God Loves More Than 70 Mothers? A “Balanced” Reminder from the Qur’an and the Bible

 Epigraph: (Reading Time: 4 minutes)

"Turn to your Lord in repentance and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you, for then you will not be helped."  Qur’an (39:54)

“Keep in mind the Day We will ask Hell, ‘Are you filled?’ And it will say, ‘Are there any more?’” Qur’an (50:30)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

People think and often say that God loves more than seventy mothers—a heartfelt expression used to highlight His infinite mercy. While the statement is widely quoted in Muslim circles, it is not found in any authentic Hadith collection. Rather, it reflects a general sentiment drawn from authentic narrations describing God’s mercy’s immense scope. Still, to grasp the complete nature of the Divine, we must hold this concept in balance with another central Qur’anic truth: God’s justice is as real and unwavering as His mercy. 

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God’s Eternal Reminders on Mercy, Justice, and Repentance in Scripture

A powerful verse declares:

“Keep in mind the Day We will ask Hell, ‘Are you filled?’ And it will say, ‘Are there any more?’” (Qur’an 50:30)

This stark image reminds us that Hell is not symbolic—it is a reality created to dispense divine justice upon those who persist in wrongdoing and arrogance. To truly understand God's expectations, we must turn to the Qur’an—His uncorrupted Word—which lays out the path to salvation with clarity: belief in Him, repentance, good deeds, and a life of moral discipline. The Qur’an warns:

“Turn to your Lord in repentance and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you, for then you will not be helped.” (Qur’an 39:54)

The Bible, too, strongly affirms this duality of divine mercy and justice, and the urgency of repentance:

“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” Isaiah 55:7

In the Book of Psalms, the call for repentance and God’s readiness to forgive are echoed repeatedly:

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever.”  Psalm 103:8–9

“A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also emphasizes God’s mercy, but with a warning to live righteously:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

These verses from the Bible resonate deeply with Qur’anic themes: mercy is available, but it must be sought sincerely, and salvation is tied to a life of genuine moral striving, not mere verbal declarations or cultural affiliation.

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Conclusion: The Balance of Hope and Accountability

God’s mercy is vast, but it is not to be presumed upon carelessly. Both the Qur’an and the Bible invite believers to turn to God before it is too late, to live upright lives, and to seek His pleasure through humility and repentance.

True understanding lies in balancing hope in His mercy with awe of His justice, walking the path of conscious obedience and sincere devotion.

…and your desires continued to deceive you until God’s verdict materialized, and that great Deceiver continued to deceive you about God until the very end. Qur’an (57:14)

By Aamir Yazdani
MPhil Islamic Thought and Civilization, Pakistan
Mc Irrigation Engineering, UK