Abstract

The term ra ḥ ma/mercy is one of the key terms of the Holy Qur’ ā n and it has many connotations. Two names of God, ra ḥ mān and ra ḥ ῑm and their manifestations are contained in these connotations. So the two names explicitly tackled in our paper. While ra ḥ mān is the proper name indicating the absolute being and the source of all existence, ra ḥ ῑm is much narrower. The exegetical tradition emphasizes that God is ra ḥ mān, i.e. provides existence and sustenance to all creatures in this world while ra ḥ ῑm gives guidance and salvation to those who just deserve it here. Ra ḥ mān and ra ḥ ῑm are used in the Qur’ān asyndetonically, i.e. without the copula wāw ( ﻭ ): in the form of ar-ra ḥ mān ar-ra ḥ ῑm not ar-ra ḥ mān va ’r- ra ḥ ῑm, indicating that these two names signify One (God) and that they appear in His actions simultaneously and instantaneously, not consecutively. Key Terms: Ra ḥ ma/mercy; rule of mercy; principle of hope; divine assistance; heaven and hell.