Names of Allah
Name #1 of 99

ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ

Ar-Rahman

The Most Merciful

Quranic Reference: Surah Ar-Rahman 55:1-13

2 min read

Interactive Story

The Mercy to All Creation

Experience this name through an immersive narrative journey with Quranic verses, animations, and guided reflection.

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Scholarly Explanation

All of these Names are close in meaning and all of them point to describing the Lord with mercy, generosity and kindness. They point to the great expanse of His mercy and gifts that encompass all that is existence, being granted in accordance to the dictates of His wisdom. The believers have been specifically singled out for this and they are granted a goodly and the best portion of this. All blessings and the various aspects of beneficence are from the effects of His mercy, generosity and kindness just as all beneficence in this world and in the Hereafter is from the effects of His mercy.

My mercy encompasses all things and I shall decree it for those who have taqwa.

[al-A'raf (7): 156]

Ar-Rahman. He taught the Qur'an and created mankind.

[ar-Rahman (55): 1-3]

Verily, we used to call on Him [Alone] before. Verily He is al-Barr, ar-Rahim.

[at-Tur (52): 28]

O man! What has made you careless concerning your Lord, al-Karim.

[al-Infitar (82): 6]

And had it not been for the grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, [Allah would have hastened the Punishment]. And that Allah is Ra'uf, Rahim.

[an-Nur (24): 20]

[They say]: Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us Mercy from You. Truly you are al-Wahhab.

[Ali 'Imran (3): 8]

From “Explanation to the Beautiful and Perfect Names of Allah” — Shaykh as-Sa’di (d.1376H)

Reflect on This Name

When have you witnessed Allah's mercy extended to everyone, regardless of who they are?
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Prophetic Traditions

إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَلَقَ الرَّحْمَةَ يَوْمَ خَلَقَهَا مِائَةَ رَحْمَةٍ فَأَمْسَكَ عِنْدَهُ تِسْعًا وَتِسْعِينَ رَحْمَةً وَأَرْسَلَ فِي خَلْقِهِ كُلِّهِمْ رَحْمَةً وَاحِدَةً

Indeed Allah created mercy on the day He created it with one hundred parts. He kept ninety-nine parts with Him and sent down one part to His creation. Because of that one part, His creatures show mercy to one another.

This hadith demonstrates the vastness of Allah's mercy—what we see in creation is only 1% of His total mercy.

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه·Sahih Muslim 2752
Sahih

لَمَّا قَضَى اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ فِي كِتَابِهِ فَهُوَ عِنْدَهُ فَوْقَ الْعَرْشِ إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي غَلَبَتْ غَضَبِي

When Allah completed the creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him above the Throne: 'My Mercy prevails over My Wrath.'

Allah's mercy surpasses His anger—this is the foundation of hope for believers.

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه·Sahih al-Bukhari 3194
Sahih

Scholarly Insights

Ar-Rahman is a name that encompasses all types of mercy—both worldly and eternal, for the believer and disbeliever in this life, but exclusively for believers in the Hereafter.

Ibn al-QayyimBadaai' al-Fawaid

The name Ar-Rahman is unique to Allah. No one else can be called Ar-Rahman. It signifies that mercy is an essential attribute of Allah, encompassing all of creation.

Ibn TaymiyyahMajmu' al-Fatawa

Experience This Name

The Mercy to All Creation

Continue your journey with an immersive interactive narrative, complete with Quranic recitation, animations, and guided reflection.

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Supplication

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

Rabbana zalamna anfusana wa il-lam taghfir lana wa tarhamna lanakoonanna minal-khasireen

Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.

Qur'an 7:23 — Dua of Adam عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُAr-Rahman's mercy is the only refuge for those who have fallen short.

Living With Ar-Rahman

  • 1

    When facing hardship, remember that Ar-Rahman's mercy encompasses everything—including your difficulty.

  • 2

    Show mercy to Allah's creation (people, animals, environment) as a reflection of His mercy.

  • 3

    Never despair from Ar-Rahman's mercy, no matter how great your sins.

  • 4

    Begin every action with 'Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem' to invoke His mercy.