Explanation
The root of the words Ar-Raheem and Ar-Rahman is (ر-ح-م), which means “ar-riqqah wal-ta’aruf”—a combination of tenderness and compassion. In the Quran, Ar-Raheem is mentioned 123 times. Every single day, ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ shows mercy to each and every one of us.
It derives from the Arabic word “Rahmah,” which denotes kindness, compassion, or mercy. The name “Ar-Raheem” signifies that ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is the Most Merciful and Compassionate, and it denotes the fact that His mercy is continually extended to His creation.
Mercy is regarded as one of ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ most significant qualities in Islamic theology. Not only is ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ mercy unconditional and all-encompassing, but it is also eternal and unbounded. The name “Ar-Raheem” serves as a reminder to Muslims that ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ mercy extends not only to this life but also to the hereafter.
As suggested by the name “Ar-Raheem,” ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ mercy is a constant and ongoing act of kindness and compassion towards His creation, not just a quality or attribute. ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ mercy is extended to everyone who seeks it freely and abundantly and is not contingent on a person’s status or deeds.
Numerous verses in the Quran highlight ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ attribute of mercy, including:
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. Indeed,
ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ forgives all sins.1 Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
(Quran 39:53)
It is He who confers blessing upon you,1 and His angels [ask Him to do so] that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And ever is He, to the believers, Merciful. (Quran 33:43)
The name “Ar-Raheem” refers to one of ALLAH سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ most significant qualities, namely His infinite mercy, and compassion. This name reminds Muslims that Allah’s mercy is a constant and ongoing act of kindness and compassion towards His creation, freely given to anyone who seeks it.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told us, “ALLAH has divided mercy into hundred parts, and He retained with Him ninety nine parts, and sent down to earth one part. Through this one part creatures deal with one another with compassion, so much so that an animal lifts its hoof over its young lest it should hurt it.” (Sahih Bukhari – 6000)
Quran References
Your God is One God, there is no god but He; the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. (Quran 2:163)
Say, [O Muḥammad], “If you should love Allāh, then follow me, [so] Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Quran 3:31)
And whoever emigrates for the cause of Allāh will find on the earth many [alternative] locations and abundance. And whoever leaves his home as an emigrant to Allāh and His Messenger and then death overtakes him – his reward has already become incumbent upon Allāh. And Allāh is ever Forgiving and Merciful. (Quran 4:100)
Prohibited to you are dead animals,1 blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allāh, and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars,2 and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islām as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin – then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful. (Quran 5:3)