by Umm Isam – Content Writer
“Indeed Allah is, to the people, Kind and Merciful.” (Al Baqarah 2:143)
Ar-Raoof is one of Allah’s (swt) most beautiful names and attributes. It has occurred 10 times in the Quran.
Who is Ar-Raoof?
The name Ar-Raoof means: “The Most Compassionate.” It means that Allah (swt) bestows mercy upon His servants and is compassionate towards them. The attribute of ‘Ra’fah’(compassion) from which this name is derived is the highest form of mercy. Allah Ar-Raoof bestows his mercy upon all His creation in this world. For some of them He will be especially Compassionate in the hereafter.
What is the difference between Allah’s (swt) Rahmah (mercy) and Ra’fah (compassion)?
Both terms are related to Allah’s (swt) Kindness but have different scopes and intensity.
Allah’s (swt) Rahmah encompasses overall compassion towards His creation including believers and disbelievers too. It may also involve trials and tests sometimes to enable spiritual growth, guidance and purification of people. We can understand this by the analogy of a doctor who performs surgeries to cure patients in the greater good of their health. Or parents who discipline their children though they love them. So pain precedes relief, which is an act of mercy from Allah (swt).
Ra’fah is a specific form of compassion that is intense in nature and free from pain. It is protective and prevents suffering and hardship. It can be loosely translated as pity or tender affection. When Allah (swt) shields His creation from harm and alleviates their potential suffering. We can understand this by the analogy of a mother dressing up her child warmly in winter to protect him from getting cold.
How does Allah Ar-Raoof’s compassion manifest itself?
Allah (swt) has granted extreme mercy to His creation in the following manner:
- His warnings
It is Allah’s (swt) great mercy that He has revealed in the Quran His expectations and commanded mankind to fulfil them. The consequences of disobedience are clearly spelt out with nothing concealed or confusing.
Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “The day every soul will find what it has done of good present (before it) and what it has done of evil, it will wish that between itself and that (evil) was a great distance. And Allah warns you of Himself and Allah is Kind to (His) servants.” (Al Imran 3:30)
- Special Honour for Believers
When Sohaib Rumi (rta) was prevented by the polytheists, to migrate from Makkah to Madinah, he decided to forsake all his wealth and leave the city. Allah (swt) appreciated this worldly sacrifice of his and mentioned it in the following verse as a means of mercy:
“And of the people is he who sells himself, seeking means to the approval of Allah and Allah is Kind to [His] servants.” (Al Baqarah 2:207)
- Design of this world and its resources
Allah (swt) has granted humans maximum ease in comparison to His other creation such as the animals. They need to migrate in the change of seasons, find new habitats and build new shelters frequently. They are part of the eco-system hence food for one another as the prey and the predator.
But humans do not need to do any of the above. Their lives are more stable and comfortable. In fact the world has been designed by Allah Ar-Raoof to cater to their needs. Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “Do you not see that Allah has subjected to you whatever is on the earth and the ships which run through the sea by His command? And He restraints the sky from falling upon the earth, unless by His permission. Indeed Allah to people is Kind and Merciful.” (Al Hajj 22:65)
- Access to opportunities
When the wheel wasn’t invented animals used to transport us. Later Allah (swt) taught mankind to build rockets, ships, planes, cars, trains and what not. The increase in mobility has granted us access into the land, seas and skies to explore and worship Allah (swt) more. Indeed this is a great sign of Allah’s (swt) Ra’fah.
“And they carry your loads to a land you could not have reached except with difficulty to yourselves. Indeed your Lord is Kind and Merciful.” (An Nahl 16:7)
- The light of faith
“It is He Who sends down upon His servant [Muhammad (sa)] verse of clear evidence that He may bring you out from darkness into the light. And indeed Allah is to you Kind and Merciful.” (Al Hadid 57:9)
Allah Ar-Raoof lifted mankind out of darkness and removed burdens of evil by granting them the light of Islam. He never demanded worship that was not possible. In fact Allah (swt) has mercifully absolved the believers or eased their worship in trying times such as shortening of Salah during travel, allowing to make up fasts in illness and travel, etc.
- Accounting of good and bad deeds
“Whoever comes (on the day of judgment) with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof (to his credit) and whoever comes with an evil deed will not be recompensed except the like of thereof and they will not be wronged.” (Al Anaam 6:160)
- Reward for prayers
“And never would Allah have caused you to lose your faith (i.e. your previous prayers). Indeed Allah is to the people Kind and Merciful.” (Al Baqarah 2:143)
Before the migration from Makkah to Madinah, the believers faced Masjid Al Aqsa for their prayers. Once the Qiblah changed to Masjid al Haram, the Sahabah began to pray in that direction. However, they were concerned about the status of the earlier prayers. In response to that Allah Ar-Raoof assured them that their worship will not be wasted.
- The prophet of mercy
Allah (swt) loved for His messengers to be compassionate towards their followers. He especially commanded the Prophet Muhammad (sa) to be kind to the believers. His conduct matched the Quran exactly and Prophet Muhammad (sa) was undoubtedly the most merciful of all human beings created.
“There has certainly come to you a messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer (he is) concerned over you (i.e. your guidance) and to the believers is kind and merciful.” (At Taubah 9:128)
- Your role after learning about Allah Ar-Raoof
- Make Dua. Beseech Allah (swt) with His beautiful divine name Ar-Raoof to be Kind and Merciful to you.
- Be merciful to yourself. Pay heed to Allah’s (swt) Deen and obey to set yourself upon the road to success. Protect yourself from Allah’s (swt) disobedience to land in sins and doom.
- Be merciful to others. Keep your heart soft by understanding the Quran. Keep your tongue kind by fearing Allah (swt). Display the higher conduct of Ihsan. Invite others to goodness.
- Follow the messenger (sa). The best human learning is through observation and imitation. Allah Ar-Raoof has granted us a model of excellence in the Prophet (sa). Stick to the Sunnah.
Allah Ar-Raoof’s care and love is far reaching. It affects the heart. As mentioned earlier His Ra’fah is extreme form of tenderness and softness. It is a special form of affection in comparison to His Rahmah. It encompasses a higher degree of sympathy and compassion for the slave.
Partially adapted from a course by Safiya Khan
About author
