The Significance of Ar-Rahman And Ar-Raheem

BismillahirRahmanirRahim.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

We always say BismillahirRahmanirRahim before we start activity.

Do you know Ar-Rahman (الرحمن) and Ar-Raheem (الرحيم) both come from the same root letter ra – ha – meem (ر – ح – م), both contains the meaning of mercy, compassion, grace, gentle, love. But what’s the difference between Ar-Rahman (الرحمن) and Ar-Raheem (الرحيم) and what’s the significance?

One day Ibn ‘Abbas r.a. was asked what’s the difference between Ar-Rahman (الرحمن) and Ar-Raheem (الرحيم)?

Concisely, Ibn ‘Abbas replied Ar-Rahman (الرحمن) is for this world and Ar-Raheem (الرحيم) is for the hereafter.

How so? We would ask.

The difference is that the word Ar-Rahman (الرحمن) is using the core pattern of Isim Mubalaghah فَعْلَان ( traditionally and commonly known as seeghah mubhalaghah) which gives the meaning of extremely.

While Ar-Raheem (الرحيم) is using the core pattern of Isim Sifah فَعِيْل (traditionally and commonly known as sifah musyabbahah) which gives the meaning of everlastingly.

That which is extreme is not necessarily everlasting.

Like when we are hungry (جَوْعَان) we are extremely hungry. But the moment we get food the feeling of hunger disappears.

While Allah s.w.t. is extremely gracious and merciful to very single creation and creatures in this universe, including those who refuse to believe in Him.

Only those who truly believe in Him will get His eternal mercy, compassion, grace, gentleness and love in hereafter.

That which is extreme is not necessarily everlasting.

So the significance of BismillahirRahmanirRahim is that when we read it we are combining both extreme mercy and everlasting mercy in one sentence. When we read it we are praying that Allah s.w.t. bless us with His extreme mercy as well as everlasting mercy in the activity that we do.

That which is extreme is not necessarily everlasting. But in bismillahirRahmanirRahim we pray and hope that Allah mercy, compassion, grace, gentleness and love is both extreme and everlasting for us all.

Wallahua’alam.