1. Ar-Rahman

1. Ar-Rahman — The Most Merciful

This page discusses the meaning of Allah's name Ar-Rahman, namely the One Who bestows all-encompassing mercy upon all creatures without exception.

• Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim both derive from the word rahima, with some scholars holding different views on their scope; some hold that Ar-Rahman applies in this world and the Hereafter while Ar-Rahim is specific to the Hereafter.
• The ism Ar-Rahman is considered more specific than Ar-Rahim because it is only attributed to Allah, so its standing is closer to the word Allah itself.
• The mercy contained in this name encompasses three things: the existence of creatures, guidance toward faith, and the delight of gazing upon Allah in the Hereafter.
• Emulating this name means showing compassion to those who are heedless by advising them, helping with their difficulties, and striving to prevent them from sin.
• It is also mentioned that reciting this ism one hundred times after every obligatory prayer, according to the author, can remove the traits of heedlessness and forgetfulness.

Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim, both derive from the word rahima. Ar-Rahman requires the existence of something to be shown mercy, and nothing is shown mercy except that it is in need. Perfect mercy is giving goodness to all servants without exception, whether they deserve it or not. The conclusion is that Allah's mercy is all-encompassing, in this world and the Hereafter. Another opinion states that Ar-Rahman means "the One Who Conceals (hides the sins of His servants) in this world," while Ar-Rahim means "the One Who Forgives the sins of His servants in the Hereafter."

'Abdullah bin Mubarak said: "Ar-Rahman is that if asked, He gives; and Ar-Rahim is that if not asked, He becomes angry." As-Suda said: "Ar-Rahman removes hardship, and Ar-Rahim forgives sin."

It is said that Ar-Rahman is the One Who Does Good (Al-Muhsin) or the One Who Wills Good, that is, mercy that is virtue and goodness."

The benefit is that Ism Ar-Rahman is more specific than Ar-Rahim. Because it is not attributed to anyone other than Allah SWT. Whereas Ar-Rahim is sometimes given to other than Allah. From this angle it is closer to the word Jalalah (Allah). That is why Allah combined both in His words which mean:

Say: "Call upon Allah or call upon Ar-Rahman. By whichever name you call upon Him, He has the most beautiful names ... " (QS. Al Isra': 10)

The mercy understood from the word Ar-Rahman is extremely difficult for human capacity to grasp, for Ar-Rahman is: First, mercy toward His servants in the form of existence. Second, guidance toward faith and making it a source of happiness in the Hereafter. Third, the bestowal of the bliss of gazing upon His noble Face on the Day of Judgement.

In applying the meaning of this ism Ar-Rahman, one should show mercy to Allah's heedless servants by turning them away from the path of heedlessness toward the path of Allah through advice and counsel, and by helping with the difficulties they face according to one's ability. And one should regard the sinful acts committed by such a person as though they were one's own, and strive with all one's strength to remove them, out of compassion for the person who commits such sins.

The benefit is that Ism Ar-Rahman can remove everything disliked by the one who remembers Allah with it. Whoever recites it one hundred times after every obligatory prayer will, by Allah's leave, have the traits of heedlessness and forgetfulness removed from within himself.

Loading the full version…