Epigraph:
Can
you answer this question I was wondering about?
< Can there be anything, ANYTHING, THAT MAY HINDER ALLAH TALA, to be compassionate towards anyone, because
HE is the MOST COMPASSIONATE of all who are compassionate, (ARHAM AR
RAHAYMEEN)?
As-salāmu ʿalaykum.
Masood Bhai,
this is a great question—truly an important one—and let me try to address it.
Allah introduces Himself in the Qur’an through His
attributes. He tells us that no eyes can grasp Him and that there is no one like Him. So, if someone
wants to understand or connect with God Almighty, how does one go about it?
Allah has revealed His attributes—commonly referred to as
His Names—so that we may know Him. When we say Bismillāh ir-Raḥmān ir-Raḥīm, we begin to understand
that He is compassionate, merciful, and benevolent. Every surah of the Qur’an
(except one) begins with this, reinforcing that mercy is central to His nature.
Throughout the Qur’an, whenever Allah presents something, He
often concludes with His attributes—such as Latīfun Khabīr, ʿAlīmun Khabīr, Ghafūrur
Raḥīm, Qā’im
bil-Qisṭ. This
teaches us that His actions are always tied to His attributes.
Now, coming to your question: Allah’s compassion is indeed
vast, but it operates within His established ways—what the Qur’an calls Sunnatullāh
(the practices of Allah). Just as Sunnah means a well-trodden path,
Allah too has set consistent laws, and there is no change in them.
One such law is the Law of Guidance: Whoever sincerely seeks guidance—yearns
for it, strives for it—Allah opens the doors for them. Guidance is not given
randomly.
Another is the Law of Forgiveness: In Surah An-Nisā (4:17–18), Allah states that a person who sins out of emotion and then sincerely repents is bound to be forgiven by Him. But one who persists in rebellion and only turns at the
time of death—Allah does not forgive that person.
Why? Because Allah is not only Merciful—He is also Just (Al-Muqsiṭ). He must distinguish
between right and wrong. In Surah Al-Qalam, Allah asks: “Shall We treat the
righteous like the wicked?”—of course not.
In another place, Allah says: “I have made mercy
incumbent upon Myself, and I will surely gather you on the Day of Judgment.”
This means justice must be done—good must be rewarded, and evil accounted for.
Yes, Allah’s mercy is vast. In Surah Az-Zumar (39:53), He
says:
“Do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.”
But He also warns: turn back before the consequences of wrongdoing overtake
you.
This brings us to a very powerful Qur’anic concept: Amanī, which refers to false hopes and wishful thinking. People
say: “I’m a good person. I don’t
pray or fast, but I’m kind—why would Allah punish me?” The Qur’an addresses this directly (2:80–81). Some claimed they
were guaranteed Paradise. Allah asks: “Have you taken a covenant from
Allah?” These are merely wishful assumptions.
The Qur’an makes it clear: whoever adopts sin as a lifestyle
will face its consequences—regardless of identity. Similarly, Jews and Christians each claimed exclusive entry to
Paradise (2:113). Allah says: “These are your desires—your assumptions.
Bring your proof.”
The true criterion is
universal:
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day and does righteous deeds—his
reward is with Allah.
Even on the Day of Judgment, those who lived in doubt and
followed their desires will say to the believers: “Give us some light.”
But they will be told that they lived in Amanī—false hopes—and neglected
the truth.
So in conclusion:
Allah’s mercy is vast and real, but it must be understood through His
attributes and His laws—not through our wishful thinking.
Aamir I. Yazdani
MPhil Islamic Thought & Civilization (Pakistan)
MSc Irrigation Engineering (UK)
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