Quranic verse, translation and commentary at iSerat
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Surah Al-Fatihah — Verse 3
الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
The All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful
The Lord whose mercy knows no bounds
In the preceding verse, God was described as the Lord of all worlds. Now we hear again the two names Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim, which appeared at the beginning of the surah.
In Bismillah, these names opened our words to God. Here, following the praise of God and the recognition of His lordship, they draw attention to something more: God's lordship is joined with mercy.
Power and ownership alone do not guarantee kindness. In human life, some people possess power yet use it selfishly or unjustly. Knowing that God is the Lord of the universe is therefore not all we need to know about Him.
The third verse adds another dimension: the Lord of all worlds is Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim.
He is not only the Creator and Sustainer of the world but also the source of mercy and goodness for His creatures.
Mercy that reaches widely and endures
Both Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim speak of mercy. Placed together, however, they remind us of different aspects of God's compassion and care.
Ar-Rahman emphasises the abundance and breadth of divine mercy. Life, sustenance, abilities and the means by which living things continue to exist all reflect this far-reaching mercy.
The Quran declares, “My mercy embraces all things” وَاكْتُبْ لَنَا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدْنَا إِلَيْكَ قَالَ عَذَابِي أُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ بِآيَاتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَOrdain good for us in this world and the Hereafter; we have turned back to You. He said, 'I bring My punishment upon whom I will, but My mercy embraces all things. I shall therefore ordain it for those who are mindful of Me, give the prescribed charity and believe in Our signs.'.
Such mercy is not reserved for people who believe. Believers and non-believers alike receive many of the blessings of creation.
Alongside Ar-Rahman, the name Ar-Rahim also brings to mind the continuity and enduring nature of divine mercy. The Quran speaks of particular mercy towards believers, expressed in their guidance and good end هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًاHe is the One who bestows blessing upon you, and His angels do likewise, to bring you out of darkness into light. He is merciful to the believers..
Yet we should not suppose that Ar-Rahim refers only to mercy specifically for believers wherever it appears in the Quran. God is also described as kind and merciful towards humanity more broadly وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنْتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّنْ يَنْقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌThus We made you a balanced community, so that you may bear witness over humankind and the Messenger may bear witness over you. We established the direction of prayer you formerly faced only to distinguish those who follow the Messenger from those who turn back. This change was difficult except for those God guided. God would never let your faith go to waste: God is truly compassionate and merciful towards people..
These two names should not be separated as though they referred to two entirely unrelated kinds of mercy. Both describe the one God. Together they emphasise the breadth, abundance and lasting character of His mercy.
Mercy is more than material blessings
We should not look for God's mercy only in the material blessings of life.
At the beginning of Surah Ar-Rahman, God is introduced by this same name. The surah then immediately speaks of His teaching the Quran, creating the human being and teaching human expression الرَّحْمَٰنُThe All-Merciful.عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَHe taught the Quran.خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَHe created the human being.عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَHe taught him expression..
These verses remind us that guidance and teaching are also expressions of divine mercy, alongside creation and the blessings that sustain life.
God has not only given people the possibility of living. He has also opened before them the paths of understanding, choosing and finding guidance.
Divine mercy is not simply the fulfilment of today's needs. It also guides us towards goodness and a fulfilment whose value we may not yet fully understand.
At the same time, believing in God's mercy does not mean claiming to know with certainty the wisdom behind every pain or hardship. Our understanding remains limited. Hope in divine mercy should never weaken our compassion for those who suffer or our efforts to relieve injustice and difficulty.
Hope joined with responsibility
In the next verse, after the mention of God's mercy, the surah speaks of His authority over the Day of Judgement.
This order invites a more balanced understanding of our Lord. He is abundantly and enduringly merciful, and the Day of Reckoning is also under His authority.
Divine mercy gives us hope. But hope does not make our choices and actions unimportant.
The Quran tells even those who have wronged themselves not to despair of God's mercy قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُSay: 'My servants who have wronged themselves, do not despair of God's mercy. God forgives all sins. He is indeed the Forgiving, the Merciful.'. In the very next verse, it calls them to return and surrender to their Lord وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنْصَرُونَTurn back to your Lord and submit to Him before punishment reaches you; then you will not be helped..
Divine mercy opens the way back; it does not remove human responsibility.
Knowing God's mercy can keep us from despair, give us hope that we can change our conduct, and help us find strength to continue along the right path through life's difficulties.
From understanding mercy to conscious worship
We can now see the connection between these verses more clearly.
First, we praised God. Then we recognised Him as the Lord of all worlds. Now we understand that this Lord is the All-Merciful and the Ever-Merciful.
Such knowledge gives worship a deeper foundation.
Someone who knows only of God's greatness and power may relate to Him chiefly through fear. But when that person also recognises His mercy, hope and trust can take a more profound place in that relationship.
Soon we will say, “You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.”
These words are addressed to the Lord whose mercy has already been made known.
Seen this way, the renewed mention of Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim is more than a repetition of two familiar names. It helps us understand the Lord of all worlds through His mercy and turn towards Him with greater hope and confidence.
Conscious worship grows not only from knowing God's power. Knowing His mercy also prepares the heart to worship, trust and return to Him.
The Lord whose mercy knows no bounds
In the preceding verse, God was described as the Lord of all worlds. Now we hear again the two names Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim, which appeared at the beginning of the surah.
In Bismillah, these names opened our words to God. Here, following the praise of God and the recognition of His lordship, they draw attention to something more: God's lordship is joined with mercy.
Power and ownership alone do not guarantee kindness. In human life, some people possess power yet use it selfishly or unjustly. Knowing that God is the Lord of the universe is therefore not all we need to know about Him.
The third verse adds another dimension: the Lord of all worlds is Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim.
He is not only the Creator and Sustainer of the world but also the source of mercy and goodness for His creatures.
Mercy that reaches widely and endures
Both Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim speak of mercy. Placed together, however, they remind us of different aspects of God's compassion and care.
Ar-Rahman emphasises the abundance and breadth of divine mercy. Life, sustenance, abilities and the means by which living things continue to exist all reflect this far-reaching mercy.
The Quran declares, “My mercy embraces all things” وَاكْتُبْ لَنَا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدْنَا إِلَيْكَ قَالَ عَذَابِي أُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ بِآيَاتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَOrdain good for us in this world and the Hereafter; we have turned back to You. He said, 'I bring My punishment upon whom I will, but My mercy embraces all things. I shall therefore ordain it for those who are mindful of Me, give the prescribed charity and believe in Our signs.'.
Such mercy is not reserved for people who believe. Believers and non-believers alike receive many of the blessings of creation.
Alongside Ar-Rahman, the name Ar-Rahim also brings to mind the continuity and enduring nature of divine mercy. The Quran speaks of particular mercy towards believers, expressed in their guidance and good end هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًاHe is the One who bestows blessing upon you, and His angels do likewise, to bring you out of darkness into light. He is merciful to the believers..
Yet we should not suppose that Ar-Rahim refers only to mercy specifically for believers wherever it appears in the Quran. God is also described as kind and merciful towards humanity more broadly وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَاكُمْ أُمَّةً وَسَطًا لِتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًا وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنْتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّنْ يَنْقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌThus We made you a balanced community, so that you may bear witness over humankind and the Messenger may bear witness over you. We established the direction of prayer you formerly faced only to distinguish those who follow the Messenger from those who turn back. This change was difficult except for those God guided. God would never let your faith go to waste: God is truly compassionate and merciful towards people..
These two names should not be separated as though they referred to two entirely unrelated kinds of mercy. Both describe the one God. Together they emphasise the breadth, abundance and lasting character of His mercy.
Mercy is more than material blessings
We should not look for God's mercy only in the material blessings of life.
At the beginning of Surah Ar-Rahman, God is introduced by this same name. The surah then immediately speaks of His teaching the Quran, creating the human being and teaching human expression الرَّحْمَٰنُThe All-Merciful.عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَHe taught the Quran.خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَHe created the human being.عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَHe taught him expression..
These verses remind us that guidance and teaching are also expressions of divine mercy, alongside creation and the blessings that sustain life.
God has not only given people the possibility of living. He has also opened before them the paths of understanding, choosing and finding guidance.
Divine mercy is not simply the fulfilment of today's needs. It also guides us towards goodness and a fulfilment whose value we may not yet fully understand.
At the same time, believing in God's mercy does not mean claiming to know with certainty the wisdom behind every pain or hardship. Our understanding remains limited. Hope in divine mercy should never weaken our compassion for those who suffer or our efforts to relieve injustice and difficulty.
Hope joined with responsibility
In the next verse, after the mention of God's mercy, the surah speaks of His authority over the Day of Judgement.
This order invites a more balanced understanding of our Lord. He is abundantly and enduringly merciful, and the Day of Reckoning is also under His authority.
Divine mercy gives us hope. But hope does not make our choices and actions unimportant.
The Quran tells even those who have wronged themselves not to despair of God's mercy قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُSay: 'My servants who have wronged themselves, do not despair of God's mercy. God forgives all sins. He is indeed the Forgiving, the Merciful.'. In the very next verse, it calls them to return and surrender to their Lord وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنْصَرُونَTurn back to your Lord and submit to Him before punishment reaches you; then you will not be helped..
Divine mercy opens the way back; it does not remove human responsibility.
Knowing God's mercy can keep us from despair, give us hope that we can change our conduct, and help us find strength to continue along the right path through life's difficulties.
From understanding mercy to conscious worship
We can now see the connection between these verses more clearly.
First, we praised God. Then we recognised Him as the Lord of all worlds. Now we understand that this Lord is the All-Merciful and the Ever-Merciful.
Such knowledge gives worship a deeper foundation.
Someone who knows only of God's greatness and power may relate to Him chiefly through fear. But when that person also recognises His mercy, hope and trust can take a more profound place in that relationship.
Soon we will say, “You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.”
These words are addressed to the Lord whose mercy has already been made known.
Seen this way, the renewed mention of Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim is more than a repetition of two familiar names. It helps us understand the Lord of all worlds through His mercy and turn towards Him with greater hope and confidence.
Conscious worship grows not only from knowing God's power. Knowing His mercy also prepares the heart to worship, trust and return to Him.