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قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Say, "He (is) Allah, the One.
Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute.
Not He begets and not He is begotten.
And not is for Him equivalent any [one]."
[Al-Quran Surah al-Ikhlas 112]
One of the attributes of Allah is Rauf (رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ). This attribute only occurs as a common noun, always without the prefix 'al' (ٱلْـ). Moreover, the ten times that it is mentioned as an attribute of Allah, it is paired eight times with Rahim (رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ), also without the prefix 'al' (ٱلْـ).
The root occurs thirteen times in The Quran, as can be seen in this screenshot:
Pity, compassion and kindness are the translations in this screenshot.
Focussing first on the Nominal (1)Noun, where it is used as an attribute of Allah:
2:143:44 This ayat mentions the change in Qibla. The believers had to change the direction of their prayer from Jerusalem towards the Kaaba in Makkah. Almost from due south to due north. Q2:143 is a long ayat. While the believers' faith was tested at that moment, The Quran states that Allah would not waste their faith (Iman) because Allah is Rauf and Raheem.
Translation by Pickthal: Thus We have appointed you a middle nation, that ye may be witnesses against mankind, and that the messenger may be a witness against you. And We appointed the qiblah which ye formerly observed only that We might know him who followeth the messenger, from him who turneth on his heels. In truth it was a hard (test) save for those whom Allah guided. But it was not Allah's purpose that your faith should be in vain, for Allah is Full of Pity, Merciful toward mankind.
It links embracing the change with following the Messenger of Allah. It was to make evident who would follow the Messenger of Allah. The ayat begins with you being appointed a moderate/ middle ummah, you being a witness upon mankind, and the Messenger being a witness upon you (the ummah), and concludes on the note that Allah is Rauf (full of pity) and Raheem (merciful) towards humans.
The Muslim Ummah has a responsibility towards humanity. They represent and carry forth the message of the Messenger of Allah. This is Allah being compassionate, full of pity towards mankind. It is about having faith, believing, and then acting upon that faith to save humanity from the penalty of fire. It is about having taqwa. It is about sincerity to the Deen.
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2:207:10 describes the fourth type of pilgrim. This type of pilgrim sells his soul (Nafs) for the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is Rauf towards His worshippers.
Translation by Pickthal: And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah; and Allah hath compassion on (His) bondmen.
Four types of pilgrims are contrasted between ayaat 200-210:
- those who only seek the good of this world
- those who seek the good in this world, the hereafter, and pray to be saved from the punishment of the fire
- he who seeks to destroy crops and progeny, intending corruption through power
- he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of Allah, and it is for this pilgrim that Allah is Rauf.
So, now this pity and compassion towards mankind is further defined as pity and compassion for Allah's worshipper. From the larger scope of the Muslim Ummah, this ayat specifies the kind of pilgrim for Whom Allah is especially Rauf. This pilgrim is a worshipper who controls his nafs, rather even sells his nafs to be able to earn the pleasure of Allah. To whom is this nafs sold then to: to Allah. Its a trade made with Allah Himself. Such a person puts his wealth and his person in the service of Allah.
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3:30:25 The Day of Judgement is being described when each nafs will come with whatever good and evil it did, and it will wish there was a great distance between its evil and itself. To preempt that sad situation, Allah is already warning us now against His Own Nafs, because Allah is Rauf towards His worshippers.
Translation by Pickthal: On the Day when every soul will find itself confronted with all that it hath done of good and all that it hath done of evil (every soul) will long that there might be a mighty space of distance between it and that (evil). Allah biddeth you beware of Him. And Allah is Full of Pity for (His) bondmen.
So, being Rauf is especially associated with worshipping Allah, keeping His Laws, doing good, and reforming one's own nafs by following the guidance on dos and don'ts. Every nafs will find itself confronted with all it did.
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9:117:26 Surah atTaubah begins without the bismillah that all other surahs begin with. It begins by announcing war with the polytheists, who had been invited to faith for over two decades. Yet, this surah mentions Allah being Raheem in the context of the believers who followed the Prophet in the hour of hardship, and also those whose hearts almost swerved aside. This is because Allah is Rauf and Raheem:
Translation by Pickthal: Allah hath turned in mercy to the Prophet, and to the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of hardship. After the hearts of a party of them had almost swerved aside, then turned He unto them in mercy. Lo! He is Full of Pity, Merciful for them.
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16:7:13 Allah has provided us with, and subdued for us, cattle, which carry heavy loads for us over great distances. They are also living things, and so are we. Yet, our soul (nafs) is distressed by such difficulties, while the cattle do all that work for us. That is Allah being Rauf and Raheem.
Translation by Shakir: And they carry your heavy loads to regions which you could not reach but with distress of the souls; most surely your Lord is Compassionate, Merciful.
The provision of cattle is for all humans. All of us should be grateful for this blessing, for the ease that it brings to our soul (nafs). Allah's Compassion for humans is indeed great and all-encompassing.
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16:47:7 Allah is All-Powerful. He can destroy those who disbelief and disobey immediately and swiftly, yet one of the manifestations of His being Rauf and Raheem is that He seizes them gradually, causing loss slowly. Slow, gradual loss, instead of total destruction is again an opportunity to heed guidance and repent and reform.
Translation by Sahih International: Or that He would not seize them gradually [in a state of dread]? But indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful.
Allah is indeed Rauf and Raheem.
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22:65:26 Surah alHajj points out that Allah has indeed subdued everything upon the earth for humans, and travel in ships upon water bodies, and He also restrains the sky from falling upon humans, as He is Rauf and Raheem towards humans.
Translation by Muhammad Sarwar: Have you not seen that God, through His command, has made all that is in the earth and the ships that sail on the sea subservient to you? He prevents the sky from falling on the earth unless He decides otherwise. God is Compassionate and Merciful to mankind.
One day this Earth will be shaken by the most terrible earthquake ever. That Hour has been predetermined by Allah, and we have been pre-warned about it. Al-Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Makkah and surrounding areas to perform the rituals of the Hajj. The rituals culminate in the sacrifice of cattle especially sent down for food. Everything upon earth has also been subdued for humans, as well as travel upon rivers and seas, things no other creature on earth seems to be able to do. Indeed Allah has made everything subservient to humans, as He is Rauf and Raheem towards humans.
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24:20:8 Surah Al-Nur focusses on the punishments for sexual infidelity, and false accusations, and rumours. Indeed, those who like the fahishata (immorality, lewdness, indecency), to be spread among the believers, will suffer a painful punishment in this world and the world to come. Then, the next ayat draws attention to Allah being Rauf and Raheem:
Translation by Muhammad Sarwar: Were it not for the favor and mercy of God upon you (you would have faced painful punishment in this world and the life to come). God is Compassionate and Merciful.
Sexual morality is an essential part of the Deen, as the family unit is the most fundamental building block of human society. All Abrahamic religions focus on fidelity and observing the limits. Moreover, any attempts to wrongfully defame any person is also a grave crime. To try to ruin society through the spread of fahishata (immorality, lewdness, indecency) is strong condemned. It is Allah's favour and mercy that He has provided the guidance. He is saving the believers from ruin. Allah is indeed Rauf and Raheem.
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57:9:16 Surah al-Hadeed mentions Iron that has been especially sent down to Earth. One of the purposes of iron is use in building materials for war. Establishing the Deen of Allah upon Earth is the purpose of the Abrahamic religions. Allah has already ratified a covenant with the believers. Through His clear revelations, Allah takes out believers from zulumaat (darknesses) to Nur (the special kind of light that Allah grants to the believers who do acts of reform), as Allah is Rauf and Raheem.
Translation by Muhammad Sarwar: It is He who sends illustrious revelations to His servant to take you out of darkness to light. God is Compassionate and All-merciful to you.
We are required to spend in the cause of Allah, spreading His Deen and fighting the good fight, when imposed upon us.
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59:10:22 Surah al-Hashr begins with how the Jews were uprooted because they refused to acknowledge, accept and support the Messenger of Allah.
Translation by Sahih International: And [there is a share for] those who came after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful."
Translation by Pickthall: And those who came (into the faith) after them say: Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who were before us in the faith, and place not in our hearts any rancour toward those who believe. Our Lord! Thou art Full of Pity, Merciful.
Translation by Yusuf Ali: And those who came after them say: "Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the Faith, and leave not, in our hearts, rancour (or sense of injury) against those who have believed. Our Lord! Thou art indeed Full of Kindness, Most Merciful."
Translation by Shakir: And those who come after them say: Our Lord! forgive us and those of our brethren who had precedence of us in faith, and do not allow any spite to remain in our hearts towards those who believe, our Lord! surely Thou art Kind, Merciful.
Translation by Muhammad Sarwar: Those who migrated later (to Medina) say, "Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in the faith, and clear our hearts of any ill will against the believers. Lord, You are Compassionate and All-merciful".
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