Rahmah Is NOT Mercy! What Is It Then? (shocking but amazing)
As we begin surah al-Fatihah, we say:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim
Then after saying Alhamdulillahi Rabbil-‘alamin...
...we again say: ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.
We repeat these two names of God as we begin surah al-Fatihah, which we recite at least 17 times a day in prayer.
That means we say these two names of God at least 34 times a day!
What makes these two names of God especially significant?
What do they mean?
We'll look at the root word, rahmah, in this email... and then the names ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim in the next email.
Mercy... or more?
Rahmah is commonly translated as 'mercy', but here's why I think that's not the best translation...
First, let's look at the meaning of the word 'mercy' in English:
The Cambridge Dictionary defines 'mercy' as: kindness shown toward someone whom you have the right or power to punish.
So the word 'mercy' is used when you could be punished or deserve to be punished... but you are spared.
For example...
- Deserve to be punished: The teacher was about to punish the student for his misbehavior, but she showed him mercy.
- Could be punished: The military showed no mercy to the people.
In either case, 'mercy' has a negative connotation...
We don't use 'mercy' in the absolute positive sense...
For example...
- If your spouse gives you a gift or does something nice for you... you wouldn't say that your spouse is "so merciful" or "showed you mercy", would you? (if you did, that would be strange)
- But if you forgot to do something that your spouse asked you to do... and then they didn't get upset or angry at you... you would say that they showed you mercy.
You see the difference?
So then what's the best translation of rahmah?
Well, think about a mother's love...
Rahmah comes from rahm, which means the womb of a mother.
While in the womb (and even after), a baby doesn't have to worry about anything! There are no problems - everything is completely taken care of.
And if there is a burden, trouble or difficulty... all of it falls on the mother.
This child is completely wrapped up in the love and care of his mother - he is in a state of rahm.
You and I have no idea what Allah does to take care of us, and in how many ways He's taking care of us.
And just like the baby is not really conscious of the fact that it's being taken care of by the mother...
...we cannot imagine, and are incapable of understanding, how much (and in how many ways) Allah is taking care of us.
That's why 'mercy' just doesn't cut it...
Rahmah does include mercy, but it's so much more...
Rahmah is nurturing love, care and compassion ❤️
Rahmah according to God's Messenger
He, may God grant him blessings and peace, said:
"Allah has one hundred rahmah, out of which He has sent down only one for jinn, mankind, animals and insects, through which they love one another and have compassion for one another; and through it, wild animals care for their young. Allah has retained ninety-nine rahmah to deal kindly with His slaves on the Day of Resurrection."
On another occasion, a mother was desperately searching for her lost child. When she found her child, she embraced him and began feeding him...
On witnessing this, the Messenger asked his companions:
“Can you imagine this woman throwing her baby into fire?”
When his companions responded in disbelief, he taught them:
“Allah has more rahmah for His servants than this mother for her child.”
SubhanAllah, how perfect is God!
Abu Huraira reported: Al-Aqra’ ibn Habis saw the Prophet kissing his grandson Al-Hasan...
He said: “I have ten children, but I have never kissed any one of them.”
The Prophet said: “Surely, whoever does not show rahmah will not be shown rahmah.”
In each of these narrations, the Prophet explains rahmah in the context of a parent's (especially a mother's) nurturing love, care and compassion for their child...
That's why I call this prayer tip:
More than Mercy, More than a Mother.
Allah is indeed merciful. He is kind and forgiving towards us while having the power to harm us and the right to punish us for our sins.
But rahmah is not limited to 'mercy'...
Rahmah includes His nurturing love, care, compassion, kindness, mercy and grace.
So from now on, whenever you say Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim or ar-Rahman ar-Rahim (in prayer or outside prayer)...
...remember the deep, beautiful meaning of the word rahmah, and how it relates to the word rahm: a mother's womb.
May God grant us His rahmah in this life and the next.
At your service,
Farzan Parupia
Founder & CEO
