Part of Concepts of Ahl as-Sunnah (series completed)
· Lesson 100 of 1251
Summary of Sunni concepts | Concept (98) | The names of God (the Most Gracious) and (the Most Merciful) and the difference between them
0:000:00
Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
0:00
A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
0:09
The names of Allah, al-Rahman (the Most Merciful) and al-Rahim (the Bestower of Mercy), and the distinction between them.
0:14
The attribute of mercy is established for Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, through the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
0:20
It is an attribute of perfection befitting the Essence of Allah, glory be to Him, just like all His other attributes.
0:27
Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, has been described as al-Rahman in the Noble Qur'an.
0:31
Approximately forty-five times.
0:34
This is in addition to its mention in the Basmalah at the beginning of every surah.
0:38
Among these instances is the saying of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic:
0:41
"The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy."
0:43
And His saying, exalted be He:
0:45
"And your god is one God."
0:48
“Your Allah is One Allah; there is no Allah save Him, the Beneficent, the Merciful.” (2:163)
0:52
Likewise, Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, has been described as al-Rahim in the Noble Qur'an.
0:57
Approximately one hundred and thirty-two times.
1:01
This is in addition to its mention in the Basmalah at the beginning of every surah.
1:05
Among these instances is the saying of Allah, exalted be He:
1:08
"The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy."
1:10
And His saying, exalted be He:
1:12
“Announce, (O Muhammad) unto My slaves that verily I am the Forgiving, the Merciful,” (15:49)
1:17
Scholars have distinguished between the two names,
1:20
al-Rahman and al-Rahim,
1:22
through the following differences:
1:24
First:
1:25
That al-Rahman
1:27
is the One whose mercy encompasses all creation in this world,
1:31
and specifically the believers in the Hereafter, in addition to that.
1:35
Whereas the name al-Rahim
1:37
is specific to the believers only.
1:39
As He, exalted be He, said:
1:41
"And He is ever, to the believers, Merciful."
1:44
Since the placement of the prepositional phrase,
1:48
"to the believers,"
1:49
indicates that the mercy is exclusive to them,
1:51
and restricted to them.
1:53
Thus, the meaning is:
1:55
He was merciful to the believers, and not to others.
1:58
Second:
2:00
That al-Rahman indicates the essential mercy inherent to the Essence of Allah, exalted be He,
2:06
while al-Rahim
2:08
indicates Allah’s active mercy as it relates to the one receiving that mercy.
2:13
Third:
2:16
It is not permissible for anyone to be named or described as al-Rahman,
2:20
for it is a name exclusive to Allah, the Almighty and Majestic.
2:23
Whereas it is permissible to describe one of the creation as being rahim (merciful).
2:28
A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.