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99 Names of Allah – Asma ul Husna أسماء الله الحسنى بالانجليزية

Ar-Raheem

Allah calls Himself Ar-Raheem— The Bestower of Mercy, The Most

Compassionate— on 93 occasions in the Quran, 112 times in the

basmalah. Ar-Raheem is the One who bestows His continuous mercy

on all of creation and who bestows even more grace and greater

rewards in response to the good deeds of the believers!

The Most Compassionate, the Bestower of Mercy

Both raheem and rahmaan come from the root Raa-Haa-Meem,

which points to four main meanings. The first meaning is to have

gentleness and to love, 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 turhamoona (“receive mercy”), ruhman

(in affection”), and ar-raahimeena (“[of]those who show mercy”).

Linguistically, raheem shows continuity or repetition (the ending

of –ee(m)). For example jameel means beautiful and kareem means

honourable or generous, which reflect characteristics or states.

Related to Ar-Rahmaan, Ar-Raheem refers to the action or the effect

of Allah’s intense mercy on creation, indicating how this mercy

encompasses creatures. Imagine a shower of blessings, and imagine

the shower as very intense and continuous. Allah is the intensely and

the continuously Merciful.

Ar-Raheem Himself says: He said, “I will ask forgiveness for you

from my Lord. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful

[Quran, 12:98] . . . [O Muhammad], inform My servants that it is I

who am the Forgiving, the Merciful [Quran, 15:49] and. . . And indeed,

your Lord - He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful. [Quran, 26:9]

The merciful of the creation

Certain names Allah ‘azza wa jall uses only to describe Himself. He

says: Say: 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]

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As for Allah’s name Ar-Raheem, Allah ( ) has described others

by it: Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger from amongst

yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or

difficulty. He (Muhammad) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided)

for the believers kind and merciful. [Quran 9:128]

Being kind to others is a blessing

Know that kind and compassionate treatment is liked by Ar-Raheem

and is in fact His blessing from Him to you. A person who is hardhearted

is deprived of this divine blessing and mercy. Aishah ( ) reported

that some Bedouins came to the Messenger of Allah ( ) and asked,

‘Do you kiss your children?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ They then said: ‘By

Allah, we do not kiss them.’ He then replied, ‘I cannot help you if Allah

has snatched kindness from your hearts.’ [Al-Bukharee, Muslim] So

open up your heart to others and constantly warm your heart with the

remembrance of Allah ( ).

How can you live by this name?

1. Obey Ar-Raheem, hold onto the Quran.

And He is Merciful (Raheem) to the believers [Quran, 33:43]. Allah (

) mentions ways for you in the Quran to receive His special mercy

as a believer. He says: and obey Allah and His Messenger so that

you all may receive Mercy [3:132]. This mercy is only reserved for

those who try their best to hold on to the guidelines, prohibitions, and

commandments mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah. And this is a

book, We have sent it down as one blessed, so follow it and fear Allah

so that you all may receive Mercy [6:155].

2. Strive for taqwa.

O you who have believed, have taqwa of Allah and believe in His

Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy

and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you;

and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful [Quran, 57:28]. Taqwa can be

described as consciousness which inspires you to be on guard against

wrong action and eager for actions which please Allah ( ) and to

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stay away from those actions which displease and anger him. Tips

to increase your taqwa are: be alert to whatever may divert you from

Allah, and be alert to your desires that may lead you to the forbidden.

Ascribe each success, material or spiritual, to Allah only, and long for

His pleasure in everything you do, big or small. Renew your emaan

by reflecting on Ar-Raheem’s creation and remember death by living

each day with the knowledge it can happen anytime.

3. Pray four units (rak’aat) of prayer before ‘asr.

The Prophet ( ) said: May Allah have mercy on one who prays

four raka’aat before the ‘asr Prayer [At-Tirmidhee].

4. Listen to the Quran attentively.

And when the Quran is recited, listen to it with attention, that you

may receive mercy [Quran, 7:204]. Have you noticed the effect on

your heart when you sit and listen to the Quran with your ears and

heart, with no distractions around you? The more you respect and

honour the Book of Allah, the more cure, guidance and mercy you

will receive through it.

5. Turn to Ar-Raheem.

Whenever Ar-Raheem gives you a trial, know that no one can give

you a way out but Him, so turn to Him as soon as hardship hits you.

And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover

of it except Him; and if He intends for you good, then there is no

repeller of His bounty. He causes it to reach whom He wills of His

servants. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful [Quran, 10:107]. No

matter what sin you commit, Allah ( ) forgives you if you repent of

it. That’s the beauty of Al-Ghafoor Ar-Raheem.

6. Ask Ar-Raheem for compassion.

The Prophet ( ) said: He who is not merciful to our young (people)

and who shows no respect to our elderly is not one of us. [AtTirmidhee] Ask Allah ( ) to bless you with a soft heart and to enable

you to feel compassion towards your relatives, friends, and the whole

Muslim nation. How many do not feel responsible or attached to the

ummah? The Prophet ( ) said: The similitude of believers in regard

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to mutual love, affection, fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any

limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and

fever. [Muslim]

O Allah, Ar-Raheem, we know that You bestow Your mercy perfectly

and continuously on all that exists. Guide us to hold onto Your book

and the sunnah so we may attain your special mercy and adorn

our actions, speech, and thoughts with a deep sense of taqwa. Make

us turn to You at all times, asking for Your Mercy, and make us

compassionate so we will enter through the gates of Your paradise

by Your mercy, ameen!

And Allah knows best.

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Uploaded on July 9, 2019