Ar-Raheem

Ar-Raheem is derived from Ar-Rahmaah which means pity, grace and kindness. Ar-Raheem is like Ar-Rahmaan. However, Ar-Rahmaan is a bit more vast and more general in its sense than Ar-Raheem. If Ar-Rahmaan indicates a Being filled with grace and infinite mercy for all His servants, Ar-Raheem indicates this in a very particular way in regards to the believers only.

According to a Hadith found in Ibn Maajah, once, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) heard Hazrat Aisha (Radiyallahu Anha) saying:

"اللهم انى ادعوك الله وادعوك الرحمن وادعوك البر الرحيم"

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) drew the attention of Hazrat Aisha (Radiyallahu Anha) that it contains Ismul-A'zam.

Allah Ta’ala has capacity over everything, but despite this, He informs us that He is filled with mercy and pity so that we ask Him of His mercy and His pity. Besides that, He gives us the message that we should also  have pity for the next person by helping those who are in difficulty and by preventing the oppressors from oppressing others. According to a Hadith found in Tirmizi, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:

"Ar-Rahmaan has mercy for those who have mercy. Have mercy on those who are on earth, the One who is in the sky will have mercy for you."

[English version of "Ar-Raheem" – Al Jamiat – Vol.3 No.8]