MHolder_حامل المسك
99 Names of Allah – Asma ul Husna أسماء الله الحسنى بالانجليزية (1)
Ar-Rahmaan
Allah calls Himself Ar-Rahmaan— The Most Gracious, the intensely
Merciful— on 55 occassions in the Quran and 133 times in the
basmalah. Ar-Rahmaan is the One whose intense and perfect Mercy
embraces the whole creation!
The Most Gracious, Most Lovingly Beneficent
Rahmaan comes from the root Raa-Haa-Meem, which points to four
main meanings. The first meaning is to have gentleness and to love,
and the second is to have mercy. The third meaning is to show favour,
and the fourth meaning is to have all that is required for beneficence.
This root appears 339 times in the Quran in nine derived forms.
Examples of these forms are rahima (“bestows mercy”), al-arhaam
(the wombs”) and rahmatan (“mercy”).
Linguistically, rahmaan shows intensity (thus the ending is –aan).
For example ghadbaan means extremely angry. Ar-Rahmaan points
out to the intensity, abundance, and vastness of the mercy (rahmah)
of Allah ( ), and the attribute of grace is inseperable from the
Almighty.
Allah first mentioned His name - Allah - that is exclusively His and
described this name by Ar-Rahmaan, which no one else is allowed
to use, just as Allah said, Say (O Muhammad) invoke Allah or invoke
Ar-Rahmaan, by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for
to Him belong the Best names. [Quran, 17:110] [Tafseer ibn Katheer]
Ar-Rahmaan Himself says: [This is] a revelation from the Entirely
Merciful, the Especially Merciful . . . [Quran, 41:2] That Day, no
intercession will benefit except [that of] one to whom the Most
Merciful has given permission and has accepted his word. [Quran,
20:109]
The mercy of Allah
Explaining the mercy of Allah, Ar-Rahmaan, the Prophet ( ) said:
Allah has divided mercy into 100 parts, and He retained with Him
99 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. [Al-Bukharee]
Be amazed at the fact that the other 99 parts are yet to come and they
are with Allah Himself. You will not enter Jannah because of your
deeds, but by the rahmah of Allah only.
The Prophet ( ) also said, When Allah created the creatures, He
wrote in the Book, which is with Him over His Throne: Verily, My
Mercy prevailed over My Wrath. [Al-Bukharee]
How can you live by this name?
1. Never despair.
No matter how many sins you commit, He can have mercy on you if
you just turn to Ar-Rahmaan. Every mistake or sin is an opportunity
and a sign that it’s time to get closer to Him! Whenever you commit a
sin, call Him by this name to have mercy on you and remind yourself
of one of the most optimistic ayaat in the Quran: Say, O My servants
who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not
despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed,
it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. [Quran 39:53].
2. Be merciful to others.
Be merciful to not only the needy but also to your family if you want
the mercy of Ar-Rahmaan! The Prophet ( ) said: Allah will not be
merciful to those who are not merciful to the people. [Al-Bukharee]
The Prophet ( ) gave a simple formula on how to deal with others:
Whoever wishes to be delivered from the fire and enter the garden
should die with faith in Allah and the Last Day and should treat the
people as he wishes to be treated by them. [Muslim] So no matter
how big or small, think how you would like to be treated in the same
situation.
3. Keep family ties.
Be active in being in touch with your family: regularly visit, call, and
exchange gifts, and never abandon your family. The Prophet ( )
said: . . . The womb (rahm) is derived from the Merciful, so whoever
keeps relations with his family then Allah will keep relations with
him, and whoever abandons his family then Allah will abandon
him. [At-Tirmidhee] Be the first to make up after an argument. The
Prophet ( ) said: It is not permitted for a Muslim to forsake his
brother for more than three (days); whoever does this and dies, he
will enter Hell. [Abu Dawud]
4. Be good to your parents.
Daily ask Ar-Rahmaan to have mercy on your parents! Ar-Rahmaan
instructs you: And your Lord has decreed that you not worship
except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of
them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as],
“uff,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And
lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, “My Lord,
have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.
[Quran, 17:23-24]
5. Recognize mercy and be grateful.
Reflect upon Allah’s mercy when you see all the blessings around you;
food, water, oxygen. Only Ar-Rahmaan can make it rain and He made
the rain sweet and not salty. When you love someone or are loved,
know that this feeling was manifested by the mercy of Allah. Think
about the mercy of Ar-Rahmaan in sending the Prophet Muhammad
( ) to you, and be intensely happy and grateful to have such a
merciful Lord.
Note: We have to be careful if translating the names of Allah ( )
into a different language. The name Ar-Rahmaan is most commonly
translated as The Most Merciful, The Entirely Merciful, The Most
Gracious.
O Allah, Ar-Rahmaan, we know that Your mercy is perfect. Let us
never despair of Your mercy, guide us to be merciful to others, to
maintain our family ties, and to seek Your pleasure. Enable us to
reflect on Your mercy around us, adorn us with gratefulness, and
enter us into Paradise by Your mercy, ameen!
And Allah knows best.
99 Names of Allah – Asma ul Husna أسماء الله الحسنى بالانجليزية (1)
Ar-Rahmaan
Allah calls Himself Ar-Rahmaan— The Most Gracious, the intensely
Merciful— on 55 occassions in the Quran and 133 times in the
basmalah. Ar-Rahmaan is the One whose intense and perfect Mercy
embraces the whole creation!
The Most Gracious, Most Lovingly Beneficent
Rahmaan comes from the root Raa-Haa-Meem, which points to four
main meanings. The first meaning is to have gentleness and to love,
and the second is to have mercy. The third meaning is to show favour,
and the fourth meaning is to have all that is required for beneficence.
This root appears 339 times in the Quran in nine derived forms.
Examples of these forms are rahima (“bestows mercy”), al-arhaam
(the wombs”) and rahmatan (“mercy”).
Linguistically, rahmaan shows intensity (thus the ending is –aan).
For example ghadbaan means extremely angry. Ar-Rahmaan points
out to the intensity, abundance, and vastness of the mercy (rahmah)
of Allah ( ), and the attribute of grace is inseperable from the
Almighty.
Allah first mentioned His name - Allah - that is exclusively His and
described this name by Ar-Rahmaan, which no one else is allowed
to use, just as Allah said, Say (O Muhammad) invoke Allah or invoke
Ar-Rahmaan, by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for
to Him belong the Best names. [Quran, 17:110] [Tafseer ibn Katheer]
Ar-Rahmaan Himself says: [This is] a revelation from the Entirely
Merciful, the Especially Merciful . . . [Quran, 41:2] That Day, no
intercession will benefit except [that of] one to whom the Most
Merciful has given permission and has accepted his word. [Quran,
20:109]
The mercy of Allah
Explaining the mercy of Allah, Ar-Rahmaan, the Prophet ( ) said:
Allah has divided mercy into 100 parts, and He retained with Him
99 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. [Al-Bukharee]
Be amazed at the fact that the other 99 parts are yet to come and they
are with Allah Himself. You will not enter Jannah because of your
deeds, but by the rahmah of Allah only.
The Prophet ( ) also said, When Allah created the creatures, He
wrote in the Book, which is with Him over His Throne: Verily, My
Mercy prevailed over My Wrath. [Al-Bukharee]
How can you live by this name?
1. Never despair.
No matter how many sins you commit, He can have mercy on you if
you just turn to Ar-Rahmaan. Every mistake or sin is an opportunity
and a sign that it’s time to get closer to Him! Whenever you commit a
sin, call Him by this name to have mercy on you and remind yourself
of one of the most optimistic ayaat in the Quran: Say, O My servants
who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not
despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed,
it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. [Quran 39:53].
2. Be merciful to others.
Be merciful to not only the needy but also to your family if you want
the mercy of Ar-Rahmaan! The Prophet ( ) said: Allah will not be
merciful to those who are not merciful to the people. [Al-Bukharee]
The Prophet ( ) gave a simple formula on how to deal with others:
Whoever wishes to be delivered from the fire and enter the garden
should die with faith in Allah and the Last Day and should treat the
people as he wishes to be treated by them. [Muslim] So no matter
how big or small, think how you would like to be treated in the same
situation.
3. Keep family ties.
Be active in being in touch with your family: regularly visit, call, and
exchange gifts, and never abandon your family. The Prophet ( )
said: . . . The womb (rahm) is derived from the Merciful, so whoever
keeps relations with his family then Allah will keep relations with
him, and whoever abandons his family then Allah will abandon
him. [At-Tirmidhee] Be the first to make up after an argument. The
Prophet ( ) said: It is not permitted for a Muslim to forsake his
brother for more than three (days); whoever does this and dies, he
will enter Hell. [Abu Dawud]
4. Be good to your parents.
Daily ask Ar-Rahmaan to have mercy on your parents! Ar-Rahmaan
instructs you: And your Lord has decreed that you not worship
except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of
them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as],
“uff,” and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And
lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, “My Lord,
have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.
[Quran, 17:23-24]
5. Recognize mercy and be grateful.
Reflect upon Allah’s mercy when you see all the blessings around you;
food, water, oxygen. Only Ar-Rahmaan can make it rain and He made
the rain sweet and not salty. When you love someone or are loved,
know that this feeling was manifested by the mercy of Allah. Think
about the mercy of Ar-Rahmaan in sending the Prophet Muhammad
( ) to you, and be intensely happy and grateful to have such a
merciful Lord.
Note: We have to be careful if translating the names of Allah ( )
into a different language. The name Ar-Rahmaan is most commonly
translated as The Most Merciful, The Entirely Merciful, The Most
Gracious.
O Allah, Ar-Rahmaan, we know that Your mercy is perfect. Let us
never despair of Your mercy, guide us to be merciful to others, to
maintain our family ties, and to seek Your pleasure. Enable us to
reflect on Your mercy around us, adorn us with gratefulness, and
enter us into Paradise by Your mercy, ameen!
And Allah knows best.