God's names - Ar-Rahmaan

Assalaamu alaikum [peace be to you],


In the previous part:

We read that since the God is beyond our limited human perception, it is sometimes difficult for us to imagine His characteristics. therefore The God offers in his divine book, The Qur'an, his descriptions by using many different attributes or “names,” which help human beings understand the nature of God.

Today I'd like to start with a very common name of the Almighty:


Ar-Rahmaan:

The Qur'an has 114 chapters. Each chapter of the Qur'an, except one, starts with Bismillaahir-rahmaanir-raheem (translated as 'in the name of the God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful'). this expression repeats 114 times in the Qur'an. in this expression, we have three names of the God: Allah, Ar-Rahmaan and Ar-Raheem.

Many of the Arabic words can not be faithfully translated into one single English word. in different translations of the Qur'an, the name Ar-Rahmaan is usually translated as The Most Merciful, the Entirely Merciful, the Beneficent or the Most Beneficent. but all these words fail to express the strong Arabic meaning.

the word Rahmaan is derived from the Arabic root r-h-m which has the following classical Arabic connotations:
- to have tenderness, gentleness, kindness
- to love
- to have mercy, to have pity
- to show favor and goodness
- to have all that is required for beneficence


Going deeper with grammatical meaning

The noun ‘رَحْمَان’ (Rahmaan) is in the intensive form of ‘فَعْلان’ (fa‘laan), (eg: ‘سَكْرَان’ (Sakraan) and ‘غَضْبَان’ (Gadbaan)), while the noun ‘رَحِيْم’ (Raheem): is an adjective of the form ‘فَعِيْل’ (fa‘eel) (eg: ‘عَلِيْم’ (‘Aleem) and ‘كريم’ kareem)). A look at the usage of the Arabic language shows that the form ‘فَعْلان’ (fa‘laan) expresses vastness, great fervency and enthusiasm, while the form ‘فَعِيْل’ (fa‘eel) expresses steadiness and perpetuity. In other words, the first depicts vigor and the second constancy in God’s mercy. A little deliberation shows that the Almighty’s mercy on His creation possesses both these characteristics. The enthusiasm and warmth is complemented by permanence. It is not that His attribute of ‘رَحْمَان’ (Rahmaan) induced Him to create, and He later forgot to foster and sustain His creation. Indeed, He is nourishing and taking proper care of them because He is ‘رَحِيْم’ (Raheem) as well. Whenever a person invokes His help, He hears his calls and accepts his prayers. Also, His blessings are not confined to this world only. Those who lead their lives according to the path prescribed by Him shall be blessed with eternal life and joy. It must be conceded that all these aspects cannot be comprehended without an integrated understanding of these attributes.
Ar-Rahmaan conveys the idea of fullness and extensiveness, indicating the great quality of love and mercy which engulfs all of creation without any effort or request on our part, while Rahîm conveys the idea of constant renewal and giving liberal reward to those who are deserving.

Ar-Rahmaan is the One who continually showers all of creation with blessings and prosperity without any disparity. The One who is most kind, loving and merciful. The One whose endless, loving mercy is perfect and inclusive. The One who is overflowing with the quality of loving mercy and is continually pouring it upon all of creation. The One whose perfect mercy and loving beneficence endlessly embrace all of creation. The One who loves and cherishes all of creation. The One who is most loving, gentle and merciful.

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I hope this was beneficial.


if I am right, it is from the God. if I am wrong, it is from myself.