Rahma
Definition
Rahma — mercy and compassion — is the quality the Quran explicitly names as the Prophet's ﷺ defining characteristic in his relationship to humanity: 'We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.' Al-Ghazali presents the prophetic rahma as comprehensive: it extended to children (whom he treated with extraordinary gentleness), to women (whose rights he championed in a culture that largely ignored them), to non-Muslims (who found in him a fair and honest interlocutor), to animals (who had specific protections under his leadership), and to his enemies (who he forgave at the conquest of Makkah rather than punishing). This mercy is the character that the Muslim following his ﷺ example is aspiring to develop.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Rahma.
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"And if you are among those brought near who have reached Him, mighty and majestic — those whom providence has overtaken, whom His care has enfolded, whom love has drawn, and whom mercy and compassion have reached — Then show good manners, and do not be deceived by your state, lest you fall short in service, nor behave poorly in service, nor cling to the original folly of ignorance, injustice, and haste, as in His saying: "And man bore it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant." Surah Al-Ahzab: 33:72, and His saying: "...and man is ever hasty." Surah Al-Isra: 17:11."
— Shaykh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Futūḥ al-Ghayb — Revelations of the Unseen
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"Secondly, Allah forbade His servants from showing mercy towards adulterers in a way that would prevent the prescribed punishments. His mercy and compassion led to this legislation, and His mercy did not stop Him from commanding this punishment. Therefore, compassion should not prevent carrying out His command. This is emphasized for the punishment of fornication due to the tendency of people to be more forgiving towards adulterers than other criminals. This compassion should not lead to neglecting Allah's prescribed punishment."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, The Disease and The Cure
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"Reflect on the words of the mother: "Do not compel me with your disobedience to act contrary to the mercy and compassion I am naturally inclined to." And consider the saying of the Prophet مُحَمَّد, peace be upon him: "اللّٰه is more merciful to His servants than a mother is to her child." Where does a mother's mercy stand in comparison to the mercy of اللّٰه, which encompasses everything?"
— Ibn al-Qayyim, Volume One
Appears in
2 books in the library
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