الرَّؤُوفُ
One of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah
Ar-Ra'oof
The Ever Gracious
Ar-Ra'oof is extremely compassionate: His mercy reaches whoever He wills among His creatures, and whatever He decrees is done with perfect judgment, never harsh or unjust. Its verse is 2:207, about those who give their lives for Allah's pleasure, and the Name is mentioned 10 times in the Quran.
Key verse
﴿وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ﴾And there are those who would dedicate their lives to Allah’s pleasure. And Allah is Ever Gracious to ˹His˺ servants.
The scholar's text
The One who is extremely compassionate. He is The One whose mercy will endow whoever He willed among His creatures. Whatever Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ decrees is done with perfect judgment, and He is never harsh or unjust in His rulings.
(وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ) البقرة 2: 207
(And there are those who would dedicate their lives to Allah’s pleasure. And Allah is Ever Gracious to ˹His˺ servants.) Al-Baqara 2:207
It is mentioned 10 times in the Holy Quran
الشديد الرأفة. وهو الذي يمنح رحمته من شاء من خلقه. وكل ما يقضي به الله سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ يقضيه بحكمة تامة، ولا يكون قاسيا ولا ظالما في أحكامه أبدا.
(وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ) البقرة 2: 207
ورد في القرآن الكريم 10 مرات.
They Gave Themselves
The verse of Ar-Ra'oof is about a sale. Some people, it says, dedicate their lives to Allah's pleasure, and it ends: Allah is Ever Gracious to His servants. They are the ones granted success, al-Sa'di says, who sold themselves, held their lives cheap and gave them up seeking His pleasure and hoping for His reward. They paid the price to the One who is rich and keeps His word, the Ever Gracious, and it was His graciousness and mercy that led them to do it in the first place.
Arabic: ومن الناس من يشري نفسه ابتغاء مرضات الله
آية الاسم عن بيع: ﴿وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ رَءُوفٌۢ بِٱلْعِبَادِ﴾، قال السعدي: «هؤلاء هم الموفقون الذين باعوا أنفسهم وأرخصوها وبذلوها طلبا لمرضاة الله ورجاء لثوابه، فهم بذلوا الثمن للمليء الوفي الرءوف بالعباد، الذي من رأفته ورحمته أن وفقهم لذلك».
In the Hour of Hardship
﴿لَّقَد تَّابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ ٱلْعُسْرَةِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾Allah has certainly turned in mercy to the Prophet as well as the Emigrants and the Helpers who stood by him in the time of hardship, after the hearts of a group of them had almost faltered. He then accepted their repentance. Surely He is Ever Gracious and Most Merciful to them.
9:117 says Allah turned in mercy to the Prophet ﷺ, the Emigrants and the Helpers who stood by him in the time of hardship, after some hearts had almost faltered, and ends on His grace and mercy to them. The hardship, al-Sa'di explains, was the march to Tabuk: fierce heat, little food and few mounts, a large enemy, everything that pulls a person to stay behind. Of His graciousness and mercy, he says, Allah granted them repentance, accepted it from them and kept them firm on it.
Arabic: الذين اتبعوه في ساعة العسرة
تقول آية التوبة: ﴿لَّقَد تَّابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ ٱلْعُسْرَةِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾. قال السعدي في ساعة العسرة: «أي: خرجوا معه لقتال الأعداء في وقعة تبوك وكانت في حر شديد، وضيق من الزاد والركوب، وكثرة عدو، مما يدعو إلى التخلف». وقال: «ومن رأفته ورحمته أن مَنَّ عليهم بالتوبة، وقبلها منهم وثبتهم عليها».
He Holds Back the Sky
﴿أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلْفُلْكَ تَجْرِى فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَيُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَآءَ أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾Do you not see that Allah has subjected to you whatever is in the earth as well as the ships ˹that˺ sail through the sea by His command? He keeps the sky from falling down on the earth except by His permission. Surely Allah is Ever Gracious and Most Merciful to humanity.
22:65 names what Allah has subjected to people, whatever is in the earth and the ships that sail through the sea by His command, and then that He keeps the sky from falling onto the earth; surely Allah is Ever Gracious and Most Merciful to humanity. Were it not for His mercy and power, al-Sa'di says, the sky would fall on the earth, and everything on it would be ruined. He is more merciful to people than their parents and than themselves: He wants good for them while they want harm for themselves. 16:7 points to the animals that carry loads to lands people could not reach without great hardship, and ends on the same Name, because, al-Sa'di says, He made subject to them what they need.
Arabic: ويمسك السماء أن تقع على الأرض
تعدد آية الحج ما سخره الله للناس: ﴿أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلْفُلْكَ تَجْرِى فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ وَيُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَآءَ أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾، قال السعدي: «فلولا رحمته وقدرته، لسقطت السماء على الأرض، فتلف ما عليها، وهلك من فيها»، والله «أرحم بهم من والديهم، ومن أنفسهم، ولهذا يريد لهم الخير، ويريدون لها الشر والضر». وفي النحل: ﴿وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَلَدٍ لَّمْ تَكُونُوا۟ بَـٰلِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ ٱلْأَنفُسِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾، قال السعدي: «إذ سخر لكم ما تضطرون إليه وتحتاجونه».
More Merciful Than a Mother
﴿هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦٓ ءَايَـٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَـٰتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾He is the One Who sends down clear revelations to His servant to bring you out of darkness and into light. For indeed Allah is Ever Gracious and Most Merciful to you.
57:9 says Allah sends down clear revelations to bring you out of darkness and into light, for He is Ever Gracious and Most Merciful to you. Out of the darkness of ignorance and disbelief into the light of knowledge and faith, al-Sa'di explains, and that is His mercy and graciousness, since He is more merciful to His servants than a mother to her child. The Prophet ﷺ made the same comparison. Among some captives brought to him was a woman who nursed every child she found, and he asked: “Do you think that this lady can throw her son in the fire?" We replied, "No, if she has the power not to throw it (in the fire)." The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "Allah is more merciful to His slaves than this lady to her son” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5999, narrated by Umar).
Arabic: الله أرحم بعباده من هذه بولدها
تقول آية الحديد: ﴿هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦٓ ءَايَـٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَـٰتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾، قال السعدي: «أي: من ظلمات الجهل والكفر، إلى نور العلم والإيمان، وهذا من رحمته بكم ورأفته، حيث كان أرحم بعباده من الوالدة بولدها». وفي السبي الذي قدم على النبي ﷺ امرأة كلما وجدت صبيا أخذته فأرضعته، فقال: «أَتَرَوْنَ هَذِهِ طَارِحَةً وَلَدَهَا فِي النَّارِ، قُلْنَا لاَ وَهْىَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ لاَ تَطْرَحَهُ، فَقَالَ اللَّهُ أَرْحَمُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا» (صحيح البخاري 5999، عن عمر).
No Bitterness in Our Hearts
59:10 gives the prayer of those who came after the Emigrants and the Helpers, and it closes on the Name: Our Lord, You are Ever Gracious, Most Merciful. It is a prayer for all the believers, al-Sa'di says, the Companions who came first and those before and after them. Asking that no bitterness be left in the heart, he adds, asks for its opposite too: love between believers, loyalty and sincere advice. The prayer is in the box below.
Arabic: ولا تجعل في قلوبنا غلا للذين آمنوا
تذكر آية الحشر دعاء من جاء بعد المهاجرين والأنصار، وتختم بالاسم: ﴿رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾. قال السعدي: «وهذا دعاء شامل لجميع المؤمنين، السابقين من الصحابة، ومن قبلهم ومن بعدهم». وقال: «ولهذا ذكر الله في الدعاء نفي الغل عن القلب، الشامل لقليل الغل وكثيره الذي إذا انتفى ثبت ضده، وهو المحبة بين المؤمنين والموالاة والنصح». والدعاء في الصندوق الآتي.
From the Sunnah
Do you think that this lady can throw her son in the fire?" We replied, "No, if she has the power not to throw it (in the fire)." The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "Allah is more merciful to His slaves than this lady to her son
أَتَرَوْنَ هَذِهِ طَارِحَةً وَلَدَهَا فِي النَّارِ . قُلْنَا لاَ وَهْىَ تَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ لاَ تَطْرَحَهُ . فَقَالَ اللَّهُ أَرْحَمُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا
A du'a with this Name
وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And those who come after them will pray, “Our Lord! Forgive us and our fellow believers who preceded us in faith, and do not allow bitterness into our hearts towards those who believe. Our Lord! Indeed, You are Ever Gracious, Most Merciful.”
The Quran, Al-Hashr 59:10: the prayer of those who came after the Emigrants and the Helpers
Related Names
Questions about Ar-Ra'oof
What does Ar-Ra'oof mean?
Ar-Ra'oof is extremely compassionate, and grants His mercy to whom He wills.
How many times is Ar-Ra'oof in the Quran?
Ar-Ra'oof is mentioned 10 times in the Quran. Its verse is 2:207: a life sold for Allah's pleasure.
Is Allah more merciful than a mother?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ pointed to a captive woman nursing a child she had found and said Allah is more merciful to His servants than she is to her son (Sahih al-Bukhari 5999).
What keeps the sky from falling?
Allah keeps the sky from falling by His mercy and power, al-Sa'di explains on 22:65; without them the sky would fall and destroy everything on the earth.