The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 73
Allāh the Exalted 73 people who strive truly in the cause of God and withdraw from every darkness and disorder. By virtue of this grace, in the Holy Qur'ān, God's name is Raḥīm. Because the attribute of Raḥīmiyyat is special and follows upon the fulfilment of certain conditions, it is mentioned after. Rahmaniyyat, for Rahmaniyyat was manifested before. Rahimiyyat manifested itself. On account of this natural order Raḥimiyyat is mentioned after Raḥmāniyyat in Surah. Fatihah and Allāh the Exalted says: الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ 42. This attribute is mentioned at several places in the Holy. Qur'an. For instance, at one place it is said: وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا 43. This means that God's Raḥīmiyyat is confined to the believers and that a disbeliever and a rebellious one have no share in it. . It is worthy of note that the operation of the attribute of. Raḥimiyyat has been confined to the case of believers, but. Raḥmāniyyat is not so limited. Nowhere is it stated that. God is Raḥmān towards believers. The mercy which is specially related to the believers is always described as. Raḥimiyyat. At another place it is said: لان رَحْمَتَ اللهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ 4 44. The Raḥimiyyat of Allāh is close to those who do their duty to the utmost. . At another place it is said: ان الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ 42 'The Gracious, the Merciful' al-Fātiḥah, 1:3 [Publisher] 43 And He is Merciful to the believers'-al-Aḥzāb, 33:44 [Publisher] 44 al-A'raf, 7:57 [Publisher]