of Nokounam, (Session 1660)
The Holy Quran, as a Book of guidance and mercy, beautifully depicts two fundamental divine attributes in its verses: mercy and severity. Mercy, like an infinite ocean, encompasses all beings and guides humanity towards perfection and a good life. Severity, like a steadfast pillar, rises in defence of truth and justice against disbelief and hypocrisy. This treatise, by reflecting upon the luminous verses of the Holy Quran, explores these two concepts and, with profound insight, elucidates their position within the epistemological and practical framework of Islam. Its purpose is to present, through Quranic verses and analyses, a clear depiction of divine mercy as an inherent and all-encompassing attribute, and severity as strength and resilience against adversaries, thereby resolving any misunderstandings concerning religious concepts.
Divine mercy is an intrinsic attribute that, like a radiant sun, illuminates all creation. In the Holy Quran, the attribute Arham al-Rahimin (Most Merciful of the merciful) is employed as one of the compound divine names in six instances, signifying the utmost kindness and grace of the Lord. This attribute portrays mercy not only as protection against harm and affliction but also as a constructive and guiding force.
رَبِّ إِنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ (Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayah 83)
"My Lord, indeed adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful."
This verse recounts the cry of the Prophet Job (peace be upon him) at a moment of distress, imploring the boundless divine mercy to alleviate his affliction. The attribute Arham al-Rahimin in this verse is juxtaposed against harm and deficiency, illustrating that divine mercy is the pathfinder through difficulties and the guide towards perfection. In another verse, the Holy Quran states:
وَيَغْفِرُ لَكُمْ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ (Surah Yusuf, Ayah 92)
"And He pardons you, and He is the Most Merciful of the merciful."
This verse links mercy with forgiveness, demonstrating that divine mercy not only eradicates deficiencies but also facilitates pardon and guidance. Contrary to erroneous beliefs that regard poverty and illness as inherently meritorious, divine mercy is incompatible with affliction and lack. A faithful individual, rather than passively accepting hardships, should strive through supplication, prayer, and effort to overcome deficiencies. The notion that enduring poverty or sickness in itself merits reward stems from cultural distortions propagated by certain factions under the guise of religion. The Quranic patience is a rational endurance accompanied by endeavour for improvement, not a superstitious tolerance leading to passivity.
The attribute Rahman, mentioned 57 times in the Quran and 114 times in the phrase Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim, is the most extensive divine attribute after the name Allah. This attribute, like an infinite sky, encompasses all beings and manifests the expansiveness of the Lords existence.
قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَٰنَ (Surah Al-Isra, Ayah 110)
"Say, 'Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful.'"
This verse establishes the equivalence of Allah and Rahman, emphasising that Rahman is the most comprehensive divine title encompassing all attributes of perfection. Rahman stands in opposition to disbelief, Satan, and deficiencies, and is associated with piety, purity, and authority. The Holy Quran further states:
إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنْكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَقِيًّا (Surah Maryam, Ayah 18)
"Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, if you should be fearing [Allah]."
This verse positions Rahman against crookedness and filth, showing that this attribute is concomitant with purity and piety. Contrary to some mystical views that regard misguidance and affliction as part of divine mercy, the Quran explicitly states that Satan was disobedient to the Most Merciful:
وَالشَّيْطَانُ كَانَ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ عَصِيًّا (Surah Maryam, Ayah 44)
"And Satan was disobedient to the Most Merciful."
Rahman is an attribute that inspires strength, vitality, and steadfastness within believers and invites them to embody divine ethics. Like a firm pillar, this attribute guides the faithful towards authority and nobility, distancing them from weakness and deviation.
Repentance, like a golden key, opens the gate of divine mercy to the sinner. The Holy Quran introduces repentance not only as a means for forgiveness but also as a pathway to transforming sins into virtues.
إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ (Surah Al-Furqan, Ayah 70)
"Except for those who repent, believe, and do righteous work. For them, Allah will replace their evil deeds with good."
This verse depicts the greatness of divine mercy whereby even the gravest sins from disbelief and polytheism to apostasy are not only forgiven through repentance and faith but transformed into virtues. This transformation, like the change from a dark night to a bright day, reflects the vastness of divine mercy, which deems no sin greater than itself. Contrary to certain theological perspectives that consider repentance impossible for some sins, the Holy Quran emphasises that no sin is beyond return. This truth encourages hope and endeavour for reform, dispelling all despair.
The attribute Ashidd in the Holy Quran signifies strength and firmness in defence of truth and reality. In the context of war and protection of religion, this attribute acts as a strong shield, empowering believers against their enemies.
مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ (Surah Al-Fath, Ayah 29)
"Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are severe against disbelievers, merciful among themselves."
This verse describes the believers alongside the Prophet (peace be upon him) with two distinct attributes: severity against disbelievers and mercy among themselves. Severity here denotes strength, authority, and firmness in defending the religion, not reprehensible violence coupled with cruelty and oppression. The believers portrayed in this verse are individuals of faith, piety, and signs of prostration who seek closeness to God through bowing and prostration. These qualities are incompatible with violence, which stems from ill-manners and a culture of tyrants, not Quranic teachings.
Severity and violence are two distinct concepts. Severity is like tightening a firm screw, representing firmness and strength; violence, however, is associated with cruelty and oppression. For example, marble stone, which is solid and polished, has severity but is not violent, whereas pumice is abrasive but lacks severity. This distinction illustrates that Quranic severity signifies strength in faith and defence of truth, not condemnable violence.
