We previously discussed the qualities of “Ar-Rahman”, now we will discuss 2 qualities of the word “Ar-Raheem” – {If you haven’t read the post on “Ar-Rahman” yet, please click here: https://www.quranicinsights.com/insights/rahman } “Ar-Raheem”
* Quality Number 1: Permanency. If you remember, one of the qualities of “Ar-Rahman” was it being temporary. In contrast, “Ar-Raheem” means “always kind, always loving, always caring, always merciful, constantly, perpetually, endlessly…” – There is no end to his mercy, love and care, it’s always going to be there, everlasting.
Linguistically that’s just how “Ar-Raheem” is structured. That’s 1 quality.
* Quality Number 2: It isn’t necessarily happening right now.
Remember what i said about “Rahman”? That it is something immediate and happening at this very moment. Here you’ll find another contrast.
“Ar-Raheem”, linguistically speaking, it means it is not necessarily happening right now. However it is a quality that is always there though.
Now how does that make sense? Let me explain.
[Side note. We must know that this discussion is not about understanding Allah, as that’s far beyond our human capacity, rather it is to at least have a slight idea about Allah through language.]
So, how can something not be happening right now, but is always there?
If I describe a person as “Strong”, does that necessarily mean he’s using that strength now? No.
Yet do they still have that strength and power? Even when they are sleeping? Yes.
They have that power all the time, but not necessarily using it right now.
That’s kind of like what “Raheem” does.
The power of mercy is always and always there, but the word itself does not necessarily mean that Allah is using it right at this very moment in some way. It’s calm and relaxed for the time being maybe. _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Now look at these 2 words together.
If you just say “Ar-Rahman”. What is the potential scary thing? The scariest thing is it not being permanent.
So Allah adds a word that makes it permanent.
If you were only to just say “Ar-Raheem”, then what would be the problem? You would have a couple of problems. Number 1: It doesn’t guarantee it’s happening right now. Number 2: Also, it’s not something that is extreme, or intensely vigorous.
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So how do you talk about Allah’s mercy?
You want to make it; 1. Permanent, 2. Extreme, 3. Happening right now, and for it to remain constantly.
You want all the things that come from “Ar-RaHmaan” and you want all the things that come from “Ar-RaHeem”
So Allah covered mercy, from every possible angle, when HE said, “Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem!” – There’s nothing missing now.
If you just say “Ar-Rahman” something’s missing. If you just say “Ar-Raheem” something’s missing.
So what did Allah do? He put them both together. However! How do we understand the extreme intense nature of Ar-Rahman, and at the same time the calm cool nature of Ar-Raheem? You’ll see this at the end.
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Before that however, let’s look at all this from a practical perspective. How we could practically internalise this lesson.
Imagine you’re just about surviving from one monthly pay-cheque to the next monthly pay-cheque. You just have too many bills to pay and the money is tight, you’re barely surviving.
Then an old school friend gets in touch with you after many years and he talks to you about an investment opportunity, (like the ACN folks 😂.) He talks to you about the returns on your investment coming back to you in 20-25 years.
You’d be like, why you wasting my time? I need my problems to be solved right now! I barely have any money, I can’t afford to give that away hoping for a big pay out 20 years from now! *You need help now!
Now on the other hand, imagine you’re doing well financially, everything is set, it’s all good in terms of your finances. However, does that mean you stop worrying totally? No.
If everything now is taken care of, your mind is programmed to start worrying about tomorrow, or the day after, or a few months from now, or a few years from now . . . This is just how the human psyche works. *You need help for later.
Now do you understand practically why Allah gave, no, rather gifted us “Ar-Rahman” first? He took care of our ‘Now’ first, and the moment he took care of our ‘Now’ with “Ar-Rahman”, our mind says “What about tomorrow?” And Allah says, don’t worry, my mercy, love and care is always going to be there . . . “Ar-Raheem”
Look how Allah takes care of us. (“To Allah belongs the most beautiful names, so call upon him with them”) Just in “Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem” Allah has it all covered, the mercy we need now, and the mercy we need in the future. The Immediate and the Future.
It took me quite some time to type up these 2 Posts on Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem, to explain it. But Allah! He just says it. In 2 words! _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Finally, coming back to the question in how we can reconcile Ar-Rahman’s extreme nature and Ar-Raheem’s calm nature being put together, here’s my final comment;
Our scholars of the past would say:
If you want to imagine the mercy, love, care and kindness of Allah, captured in “Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem”
“Ar-Rahman” is like the ocean with the high powerful scary waves, that is so strong and so extreme. and
“Ar-Raheem” is like the calm cool beautiful ocean that is endless.
And a human being can never imagine, understand or comprehend both of them at the same time.
Just like that no human being can Imagine “Ar-Rahman” and “Ar-Raheem” at the same time.
Allah’s mercy, love and care is beyond what we could ever fathom.
It can not ever be limited to our imagination. It is not limited to our feeble mind.
Never think of Allah’s mercy love and care, like you think of anybody else’s love care and mercy.