The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 72
72. Essence of Islam-1 virtue of Rahmaniyyat that He grants respite to the disbelievers and pagans and does not seize them quickly. At another place Raḥmāniyyat is referred to as: 41 أولم يروا إلى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَفْتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ، مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا الرَّحْمنُ : (Part Number: 29). Do they not observe the birds flying above them with their wings spread out and closed down. It is the Gracious One Who keeps them from falling down. . This means that the grace of Rahmaniyyat so encompasses all animates that even birds which seem to have little value, fly joyously in the current of this grace. . As this grace follows naturally after Rububiyyat, it has been mentioned in that order in Surah Fatihah. . The third type of grace is special grace. The difference between this and general grace is that in the case of the general grace, a beneficiary is not under obligation to make himself good, or to bring his ego out of the coverings of darkness, or to put forward any effort to take advantage of it. By virtue of general grace, God Almighty bestows upon every animate all that it needs according to its nature without asking and without any effort on its part. But in the case of special grace, striving and effort, purification of the heart and supplication, attention towards God and all kinds of appropriate efforts are needed. He alone receives this grace who seeks it and this grace descends upon one who works for it. The existence of this grace is also proved by observation of the law of nature. It is obvious that those who strive in the cause of God and those who are indifferent cannot be equal. Without doubt, a special mercy descends upon 41 al-Mulk, 67:20 [Publisher]