Akhlaq
The quality God names Himself by
Muslims begin almost everything by naming God's mercy.
4 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 3
Before eating or travelling, Muslims say Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim. Every surah but one opens with both names, ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim, two of God's most used. Both share a root with rahm: the Arabic word for womb.
Qur'an 1:1
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ١
1 In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.
Lesson
Muslims begin almost everything in the name of mercy.
Part 2 of 3
The Qur'an speaks of the Prophet in the language of mercy too. It calls him a mercy to all the worlds, not to Muslims alone. Had he been harsh and hard-hearted, it says, people would have left him.
Qur'an 21:107
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةࣱ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ١٠٧
107 We have not sent you [O Prophet] except as a mercy to the worlds.
Lesson
In the Qur'an's telling, harshness drives people away from the truth.
Part 3 of 3
A well-known hadith tells of a sinful person forgiven for giving water to a thirsty dog. Another, of a woman punished for starving a cat. Islamic teaching extends mercy beyond people. Cruelty to animals is condemned.
Lesson
Mercy given is mercy received.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
Muslims begin almost everything by naming God's mercy.