Allah has Prescribed Mercy for Himself
Allah Ta'ala said in the Holy Quran :
وَ اِذَا جَآءَكَ الَّذِيْنَ يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاٰيٰتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلٰي نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ اَنَّهٗ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنْكُمْ سُوْٓءًۢا بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِهٖ وَ اَصْلَحَ فَاَنَّهٗ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِيْمٌ.
"When those who believe in Our verses come to you, say to them, “Peace on you. Your Lord has prescribed for himself mercy, so that if any one of you does an evil deed out of ignorance and thereafter repents and mends his ways, then (you will see that) He is most-forgiving, very merciful." Surah Al-Ana'am(6):54
Allah ta'ala said in this verse, "Your Lord has prescribed for Himself mercy." Allah ta'ala treats his creatures with kindness and grace. Mankind always needs all kinds of mercy and grace from Allah ta'ala, in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. Without mercy and grace of Allah ta'ala, they will not live for a moment in this world and in the Hereafter, they will be entirely destroyed. However, Allah ta'ala is always so kind and merciful to his servants that He bestows all kinds of blessings upon them, although they do not obey the commands of Allah.
Allah ta'ala never wrongs anyone. If He were to treat His servants with justice instead of mercy in this world and the Hereafter, then the servants would face endless problems. That is why Allah has prescribed mercy for himself.
Allah Ta'ala said in the Holy Quran:
وَ لَوْ لَا فَضْلُ اللهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ رَحْمَتُهٗ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْاٰخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيْ مَاۤ اَفَضْتُمْ فِيْهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيْمٌ
"And had it not been for the grace of Allah upon you, and his mercy in this world and in the hereafter, a great punishment would have reached you for what you got indulged in-" Surah An-Nur (24):14
The grace of Allah encompasses all creatures. None in this world is deprived of the grace of Allah. He shows mercy on the infidels just as he does to the Muslims. He blesses those who are obedient to him. He doesn't deprive those who are disobedient to him of his mercy. His mercy encompasses all regardless of whether they are believers, unbelievers, sinners, or virtuous. He bestows upon everyone innumerable blessings including sustenance, health, security etc.
Allah Ta'ala said in the holy Quran :
قَالَ عَذَابِيْۤ اُصِيْبُ بِهٖ مَنْ اَشَآءُ وَ رَحْمَتِيْ وَ سِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ.
"He said, 'As for my punishment, I afflict with it whom I will. And my mercy extends to every-thing." Surah Al-A'raaf (7):156
If someone commits a sin, Allah does not punish them instantly. This is a great mercy and favor of Allah Ta'ala towards the servants. He will bestow even more on His servants in the hereafter. On that day, He will reveal his supremacy in forgiveness and mercy. He will forgive the believers in general. He will forgive innumerable people innumerable ways.
That is why one of the most important attributes of Allah Ta'ala is Arrahman (The All-Merciful) and Arrahim (The Very-Merciful). Allah ta'ala's mercy and grace have been mentioned in different ways in the Holy Qur'an. In more than a hundred verses, Allah’s grace and mercy have been mentioned.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لَمَّا قَضَى اللهُ الْخَلْقَ، كَتَبَ فِي كِتَابِهِ، فَهُوَ عِنْدَهُ فَوْقَ الْعَرْشِ: إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي سَبَقَتْ غَضَبِي.
"When Allah created the creation, He wrote in His book, which is with Him over the Throne: Verily, My mercy predominates over My anger.'' (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith :3194, 7404; Sahih Muslim, Hadith :2751)
Moreover he said:
إِنَّ اللهَ خَلَقَ الرَّحْمَةَ يَوْمَ خَلَقَهَا مِائَةَ رَحْمَةٍ، فَأَمْسَكَ عِنْدَهُ تِسْعًا وَتِسْعِينَ رَحْمَةً، وَأَرْسَلَ فِي خَلْقِهِ كُلِّهِمْ رَحْمَةً وَاحِدَةً.
"Verily, when Allah created mercy, He divided it into one-hundred parts. He kept with him ninety-nine parts, and sent down only one part to all his creatures." (Sahih al-Bukhari : 6469, Sahih Muslim : 2752)
Because of that single part, all the creatures have shown and will show kindness and mercy, from the beginning of the world to the doomsday. The rest of ninety-nine parts belong to Allah Ta'ala. The Great Being of Allah Ta'ala is the bearer of ninety-nine parts of mercy and He manifests it in all things.
Narrated Abu Huraira (R.A): Allah's Apostle stood up for the prayer and we too stood up along with him. Then a Bedouin shouted while offering prayer. O Allah! Bestow Your Mercy on me and Muhammad only and do not bestow it on anybody else along with us. When the Prophet had finished his prayer, he said to the Bedouin, You have limited (narrowed) a very vast (thing), meaning Allah's Mercy. (Sahih Al Bukhari 1: Chapter 79, Hadith:6010)
Allah Ta'ala wants this quality of kindness and grace to be spread in the nature of all his creations.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمُ الرَّحْمنُ، ارْحَمُوا مَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ.
“Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī :1924, Sunan Abi Dawud: 4941)
He also said:
لاَ يَرْحَمُ اللهُ مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُ النَّاسَ.
"Allah will show mercy to him who does not show mercy to others." (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 7376; Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2319)
When one shows mercy to others, Allah becomes very pleased. It is important for everyone to possess this characteristic of showing kindness and mercy to others, so that, Allah will show them more mercy and compassion.
Translated by Ojayer
