Throughout our lives we are subjected to various ordeals, which are in a way mercies even death.

The effects of Allah's mercy on the universe

The Prophet (SAWS) says that Allah is much more merciful to His creatures than a compassionate mother is to her child. This comparison shows us that Allah's mercy has an effect on relationships between mankind, especially motherhood. Allah (SWT) to brought mercy into the relationships between the parents and their children as well as within one's extended family.

Another example of Allah's mercy in the universe is that He specified an exact time for day and an other one for night. This mercy of Allah we feel at night fall, when we are to rest and at dawn, when we are to start a new day. This change takes place smoothly to make us sense the mercy of Allah upon us.

Another of Allah's mercy upon us is the basic elements we need for life, which are beyond the control of humans, such as rain. No one can live without water and Allah is the only one who can order the sky to rain, even if some tries to build dams you find water in wells or on mountain tops in the shape of ice. The other blessing is air. No one can live without it yet no one can control it or deny it to someone. Allah says what can be translated as "Allah is He Who sends the winds. So they stir up clouds, then He outspreads them in the heaven how He decides and makes them into lumps. Then you see rain-drops coming (Literally: going out) out of the midst of them. So when He makes it alight on whomever of His bondmen He decides; only then they are glad at the tidings. And decidedly before that, before it was sent down on them, they had been indeed dumbfounded. So look into the tracks of the mercy of Allah, how He gives life to the earth after its death; surely He (Literally: That) is indeed the Life-Giver of the dead, and He is Ever-Determiner over everything." (TMQ, 30:48-50).

A further mercy from Allah is that He made rain sweet instead of salty, Allah says what can be translated as "Have you then seen the water you drink? Is it you who have sent it down from the rainy clouds or are We, Ever We, The Senders down? If We had (so) decided, We would have made it bitter; so had you only thanked (Us)!" (TMQ, 56:68till70). And yet another mercy from Allah (SWT) appears in what can be translated as "Say, “Have you seen (that) in case your water becomes in the morning deep-sunken, (i.e., in the earth) then who would come up to you with (i.e., bring) profuse water?”" (TMQ, 67:30). Water has the characteristics in that it remains on the surface of the earth and does not sink into earth. Isn't this from the mercy of Allah?

Allah's mercy is reflected on all the social relations that surround us. He (SWT) planted the seed of love in the hearts of parents and created that special bond between the different members of a family. Even the womb in the Arabic language is named rahem , meaning mercy. You find Allah talking about this in the Hadith Qudsy mentioning that kinship ties are so important that if you uphold them then you would be maintaining your tie with Allah (SWT) and vise versa.

No matter how many sins you commit He is still the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful. He created each couple and planted the seed of mercy between them. Allah says what can be translated as " And of His signs is that He created for you, of yourselves, spouses, that you (may) find rest in them, and he has made between you amity and mercy. Surely in that are indeed signs for a people who meditate." (TMQ, 30:21).

His mercy is also evident in sending the Prophet (SAWS). Allah says what can be translated as "And in no way have We sent you except as a mercy to the worlds." (TMQ, 21:107). Or when He says what can be translated as "So it was by (some) mercy from Allah that you have been lenient with them; and if you had been stern (and) harsh of heart, they would indeed have broken away from round about you. So be clement towards them, and ask forgiveness for them, and take counsel of them in the command. Yet when you are resolved, then put your trust in Allah; surely Allah loves the (ones) trusting (in Him)." (TMQ, 03:159).

Allah is the main source of mercy, whoever draws near to Allah will be blessed by having his heart filled with mercy. Allah (SWT) is the source of mercy and the Prophet was the closest to Him followed by Abu Bakr as said by the Prophet (SAWS).

I will show you a short film about the mercy of Allah among His creation.

The reason behind all the dilemmas and hardships we face in life

Let me start first by mentioning a few points. Allah says what can be translated as "No indeed, (but) you prefer the present life, (Literally: the lowly life, i.e., the life of this world). And the Hereafter is more charitable (i.e., better) and more enduring." (TMQ, 87:16&17). Allah wants you to be happy and eventually end up in jannah (paradise) that is why you need to be taught that the present worldly life will not last forever and that you need to remind yourself of the reward in the end, which will be the jannah. It is just like what our Prophet (SAWS) told us, describing the present life as being a prison to the believer, yet jannah to the disbeliever.

While we were in our mother's wombs we were happy although it was a very small place similar to a prison, but we knew nothing else so we were happy with it and when we come out to life we become unhappy, but then found out that it is a better and larger place. Nevertheless it is still a limited space compared with what Allah has created for us in the jannah.

Allah says what can be translated as "And We will indeed let them definitely taste of the lowlier torment, (i.e., Punishment in this life) lesser (Or: other than) than the greater, that possibly they would return." (TMQ, 32:21). That is why you are sometimes faced with hardships, Allah wants to reform you and put you on the right path to reward you with the jannah.

Death is also a mercy from Allah. All through our present life we are constantly being tested, as if in an exam. But when we die we can relax and wait for the final result to come out, which will eventually be the jannah if Allah wills it.

The Prophet (SAWS) says that at the time of death of any true believer the angels are present and the deceased person can see them, this is also a mercy from Allah (SWT) as he wants to reassure you before you enter an unknown world. The angel of death will sit by your head and read Allah's words, what can be translated as " O you self (that is) composed, Return to your Lord satisfied with Supreme Satisfaction! So enter among My bondmen! And enter My Garden! "(TMQ, 89:27till30). Surely you will be happy when you hear this. Your soul will then immediately be lifted by the angels in a huge parade to Allah, where it says in the Qur'an what can be translated as "And what makes you realize what Illiyeen is?" (TMQ, 83:19). All this occurs before you enter your grave, as a way of assurance. In your grave you will have your good deeds manifested as a very hansom man who will accompany you till the Day of Judgment and all that time you can see your place in jannah and what is waiting for you. He is the Merciful.

Special blessings and mercy during the month of Ramadan

Allah loves his servants that is why he grants us special blessings like this month. Other blessings during this month could be to shed a tear or to perform a prayer of two raka’a (one unit of Islamic prayer) during the night. These are just examples of those special blessings that He has bestowed upon us. If others are rejoicing the present life, then you better rejoice having Allah The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful.

Our duty towards this name

Have mercy on others such as the poor, the needy, your wife, your family any person.
Pray two raka'at with your wife during the night.
Strengthen your kinship ties.
Be dutiful to your parents
Read the Qur'an and pray the qiyam (voluntary night prayer).

Just rejoice that Allah is The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful. Allah says what can be translated as "Say, “By the Grace of Allah, and by His mercy; so with that let them exult; it is more charitable (i.e., better) than whatever they (heap) together.
(Literally: whatever they gather") (TMQ, 10:58).

[1] The word Allah is the Arabic term for God. Although the use of the word "Allah" is most often associated with Islam, it is not used exclusively by Muslims; Arab Christians and Arabic-speaking Jews also use it to refer to the One God. The Arabic word expresses the unique characteristics of the One God more precisely than the English term. Whereas the word "Allah" has no plural form in Arabic, the English form does. Allah is the God worshipped by all Prophets, from Adam to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.

[2] Salla Allah alayhe Wa Salam [All Prayers and Blessings of Allah be upon him]

[3] SWT = Suhanahu wa Ta'ala [Glorified and Exalted Be He].