Al Rahman, Al Raheem

Throughout the day, we tend to say Bismillahil Rahmanil Raheem ALOT. During prayers, before we start things and more. Plus Al Rahman, Al Raheem is said in every Fatiha we say.

All my life, I've always know Rahman to mean "Most Gracious" and Raheem "Most Merciful".  Generic but simple and clear.

Well, pardon me for being slow to get it- but they both stem from the same root word= Rahima 

DUH!!!! My hindsight is reeling and slapping me for just now getting this OBVIOUS thing.

Rahima (رحم) : To love, have tenderness, have mercy, pity, forgiveness, show goodness, and favour. 

Rahman and Raheem both stem from this word all about love and mercy. They are the same word BUT they are also different.

Rahman (رحمن) is love and mercy that is given before we ask, without regard to our effort. Allah, being Al-Rahman, gives us love and mercy before we ask for it. We surely did not ask for our eyes,mental faculty and such but we are given it. In the Quran, the Quran is referred to as Rahman, a mercy. A holy guidance given to us even though we did not ask for it. Rahman is any mercy and love Allah has given us, is giving us and will give us regardless if we ask for it or not. Amazing!

Certainly, defining it as "most gracious" is not enough.  

Raheem (رحيم) is love and mercy given to us when we ask or as a result of our actions. It is what Allah bestows on us based on our deeds and our prayers/supplications.


Rahman is what we are given even though we did not ask or didn't even know we needed. And Raheem is what we are given because we wanted it and worked for it. 

I thank Allah for all the blessings He has given all of us, the ones we know and those we don't know. Ya Allah, please continue to be merciful to us and shower us with blessings. Amin