Book 1: The Manifestations of The Name of Allah as the All-Merciful and Most Merciful in the Qur'an

Introduction

Every moment of the 60-80 years that people spend in this earthly life before leaving it contains a test. After death, they will give an account of their good and evil words and deeds, and then will begin their eternal existence in the world to come. On the Day of Resurrection, everything that a person did while alive will be taken into account. Those who chose the way of the prophets; those who were true, devout, and sincerely submitted to Allah (God) in faith; those who feared Allah out of awe and respect and so respected the limitations He set upon humanity; and those who hoped to win Allah's favor and mercy and attain Paradise will rejoice in an eternal Paradise. On the other hand, satan and those who rejected Allah, along with idolaters and hypocrites; those who ignored Allah in order to satisfy their own desires; and those who embraced sinful actions will be sent to live in Hell. No one will be treated unjustly.

O humanity! what has deluded you in respect of your Noble Lord?
(Surat al-Infitar, 6)

Believers, to whom Allah has promised the joys of Paradise, are those who sincerely believe that He created the whole universe from nothing, who know and remember the Creator by His most beautiful names and recognize His eternal power and might, and who spend their lives consciously striving to earn His favor. They know that Allah created them and the universe in complete perfection, down to the most subtle detail, and that He is their only Friend and Protector. They behave with the knowledge that He sees and hears them at all times, and that He is aware of everything.

Human beings have different beliefs or follow those that are considered heretical by the orthodox. But the important thing is to acquire knowledge of Allah through contemplating the perfect and incomparably sublime names by which He reveals Himself in the Qur'an. People need to abandon their false beliefs and understand these names. Sincere Muslims know His names and consider them deep within their hearts. Thus, the way they view life is quite different from how others look at it. They know that Allah is the universe's only ruler, has endless power and might, hears and sees everything, shows endless mercy toward His servants, is forgiving and protective, sends and removes difficult times, makes success easy for His servants, is endlessly just and the Judge of those that pass judgment, and that everything belongs to Him. As a result, they live their lives according to this belief. The Qur'an reveals some of His most beautiful names in the following verses:

He is Allah – there is no deity but Him. He is the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible. He is the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful. He is Allah – there is no deity but Him. He is the King, the Most Pure, the Perfect Peace, the Trustworthy, the Safe guarder, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supremely Great. Glory be to Allah above all they associate with Him. He is Allah – the Creator, the Maker, the Giver of Form. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Everything in the heavens and Earth glorifies Him. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Surat al-Hashr, 22-24)

Allah, there is no deity but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining. He is not subject to drowsiness or sleep. Everything in the heavens and Earth belongs to Him. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before and behind them, but they cannot grasp any of His knowledge save what He wills. His Footstool encompasses the heavens and Earth, and their preservation does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent. (Surat al-Baqara, 255)

One of the names of Allah revealed in these verses is the All-Merciful and Most Merciful. Of the Qur'an's 114 surahs, only one does not begin with this name. Believers are constantly aware of this name's manifestations, because it encompasses the universe and embraces each believer from birth to death, in sickness and health, weakness and strength, as well as permeates the matchless beauty of all animate and inanimate beings. The divine mercy, compassion, love, help, protection, grace and forgiveness of Allah toward all humans is one of the most beautiful manifestations of our Lord. The manifestations of this name deepens the way in which believers view the universe and all living things and adhere to the Qur'an's moral code. For this reason, when Muslims begin to read the Qur'an, practice the morality within the Qur'an and communicate it to others, advise other believers, and think about why the universe was created, they should breathe the most beautiful names of Allah in their spirits. To comprehend the beauty, contentment, well-being and blessing in these peerless names of our Creator, and to be aware of their sovereignty in Islam, is an important step toward deepening one's faith and coming to know Allah through His most beautiful names.

This book will focus on the place of the names All-Merciful and Most Merciful in the life of Muslims. We will look at the names All-Merciful and Most Merciful as they appear in the Qur'an and are manifested in the universe, and stress the importance of seeing the meaning of life according to these names.

Intelligent Design, in other words Creation

In order to create, Allah has no need to design

It's important that the word "design" be properly understood. That Allah has created a flawless design does not mean that He first made a plan and then followed it. Allah, the Lord of the Earth and the heavens, needs no "designs" in order to create. Allah is exalted above all such deficiencies. His planning and creation take place at the same instant.

Whenever God wills a thing to come about, it is enough for Him just to say, "Be!" As verses of the Qur'an tell us:

His command when He desires a thing is just to say to it, "Be!" and it is. (Surah Ya Sin, 82)

[Allah is] the Originator of the heavens and Earth. When He decides on something, He just says to it, "Be!" and it is. (Surat al-Baqara, 117)

The Mercy of Allah Embraces Everything

O humanity! Worship your Lord, Who created you and those before you, so that, hopefully, you will guard against evil.
(Surat al-Baqara, 21)

The word mercy comes from the Arabic rahama, meaning pity, protect, compassion and forgiveness. The name All-Merciful and Most Merciful of our Lord comes from this root. The adjective All-Merciful, which is used in the Qur'an only for Allah means "He Whose mercy embraces everything; Who wishes goodness, mercy, and beauty for all created things; Who imparts countless blessings without distinguishing who He loves from who He does not" The adjective Most Merciful, which is also used for our Prophet (May Allah bless him and grant him in peace) (Surat at-Tawba, 128) when refers to Allah, means "He Whose mercy embraces only believers in the Hereafter, Who rewards those Who use His blessings well with greater and infinite blessings."

The name of Allah All-Merciful and Most Merciful is repeated numerous times in other verses of the Qur'an. All the surahs in the Qur'an except Surat at-Tawba, begins with the ascription in the name of Allah, the All-Merciful and Most Merciful. The name All Merciful of our Lord has a wide range of meanings: protecting, pitying, compassionate, and merciful names of Allah are all manifestations of Allah's name All Merciful.

His mercy encompasses all things and is limitless, timeless, and eternal. Of all those who show mercy, our Lord is the Most Merciful. The Qur'an tells us that Job (pbuh) used this beautiful name in his prayers:

And Job, when he called out to his Lord: "Great harm has afflicted me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful." (Surat al-Anbiya, 83)

Allah the All Merciful manifests His infinite mercy in everything seen and unseen. It is possible to see the All-Merciful name of Allah in the miracles of creation pervading the universe; the creation of humans and in the billions of details in the human body; in animals, food, drink, water, and air. In short, in every aspect of the universe. The universe manifests this mercy, for only He makes countless seeds sprout from under the ground; creates fruits and vegetables, sends down rain, feeds and nourishes the infinite number of creatures inhabiting our world; and creates the oxygen that life needs to survive. Our Lord surrounds every being with countless blessings, and thus no being can prevent the appreciation, generosity, and favor He shows toward humanity. In Surah Fatir our Lord announces His infinite Mercy upon the humans as below:

Any mercy Allah opens up to people, no one can withhold; any He withholds, no one can afterwards release. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Surah Fatir, 2)

Does He Who created not know? He is the All-Pervading, the All-Aware. He made the land submissive to you, so walk its broad trails and eat what it provides.
The Resurrection is to Him.
(Surat al-Mulk, 14-15)

Every creature living on this planet, including human beings, can survive only if numerous conditions are met every moment, such as the existence of oxygen for them to breathe in, water and food for them to sustain their ability to carry out the countless processes. Moreover billions of processes take place in the human body every second. For the continuance of life, every single cell performs its own tasks upon Allah's will. Even one single person's survival, meeting all his physical needs, is bound to infinite number of details. Our Lord with his endless mercy has predetermined and supplied whatever is necessary.

He created human beings and placed them in the most suitable place to live. In return, all that human beings have to do is to be His servants. One manifestation of His name All-Merciful and Most Merciful is His sending of holy books through his Messengers to enable human beings to find the true path, and Prophets to explain the verses in ways that they could understand. In this way, Allah revealed Himself and invited them to the beauties of religious morality and told them how to lead a superior moral life. All of these things are clear evidence of our Lord's endless mercy.

The unbelievers, idolaters, and hypocrites benefit from the air, water, and all blessings that Allah has bestowed, in His endless mercy, upon humanity: property and possessions, a beautiful house and children, sustenance, health, strength, and beauty. These are all manifestations of Allah's infinite mercy. He does so in order to draw all people toward His religion and so that they will think reasonably and thank Him. Those who, nevertheless, continue to reject Allah will find that these blessings will only increase their misery. Those who turn away from Allah will enjoy these blessings throughout this short and temporary earthly life, while in the Hereafter, all of these blessings will belong to the believers who strove to draw near to Allah, earn His favor, and thanked Him without pause. Allah is eternal Justice and has announced the good news of Paradise, adorned with incomparable blessings, to the believers:

"Prescribe good for us in this world and the Hereafter. We have truly turned to You." He said: "As for My punishment, I strike with it anyone I will. My mercy extends to all things, but I will prescribe it for those who guard against evil and give alms, and those who believe in Our Signs. (Surat al-A'raf, 156)

… Gardens of Eden, which the All-Merciful has promised to His servants in the Unseen. His promise is always kept. (Surah Maryam, 61)

He admits whoever He wills into His mercy. But He has prepared a painful punishment for the wrongdoers. (Surat al-Insan, 31)

The Most Beautiful Names of Our Lord

Say: 'Call on Allah or call on the All-Merciful. Whichever you call upon,
the Most Beautiful Names are His.'
(Surat al-Isra, 110)

The name All-Merciful and Most Merciful has a broad and deep meaning which subsumes numerous names of our Lord mentioned in the Qur'an. For example, He is protective and forgiving in His endless mercy toward human beings and grants them incomparable blessings throughout their lives. Through His abundant grace, He provides physical and spiritual blessings; forgives their errors, accepts their repentance, protects them, covers their sin, and guides them on the straight path.

Due to His creation's perfection and superior nature, Allah sustains the life of all creatures, every one of which submits to His supreme intelligence, endless compassion, and mercy. He has given them everything they need to survive in their close proximity, as another indication of His mercy. The Lord is "All-Gentle, Most Merciful" (Surat al-Baqara, 143) towards His creatures:

Do you not see that Allah has made everything on Earth subservient to you, and the ships running upon the sea, by His command? He holds back the heaven, preventing it from falling to Earth – except by His permission. Allah is All-Compassionate to humanity, Most Merciful. (Surat al-Hajj, 65)

He sends down Clear Signs to His servant to bring you out of the darkness to the light. Allah is All-Gentle with you, Most Merciful. (Surat al-Hadid, 9)

From the moment of birth, each person can survive only with Allah's mercy, protection, and help. For example, disasters such as earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, and volcanic eruptions happen all over the world every single minute. In fact such events can happen anywhere at any chosen time. And anyone can fall sick or experience material hardship. And there is a very basic fact that should never be forgotten in the face of such events; no matter how hard people may try, they cannot avoid any of these calamities, and no one can help them for they are all sent by Allah, and only Allah can remove them, for He, as the All-Merciful, is a person's sole protector and helper. Allah, if He wishes so, rescues people from every kind of trouble and calamity and also if He wishes so makes them face all kinds of difficulties.

Say: "Who rescues you from the darkness of the land and sea? You call on Him humbly and secretly: 'If You rescue us from this, we will truly be among the thankful.' " Say: "Allah rescues you from it, and from every plight. Then you associate others with Him." (Surat al-An'am, 63-64)

He [Noah's son] said: "I will take refuge on a mountain; It will protect me from the flood." He [Noah] said: "There is no protection from Allah's command today, except for those upon whom He has mercy."  (Surah Hud, 43)

As for those who show disdain and grow arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment. They will not find any protector or helper for themselves besides Allah. (Surat an-Nisa, 173)

We can see from these verses that only Allah, out of His endless compassion, removes people's anxieties and protects them from disaster. Knowing this, believers take refuge in His endless mercy when confronted with sickness, anxiety, and difficulty, for He provides material and spiritual abundance in this world to those who sincerely believe in and obey Him. He makes a way for them out of their difficulties and removes their anxiety:

Is there anyone who will make Allah a generous loan so that He can multiply it for him [or her] many times over? Allah both restricts and expands. And you will be returned to Him. (Surat al-Baqara, 245)

Your Lord expands and restricts the provision of anyone He wills. He is aware of and sees His servants. (Surat al-Isra, 30)

Being eternal goodness, Allah is good to human beings throughout their lives and gives them things of incomparable goodness and beauty: "Beforehand we certainly used to call on Him because He is the All-Good, the Most Merciful" (Surat at-Tur, 28) Everything that exists comes from Him; all beauty and every fine blessing manifest His intelligence. Like all other beings, each person comes into this world, through His will, as a piece of flesh in its mother's womb, grows and gradually develops a beautiful face, and reflects His wondrous artistry in every detail:

O humanity! What has deu in respect of your Lord Most Beneficent? He Who created you, formed you, proportioned you, and assembled you in whatever way He willed? (Surat al-Infitar, 6-8)

Recite: In the Name of your Lord Who created, created humanity from clots of blood. Recite: And your Lord is the Most Generous, He Who taught by the pen, taught humanity what it did not know. No indeed! Truly humanity is unbridled, seeing itself as self-sufficient. Truly it is to your Lord that you will return. (Surat al-Alaq, 1-8)

In His endless grace, He has given countless blessings to humanity and, in return, expects them to serve Him. Those who turn to Him have sincere belief, serve Him with all their heart in submission, and worship Him with full sincerity. They will receive a great reward in the Afterlife in return for this virtuous behavior, for His kindness is everlasting:

He has given you everything for which you have asked Him. If you tried to number Allah's blessings, you could never count them. Humanity is indeed wrongdoing, ungrateful. (Surah Ibrahim, 34)

Allah is very gentle with His Servants. He provides for anyone He wills.
He is the Most Strong, the Almighty.
(Surat ash-Shura, 19)

Allah has shown His endless compassion in making Islam very easy for people to follow. In His mercy, Allah does not hold people responsible for what they have forgotten or for their lapses. Nor does He saddle the blind, the lame, or the sick with responsibility. He teaches people to be patient and trusting, and removes the load from their shoulders. These examples are given to help those who reject His endless mercy and compassion realize their ungratefulness. In this context, the Qur'an reveals His name Al-Haleem (The All-Clement, The Lenient):

Those of you who turned their backs on the day the two armies clashed – satan made them slip for what they had done. But Allah has pardoned them. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Lenient. (Surah Al 'Imran, 155)

Allah will not take you to task for inadvertent statements in your oaths, but He will take you to task for the intention your hearts have made. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Lenient. (Surat al-Baqara, 225)

The seven heavens and Earth and everyone in them glorify Him. There is nothing that does not glorify Him with praise, but you do not understand their glorification. He is Lenient, Ever-Forgiving. (Surat al-Isra, 44)

Allah keeps a firm hold on the heavens and Earth, preventing them from vanishing. And if they vanished, no one could then keep hold of them. Certainly He is Lenient, Ever-Forgiving. (Surah Fatir, 41)

Allah is eternal Justice and, in the world to come, will be perfectly just in rewarding or punishing people for what they have done. All anxiety, deprivation, and oppression in this world are each a test from Him. His forgiveness is without end, and He will reveal what every person has done and manifest His justice in sensitive scales. Allah reveals in the Qur'an that all oppressors will suffer the consequences of their oppression and that every good deed done here will be rewarded in the Hereafter:

On the Day We summon all people with their records, those who are given their Book in their right hand will read it and will not be wronged by even the smallest speck.  (Surat al-Isra, 71)

Say: "Our Lord will bring us all together and then will judge between us with the truth. He is the Just Decider, the All-Knowing." (Surah Saba, 26)

Those who submit to Allah and strive to earn His favor are content in this world and the Hereafter, a manifestation of His name Al-Lateef (The Gentle, the Subtle). Allah bestows His grace upon His faithful servants to help them in all sorts of difficulties:

Allah is very gentle with His servants. He provides for anyone He wills. He is the Most Strong, the Almighty. (Surat ash-Shura, 19)

Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky and then, in the morning, the land is covered in green? Allah is All-Subtle, All-Aware.  (Surat al-Hajj, 63)

Just as Allah is the believers' only friend and guardian in this world, He will also be their helper in the Hereafter, for in His gentleness He will turn their sins into goodness. Thus, as for the believers in Paradise:

They will say: "Beforehand we used to live in fear among our families. But Allah was gracious to us and safeguarded us from the punishment of the searing wind. Beforehand we certainly used to call on Him, because He is the All-Good, the Most Merciful." (Surat at-Tur, 26-28)

Allah's gifts are many, and He gives them without expecting a return (Surah Sad, 9). Through His gentle kindness, He gives His sincere servants blessings and goodness in this world as a source of delightful rewards and a sign of His grace and generosity:

Say: "All favor is in Allah's Hand, and He gives it to whoever He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. He picks out for His mercy whoever He wills. Allah's favor is indeed immense." (Surah Al 'Imran, 73-74)

Riches, splendor, and goodness are basic characteristics of Paradise. For this reason, Allah creates similar blessings in this world to remind His beloved servants of Paradise and increase their desire and ardor to attain it. Just as unbelievers begin to suffer their eternal torment here, sincere believers are shown here the eternal beauty that has been promised to them. The Qur'an tells us that those who repent and desire something from Allah will be allowed to enjoy both worlds and His generosity:

Ask your Lord for forgiveness and then repent to Him. He will let you enjoy a good life until a specified time and will give His favor to all who merit it. But if you turn your backs, I fear for you the punishment of a Mighty Day. (Surah Hud, 3)

If anyone spontaneously does good, Allah recognizes it and knows it.
(Surat al-Baqara, 158)

Believers are aware of Almighty Allah's eternal power, and therefore they obey His commands and prohibitions, live according to the religion that He has chosen for humanity (Islam), and have hope as regards the Hereafter. In this world, Allah either rewards them with His assistance and generosity or can test them through distress and hardship.

Believers see the good in this and always put their trust in Allah, knowing that He will reward the Muslims because of their goodness in the Hereafter, out of His endless generosity:

Will the reward for doing good be anything other than good? (Surat ar-Rahman, 60)

What will those who invent lies against Allah think on the Day of Rising? Allah shows favor to humanity, but most of them are not thankful. (Surah Yunus, 60)

Nor will they give away any amount, whether large or small. Nor will they cross any valley without it being written down for them, so that Allah can recompense them for the best of what they did. (Surat at-Tawba, 121)

The metaphor of those who spend their wealth in His Way is that of a grain that produces seven ears; in every ear there are a hundred grains. Allah gives such a multiplied increase to whoever He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara, 261)

Satan promises you poverty and commands you to greed. Allah promises you forgiveness and abundance. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. (Surat al-Baqara, 268)

Allah is Endlessly Generous and Accepts Repentance

All people are fallible, forgetful, misjudge situations, and make mistakes. They may not think carefully enough about many things, or may make wrong decisions and then engage in wrong actions. For this reason, Allah's endless mercy and compassion are great blessings. His eternal mercy provides people the chance to repent and reform themselves every time they make a mistake. Those who sincerely desire forgiveness can hope that Allah will grant their prayer, for "Tell My servants that I am the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful" (Surat al-Hijr, 49) In fact, He reveals His readiness to forgive:

Anyone who does evil or wrongs himself [or herself] and then asks Allah's forgiveness will find Him Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.  (Surat an-Nisa, 110)

Anyone who does evil or wrongs himself (or herself) and then asks Allah's forgiveness will find Him Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
(Surat an-Nisa, 110)

Islam teaches that no one is perfect, for each person is weak and prone to sin and error. But since Allah is generous and forgiving, there is no need for despair over an intentional or an unintentional error, for He will accept the repentance of all who take refuge in Allah and do their best not to commit that mistake again. Of course, believers try hard to avoid all mistakes and sins and to stay within the limitations Allah has set for them. Nevertheless, they might make mistakes and sins. To repent and ask for forgiveness after such a behavior is a very favorable characteristic of Muslims. His names At-Tawwab (The Acceptor of Repentance), Al-Ghaffar (The Forgiving), and Ar-Rahman (The All-Merciful) are manifested in penitent believers who repent their mistakes and strive to do better:

When those who believe in Our Signs come to you, say: "Peace be upon you." Allah has made mercy incumbent upon Himself. If anyone among you does evil out of ignorance and then repents and puts things right, He is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat al-An'am, 54)

One of the things that distance people from the Qur'an's morality is the guilt complex that comes from committing sins which makes them begin to see themselves as incorrigible and unmitigated.. Such people, however, forget the name All-Merciful and Most Merciful of Allah, Who informs humanity that He is forgiving and eternally generous. Satan stirs them up by saying that they are sinners who will never be able to remedy their condition, that they should just accept it. Then he draws people into a morass, deceiving them into thinking that since they have sinned already, there is nothing to lose by doing it again. Satan exploits their resulting sense of shame toward Allah in order to distance them totally from Him. But like every wile of satan, this one too is weak, for committing a sin does not disqualify people from finding the straight path. Not only after committing a sin, even if one has committed the biggest sins numerous times, he always has the possibility of becoming a penitent and turning towards Allah. Regardless of the sin committed, Allah has informed us in the Qur'an that He will accept each person's sincere repentance and turning toward Him:

But if anyone repents after his [or her] wrongdoing and puts things right, Allah will turn toward him [or her]. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 39)

As for those who believe and do right actions, they will have forgiveness and a generous provision. (Surat al-Hajj, 50)

Those who fear [and respect] their Lord in the Unseen will have forgiveness and an immense reward. (Surat al-Mulk, 12)

Through His eternal mercy, Allah reveals that everyone is given the possibility to repent. For example, He accepted the repentance of those Jews who, after Moses (pbuh) led them out of Egypt, made a golden idol in the shape of a calf, and worshipped it:

And when Moses said to his people: "My people, You wronged yourselves by adopting the calf, so turn toward your Maker and kill yourselves. That is the best thing for you in your Maker's sight." And He turned toward you. He is the Ever-Returning, the Most Merciful. (Surat al-Baqara, 54)

The Qur'an reveals that Allah will forgive anyone who, after making a mistake inadvertently, sincerely repents and turns toward Him. Allah informs us that no matter how big the dimensions of the flaws committed by the believers, they should never lose their hope of obtaining His mercy if they sincerely repent for what they did:

Say [from Me]: "O My servants, you who have transgressed against yourselves, do not despair of Allah's mercy. Truly, He forgives all wrong actions. He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful." Turn to your Lord and submit to Him before punishment comes upon you, for then you cannot be helped. Follow the best that has been sent down to you from your Lord before the punishment comes upon you suddenly, when you are not expecting it. (Surat az-Zumar, 53-55)

Allah's name Al-Ghaffar (The Forgiving) is one of His greatest and most accessible blessings to humanity. Therefore, it is unseemly for people to despair and to think that after committing all those sins, they will not be able to reform themselves again. Those who disregard Allah's compassion, mercy, and readiness to forgive are unjust to themselves and misunderstand the Qur'an's moral teachings. Those believers who sincerely repent and then abandon their sins raise their station in the Hereafter, for this process has a maturing effect that makes them more aware of their weaknesses and deficiencies, as well as their reality as Allah's servants. The important thing here is immediate repentance, for:

I am Ever-Forgiving to anyone who repents, has faith, acts rightly, and then is guided.  (Surah Ta-Ha, 82)

… except for those who, after that, repent and put things right. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat an-Nur, 5)

But anyone who does right actions, being a believer, need not fear any wrong or belittlement. (Surah Ta-Ha, 112)

Perform prayer, give alms, and obey the Messenger so that, hopefully, mercy will be shown to you.  (Surat an-Nur, 56)

As for those who believe and do right actions, We will erase their bad actions and recompense them for the best of what they did. (Surat al-Ankabut, 7)

… so that Allah can reward them for the best of what they did and give them more from His unbounded favor. Allah provides for anyone He wills without limit.  (Surat an-Nur, 38)

Although people sincerely repent, they may commit the same sin again and again. However, when this sinful habit is finally broken, they may hope that Allah has accepted their repentance – provided that they are sincere. Some people think, mistakenly, that they can repent when they are older. But such an attitude betrays their insincerity:

Allah only accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and then quickly repent afterward. Allah turns toward such people. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. There is no repentance for people who persist in doing evil until death comes to them and then say: "Now I repent," nor for people who die as unbelievers. We have prepared for them a painful punishment.  (Surat an-Nisa, 17-18)

Given these facts, all believers should remember that committing sins should not cause them to fall into sadness and despair, for Allah will accept their sincere repentance and forgive them. Despair does not please Allah, for He tells believers to be joyful and eager to draw close to Him:

Were it not for Allah's favor to you and His mercy ... and that Allah is Ever-Returning, All-Wise.  (Surat an-Nur, 10)

Were it not for Allah's favour to you and His mercy . . . and that Allah is Ever-Returning, All-Wise.
(Surat an-Nur, 10)

Were it not for Allah's favor to you and His mercy ... and that Allah is All-Gentle, Most Merciful. O you who have faith. Do not follow in satan's footsteps. Those who do so should know that he commands indecency and wrongdoing. Were it not for Allah's favor and mercy to you, not one of you would ever have been purified. But Allah purifies whoever He wills. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Those of you are wealthy should not make oaths that they will not give to their relatives, the very poor, and those who have migrated in the way of Allah. Rather, they should pardon and overlook. Would you not love Allah to forgive you? Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.  (Surat an-Nur, 20-22)

In other words, believers always have a sense of Allah's generosity and mercy, for they know that they can live a good life only because of His mercy. One of the main reasons for their sincere prayers, deep faith, and eagerness when giving thanks for their blessings is their intimate sense of every moment of their lives being lived in Allah's name All Merciful, Most Merciful. Those who do not practice the Qur'an's morality and do not appreciate His beautiful names cannot conceive of the splendor of this name, and thus live in a state of pessimism, without joy and hope, and far removed from all of the good and beautiful things coming from belief. When they sin, they do not know that Allah is protective and very forgiving. They do not consider that He forgives those who repent, and that His mercy and compassion are infinite. But believers, on the other hand, always turn to Allah in prayer, repent, and ask forgiveness, knowing that He wants what is best for them. Therefore, He guides them on the straight path, protects them from evil, and shows them endless mercy and grace:

These are Allah's Signs, which We recite to you with truth. Allah desires no wrong for any being. That is on account of what you did. Allah does not wrong His servants.
(Surah Al 'Imran, 182)

Any good thing that happens to you comes from Allah. Any bad thing that happens to you comes from yourself. We have sent you [O Muhammad] to humanity as a Messenger. Allah suffices as a Witness.  (Surat an-Nisa, 79)

Why should Allah punish you if you are thankful and believe? Allah is All-Thankful, All-Knowing.  (Surat an-Nisa, 147)

If it were not for Allah's favor to you and His mercy, all but a very few of you would have followed satan. (Surat an-Nisa, 83)

Allah's mercy toward His servants is evident in His calling out to the unbelievers, through His holy books and messengers, to follow the straight path. He tests them with various anxieties and hardships, hoping that they will turn back to Him. All of the suffering, hardship, anxiety, dryness, and scarcity mentioned in the Qur'an are manifestations of His mercy and compassion toward those who have not yet found the straight path. He offers them a chance to find this path so that they can avoid Hell's eternal pangs:

We seized Pharaoh's people with years of drought and scarcity of fruits so that, hopefully, they would pay heed. (Surat al-A'raf, 130)

We will give them a taste of lesser punishment before the greater punishment so that, hopefully, they will turn back.  (Surat as-Sajda, 21)

If you are ungrateful, Allah is rich beyond need of any of you and is not pleased with ingratitude in His servants. But if you are grateful, He is pleased with you for that. No one can bear another's burden. Then you will return to your Lord, and He will inform you of what you did. He knows what the heart contains. (Surat az-Zumar, 7)

We have never sent a Prophet to any city without seizing its people with hardship and distress so that, hopefully, they might learn humility. (Surat al-A'raf, 94)

The Qur'an tells us that disasters, hardships, and anxieties occur so that people will turn toward Allah, stop denying Him, and repent. Allah has created everything, including these tests, for a good purpose:

When a group of them asked: "Why do you rebuke a people whom Allah is going to destroy or severely punish?" they replied: "So that we have an excuse to present to your Lord, and so that, hopefully, they will take heed." (Surat al-A'raf, 164)

We sent Messengers to nations before you and afflicted them with hardship and distress so that, hopefully, they would humble themselves. (Surat al-An'am, 42)

The Qur'an states that Allah sends various warnings to people so that"hopefully, they will take heed" and "hopefully, they would humble themselves." In other words, He wants to include them in His mercy and in Paradise. The fact that He forgives their sins and provides them with countless opportunities to repent shows His great mercy and generosity:

If Allah were to punish people for their wrong actions, not a single creature would be left upon Earth. But, He defers them [His punishment] until a predetermined time. When their specified time arrives, they cannot delay it for a single hour nor can they bring it forward. (Surat an-Nahl, 61)

Your Lord is the Ever-Forgiving, the Possessor of Mercy. If He had taken them to task for what they have earned, He would have hastened their punishment. Instead, they have a promised appointment and will not find any refuge from it. (Surat al-Kahf, 58)

Therefore, it is never too late for people to become true servants of Allah through sincere repentance and striving to draw closer to Him. There is no need to dwell on past sins, for the believers have learned the appropriate lessons and have abandoned them:

Allah has pardoned all that took place in the past. But if anyone does it again, Allah will take revenge on him [or her]. Allah is Almighty, the Lord of Retribution.  (Surat Al-Ma'ida, 95)

Say to those who do not believe that if they stop, they will be forgiven what is past. But if they return to it, they have the example of previous peoples [who were punished for what they did]. (Surat al-Anfal, 38)

Allah grants everyone a period of grace during which they can receive whatever advice and encouragement they need (Surah Fatir, 37). He sends messengers to warn and incite fear and awe and, through them, reveal His will. But in spite of this, those who persist in unbelief will certainly receive the pay for what they have done. Those who are unaware of His countless manifestations as the All-Merciful and Most Merciful and do not praise Him will be repaid in the most appropriate and just manner:

Say: "As for those who are astray, let the All-Merciful prolong their term until they see what they were promised, whether it be the punishment or the Hour. Then they will know who is in the worse position and has the weaker troops."(Surah Maryam, 75)

The Qur'an: A Manifestation of Allah's Mercy

The Qur'an is Allah's generous gift to humanity, a great manifestation of His name the All Merciful, Most Merciful. The Qur'an is the main source from which people will learn about the true religion. The Qur'an is the word of Allah, Who created the universe from nothing, has perfect knowledge of everything, and has infinite mercy. The Qur'an is a blessing from our Lord:

… A revelation from the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful, a Book whose verses have been explained in detail, for people who know, as a Qur'an in Arabic. (Surah Fussilat, 2-3)

We have sent down the Book to you so that you can make clear to them those things about which they differ, and as a guidance and a mercy to believers. (Surat an-Nahl, 64)

On that Day, We will raise up among every community a witness against them from among themselves and bring you as a witness against them. We have sent down the Book to you, making all things clear and as guidance and mercy and good news for the Muslims. (Surat an-Nahl, 89)

We have brought them a Book elucidating everything with knowledge, as guidance and a mercy for believers.  (Surat al-A'raf, 52)

Allah, in a great manifestation of His mercy, sent down books to teach people, explain His decrees, and reveal Himself to them. Through His own words and wisdom, He showed them what they did not know. When these holy books were corrupted, He sent new messengers and revealed that the Qur'an would be protected until the Day of Judgment.

We have sent down to you a
Book containing your Reminder.
So will you not use your intellect?
(Surat al-Anbiya, 10)

The Qur'an is Allah's last divinely revealed book, and Allah's protection of it is a mercy to humanity:

Nor can you say: "If the Book had been sent down to us, We would have been better guided than they were." For a Clear Sign has come to you from your Lord, and guidance and mercy. Who could do greater wrong than someone who denies Allah's Signs and turns away from them? We will repay those who turn away from Our Signs with the worst kind of punishment, because they turned away. (Surat al-An'am, 157)

The Qur'an's simple and clear style enables everyone to understand its perfect wisdom. Therefore, they can learn from the Qur'an's contents by reading and understanding the wisdom within the Qur'an concerning life in this world and the Hereafter:

"We have sent down to you a Book containing your Reminder. So, will you not use your intellect?" (Surat al-Anbiya, 10) and "We have not omitted anything from the Book" (Surat al-An'am, 38).

The Qur'an, which contains clear truths and is a sure guide to the straight path, reveals the truest knowledge on every truth that Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).

Therefore, those who live by the Qur'an and the Prophet's sayings (hadiths) will obtain Allah's mercy and guidance:

This Qur'an guides to the most upright Way and gives good news to the believers who do right actions that they will have a large reward. (Surat al-Isra, 9)

This is clear insight for humanity and guidance and mercy for people with certainty. (Surat al-Jathiyya, 20)

Those who choose the Qur'an and our Prophet's way (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) will lead a life that is not like that of the unbelievers. For example, they are not anxious, discontented, fearful, worried, despairing, pessimistic, or overcome by panic in difficult situations. They always conform to Allah's decrees, regardless of the surrounding circumstances.

Their every decision, word, and action indicates that they follow the Qur'an's moral teachings. As a result, they always have a clear conscience and experience the ensuing spiritual contentment, well-being, and joy that Allah, in His mercy, grants those who live according to the Qur'an's moral teachings:

O humanity! Admonition has come to you from your Lord, as well as healing for what is in the breasts and guidance, and mercy for the believers. (Surah Yunus, 57)

In the Qur'an, Allah speaks clearly about truth and error so that those on the straight path can listen to their conscience, avoid their hearts' selfish desires, and thereby obey His decrees in order to find the truth. The Qur'an is full of wisdom, and thus can be easily understood by people of every age and every level of education.

Every well-intentioned and sincere person whom Allah has guided to the straight path can easily understand its message and implement it in their thoughts and actions. This is yet another wonderful manifestation of Allah's name All-Merciful and Most Merciful: "The Qur'an was sent down as guidance for humanity, with Clear Signs containing guidance and discrimination. " (Surat al-Baqara, 185)

The Qur'an's moral teaching correspond to the innate nature of human beings, all of whom He created and are objects of His endless mercy and compassion. Everyone who does not realize this fact lives in a state of material and, more importantly, spiritual anxiety.

If the truth were to follow their whims and desires, the heavens and Earth, as well as everyone in them, would have been brought to ruin. No indeed! We have given them their Reminder, but they have turned away from it. (Surat al-Muminun, 71)

But only those who fear and respect Allah and His power, who sincerely submit to Him and prefer the Hereafter to this world, take advice and counsel from the Qur'an:

We did not send down the Qur'an to you to make you miserable, but only as a reminder for those who have fear [and respect for Him]. (Surah Ta Ha, 2-3)

This is an important secret of the Qur'an. People do not need to have great intelligence or skill to understand the Qur'an; it is enough that they are sincere and well-intentioned. The All-Merciful's mercy will allow all people to understand everything. Allah reveals the straight path to His sincere servants and allows them to attain salvation by practicing the Qur'an's moral teachings.

The Qur'an has been sent to all humanity, but it guides to the straight path only for those who fear and respect Allah and who believe in the Hereafter. As mentioned earlier, it is a proof of His compassion for His sincere servants:

"Am I to desire someone other than Allah as a judge, when it is He Who has sent down the Book to you clarifying everything?" Those to whom We have given the Book know it has been sent down from your Lord with truth, so on no account be among the doubters. (Surat al-An'am, 114)

When the Qur'an is recited, listen to it and be quiet so that,
hopefully, you will gain mercy.
(Surat al-A'raf, 204)

On that Day, We will raise up among every community a witness against them from among themselves, and bring you as a witness against them. We have sent down the Book to you making all things clear, and as guidance and mercy and good news for the Muslims. (Surat an-Nahl, 89)

Those are the Signs of the Wise Book. Guidance and mercy for the good-doers. (Surah Luqman, 2-3)

O humanity! Admonition has come to you from your Lord and also healing for what is in the breasts, and guidance and mercy for the believers. (Surah Yunus, 57)

Allah tells us that the Qur'an is a book of counsel for all people, a guide to the straight path for sincere believers who respect His power, and a book that contains sublime wisdom and gives true knowledge of the past and the future. Its incomparable style pierces the veil that hides the human propensity for error. Since it is eternally valid, all believers are determined to follow its decrees and the Prophet's (May Allah bless him and grant him peace) example.

The Qur'an is Al-Furqan, the distinguisher between right and wrong, truth and falsehood: "Right guidance has become clearly distinct from error" (Surat al-Baqara, 256) Therefore, believers do not try to find a middle road between its moral teachings and a life of ignorance; they follow only the Truth: the Qur'an.

Knowing that the Qur'an manifests His name All Merciful, Most Merciful and thus proves His endless mercy toward all people, they obey Allah's command to cling to its moral teachings:

So hold fast to what has been revealed to you. You are on a straight path. It is certainly a reminder to you and to your people, and you will be questioned. (Surat az-Zukhruf, 43-44)

That is the Book, without any doubt. It contains guidance for those who guard against evil. (Surat all-Baqara, 2)