Divine Mercy of Allah
The names of Allah Almighty are numerous, including Al-Rahman (The Most Merciful) and Al-Rahim (The Most Compassionate). One of His intrinsic attributes is mercy, which encompasses all His creations. Al-Rahman is an essential aspect of His being, indicating that mercy is a fundamental characteristic of Allah, while Al-Rahim refers to His active expression of mercy towards His servants. The term Al-Rahman signifies that Allah is inherently merciful, whereas Al-Rahim conveys the action of showing mercy. The name Al-Rahman appears in the Quran fifty-seven times, whereas Al-Rahim is mentioned one hundred fourteen times. These frequent mentions affirm Allah’s attribute of mercy and the vastness of His compassion towards humanity.
There is a significant distinction between the inherent mercy of Allah and the mercy exhibited by His beings, as God’s mercy is flawless and infinite, unlike the imperfect compassion of His servants. Allah’s mercy extends to all creatures, including humans, jinn, animals, and angels. One of the most evident demonstrations of Allah’s immense mercy is His kindness towards those who strive to adhere to His commands and abstain from prohibitions. Those who succumb to temptation and sin yet hasten to repent are among those most deserving of Allah’s mercy. In contrast, those who surrender to their desires and defy His decrees stand far removed from His grace. The closer a person adheres to Allah’s commands, the more they attain His mercy; conversely, straying from His guidance distances them from it.
Effects of Divine Mercy on Humanity
A believer who holds firm to the belief in Allah’s attribute of mercy will experience several fruits and repercussions in their life, including:
- The degree of compassion a person embodies raises their status before Allah. The Prophets, particularly Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), were the most compassionate towards their followers, epitomizing mercy even in the face of adversity from their enemies. The level of mercy a believer receives correlates with their commitment to following the Prophet’s path. Parents, followed by vulnerable members of the community, are among those most deserving of mercy.
- Mercy fosters hope and motivates individuals to engage in righteous deeds, instilling a sense of security and peace in the believer. Allah’s mercy precedes His wrath, and although only a fraction of it is evident in this world, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that Allah created one hundred portions of mercy, withholding ninety-nine and bestowing only one upon the creation. If a disbeliever truly understood the extent of Allah’s mercy, they would not despair of entering Paradise; conversely, had a believer fully grasped the severity of Allah’s punishment, they would not feel secure from Hellfire.
- Mercy entails compassion towards those who err and guiding them gently towards the right path while treating them with kindness and avoiding arrogance and contempt.
- A believer, through every good deed or avoidance of sin, remains hopeful for Allah’s mercy, constantly attentive to Allah in all aspects of their life, striving to draw closer to Him.
- When a believer turns away from all else besides Allah, their actions are aligned, and they establish a connection with their All-Sufficient and Mighty Creator, who provides all they need.
Causes of Allah’s Mercy
It is impossible to enumerate Allah’s mercy, as it is among His countless blessings that cannot be fully quantified; as mentioned in the Quran, “And if you count the favors of Allah, you will not be able to number them.” (Quran 16:18). There are various causes that prompt the manifestation of Allah’s mercy upon His servants, which include:
- Enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, performing prayers, giving zakat, and obeying God and His Messenger (peace be upon him). Allah states, “The believers, men and women, are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, establish prayer, and give zakat. They obey Allah and His Messenger; Allah will have mercy upon them.” (Quran 9:71).
- Having faith in Allah and seeking refuge in Him; for those who rely on Allah, His mercy will provide them with what they need.
- Exhibiting piety both in public and private, as expressed in the verse: “And My mercy encompasses all things; I will decree it for those who have Taqwa (fear of Allah), give Zakat, and believe in Our signs.” (Quran 7:156). This emphasizes the importance of piety and the sense of God’s fear, prompting believers to distance themselves from wrongdoing.
- Listening to and reflecting on the verses of the Quran, which is described as guidance and mercy for the believers. Reciting the Quran with humility brings mercy upon both the reader and the listener. As instructed in the Quran, “And when the Quran is read, listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.” (Quran 7:204).
- Performing night prayers, highlighting the distinction between believers and non-believers, as this act embodies hope and fear—hope for God’s mercy and fear of His punishment. Hope for mercy cannot be mere wishful thinking; it must be accompanied by action.
- Reconciliation among individuals, as stated: “Indeed, the believers are brothers; so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.” (Quran 49:10).
- Patience regarding God’s decree; a believer does not despair or panic in the face of trials but accepts what Allah has ordained for them.
- Migration and striving in the path of Allah to uphold the banner of Islam; those who sacrifice for the sake of elevating Allah’s word will be rewarded with His mercy, including those who die in His cause.