Allah's Mercy for Those Who Believe.

A reflection on Ar-Raheem.

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"Where does mercy dwell they ask"

I find it in the hearts softened by His words, guided by His remembrance.

In the way one sincere repentance is answered by an ocean of forgiveness.

Unlike the previous name Ar-Rahman, which encompasses mercy for all creation, Ar-Raheem is specifically tailored towards the Muslims. It is a special mercy reserved for them. For the ones who believe in His oneness. The ones who try and turn back to Him in repentance.

Can you ever imagine this world without the door to forgiveness ? A life where after every sin, your chance was gone? Without a way to amend what has been done wrong ?

But in His infinite mercy, He opened a way back for us whenever we fall. He is the One that holds your heart firmly from within when it's in the verge of breaking into pieces.

Allah doesn't just forgive, He restores the peace within your soul. He mends that which had been broken and removes the guilt that had consumed the heart. Despite hands full of good deeds, it is His mercy we will forever be in need of as illustrated in the following Hadith:

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise." (i.e., None can enter Paradise through his good deeds.) They (the Prophet's companions) said, 'Not even you, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?' He said, "Not even myself, unless Allah bestows His favor and mercy on me." So be moderate in your religious deeds and do the deeds that are within your ability: and none of you should wish for death, for if he is a good doer, he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to Allah." (Sahih al-Bukhari 5673)

Now one might think, wait what? Even the best of mankind, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), the one who had been freed from all past and future sins, he would also be in need of Allah's mercy that day?

And yet, it was he ﷺ who stood the longest in prayer until his feet were swollen. Who wept the most in the stillness of the night not only for himself but also for his Ummah. Who sought forgiveness more than a hundred times a day. Why?

Because he ﷺ knew better than any of us can comprehend the sheer weight of Allah's mercy, and how utterly dependent we all are on it on a day there will be no mercy except His.

If he ﷺ didn't rely on his deeds, then who are we to ever think our good deed alone would carry us through?

One's heart should humble knowing Paradise, isn't so easily earned, it's a special gift, one that needs to be gained with consistent effort, sacrifice and patience.

But this certainly doesn't mean we stop striving to even do them in the first place. It doesn't mean we lose hope or give in to despair. Our actions which in turn are judged by our intentions is what will lead us to be blessed with His mercy. Seeking His forgiveness for not being able to perform the good to the best of it's ability and for our sins is what will soften our hearts and remove the pride within. Constantly keeping the tongue moist with His remembrance and praising Him is what will make those scales of good deeds heavy.

Because while our deeds alone may not save us, they are our proof of longing to return to Him, our love for Him, and of hoping for His mercy.

For He is Ar-Raheem accepts the smallest act done with a sincere heart and multiplies it far beyond what it's worth.

And in the end, it is His mercy that carries us home.

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