More than anything in the world, the believers (mu’min) feel the constant need to please Allah (subhana’wa’taala) and seek His mercy (rahma) in this world in order to benefit in this life and the Hereafter. The believers fear displeasing and disobeying their Lord, not only from the dread of the punishment, but also from the guilt and shame of Whom they have sinned against.
What pleases and/or displeases Allah (subhana’wa’taala)? The answers can be found in the Qur’an itself. By reading and comprehending the meaning of the Qur’an, we begin to make sense of the world that we live in and our purpose of living. One of the most fascinating things to learn from the Qur’an is the concept of God-Allah in His entirety. His ninety-nine names by which we glorify Him gives us a picture of the characteristics that He possesses, which supercedes any human qualities and/or characteristics. Two of his characteristics most often repeated in the Qur’an are “Al-Ghafoor” and “Ar-Raheem” (The Most Forgiving and The Most Merciful.)
Allah’s Ppunishment
To Allah belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth. He forgiveth whom He pleaseth and punisheth whom He pleaseth; but Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most merciful.
(سورة آل عمران,Aal-e-Imran,Chapter#3,Verse#129)
(سورة الفتح,Al-Fath,Chapter#48,Verse#14)
The believers make du’aa and seek Allah’s forgiveness out of love, hope for His Mercy, and out of fear for His punishment. Fearing His wrath and punishment is a sign of emaan of the believers.
It is easier to understand the mercy of Allah by first discussing His wrath and punishment on those who disbelieve and commit sins. After learning about His punishment, when one repeatedly hears about the forgiving and merciful nature of Allah, it gives comfort and warmth to the soul.
Those who disbelieve in Allah (subhaanhu’wa’ta’ala) and His Messenger are amongst the losers. Those who disbelieve in the Articles of Faith are truly misguided. And those who continue to be led astray, for them are a harsh punishment.
Allah’s Punishment for Those Who Disobey Allah and his Messenger
Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) commands the believers to not only believe in Him, but in His Messenger as well. By not following His Command, Allah has, indeed, prescribed grave punishments for those who disbelieve. In Surah An-Nisa, Allah says:
But those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a Fire, to abide therein: And they shall have a humiliating punishment.
(سورة النساء,An-Nisa,Chapter#4,Verse#14)
And furthermore:
If any contend against Allah and His Messenger, Allah is strict in punishment.
(سورة الأنفال,Al-Anfal,Chapter#8,Verse#13)
Allah commands the believers to obey Allah and His Messenger, and to stay within the limits prescribed by the Shari’ah so that you may be safe from Allah’s displeasure. So by following Allah and His Messenger, Allah will be pleased with you, and Insha’Allah no harm shall come to you.
Allah’s Punishment for Those who Reject Faith
There are people who not only disobey Allah and His Messenger, but who reject faith totally.
In Surah Al-Hajj, Allah says:
And for those who reject Faith and deny our Signs, there will be a humiliating punishment.
(سورة الحج,Al-Hajj,Chapter#22,Verse#57)
In Surah Ar-Rum, Allah says:
And those who have rejected Faith and falsely denied our Signs and the meeting of the Hereafter, – such shall be brought forth to punishment.
(سورة الروم,Ar-Room,Chapter#30,Verse#16)
In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah says:
Thus have they drawn on themselves Wrath upon Wrath. And humiliating is the punishment of those who reject Faith.
(سورة البقرة,Al-Baqara,Chapter#2,Verse#90)
To those without Faith is a grievous punishment.
(سورة البقرة,Al-Baqara,Chapter#2,Verse#104)
Denying faith altogether refers to denying the six articles of faith laid down by the Shari’ah. Belief in these six articles of faith automatically puts the individual into the category of Muslim. The six articles of faith are:
- Testifying the Shahadah,
- Belief in angels,
- Belief in prophets,
- Belief in the scriptures,
- Belief in the Day of Judgment and
- Belief in al-Qadr.
The last article refers to the belief of the absolute knowledge of Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) and that He is the Creator of all things. Rejection of faith automatically pulls the individual out of the fold of Islam. Allah has condemned them out rightly.
Allah’s Punishment for those Who Continue to do Evil
Indeed, Allah’s mercy surpasses his punishment; however, there are exceptions to this rule of thought. There are two types of repentance:
- Sincere (taubah-tun-nasuha) and
- Insincere.
In this ayah, Allah talks about those who insincerely repent, and continue on their path of evil ways. In Surah An-Nisa, Allah says:
Of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until death faces one of them, and he says, “Now have I repented indeed;” nor of those who die rejecting Faith: for them have We prepared a punishment most grievous. (سورة النساء,An-Nisa,Chapter#4,Verse#18)
Evil is a trial for every soul on this earth. Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) created each and every thing in contrast: Night and day, hot and cold, and so on and so forth. Evil exists in order to appreciate the good. Without evil, there would be no concept of mercy and punishment. Evil is categorized, wherein the worst of all living creatures are the deaf and the dumb. In Surah Al-Anfaal, Allah says:
Verily! The worst of (moving) living creatures with Allah are the deaf and dumb, those who understand not. (Al-Anfaal, verse #22)
And furthermore:
Verily! The worst of moving (living) creatures before Allah are those who disbelieve (Al-Anfaal, verse #55)
Allah provides the people with ears to listen and lips to speak, but the disbelievers pay no heed to Allah’s commands; they continue to do evil.
Allah’s Mercy
To Allah belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth. He forgiveth whom He pleaseth and punisheth whom He pleaseth; but Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most merciful.
(سورة آل عمران,Aal-e-Imran,Chapter#3,Verse#129)
(سورة الفتح,Al-Fath,Chapter#48,Verse#14)
For Muslims, true salvation is in the Qur’an. The believers can only enter Paradise (Jannah) by the Will and Mercy of Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala). The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “No one will enter Jannah by their deeds alone; they will enter by Allah’s Will and Mercy.” Therefore, faith and good deeds alone are not enough-for we will never be able to pay Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) back for all that He does for us as Allah says in Surah An-Nahl:
If ye would count up the favours of Allah, never would ye be able to number them: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most merciful.
(سورة النحل,An-Nahl,Chapter#16,Verse#18)
Nevertheless, faith and good deeds will initiate Allah’s mercy and compassion towards the believers, Insha’Allah.
On a day-to-day basis, with every limb in our body, every single human being commits acts of disobedience against the Creator. These acts are done by the heart, the tongue, and the actions of our limbs. Unlike human beings, Allah forgives and forgets. Imagine the gravity of the thought: a common man today finds it very difficult to forgive and forget a crime committed against him. What about the numerous crimes we commit on a daily basis against the very one who has created us?
Allah’s Mercy for Those Who Obey Allah and his Messenger
Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) commands the believers to not only believe in Him, but in His Messegner as well. In doing so, the believers will have Allah’s mercy showered upon them, Insha’Allah. In Surah Al-Hadid, Allah says:
O ye that believe! Fear Allah, and believe in His Messenger, and He will bestow on you a double portion of His mercy: He will provide for you a Light by which ye shall walk (straight in your path), and He will forgive you (your past): for Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.
(سورة الحديد , Al-Hadid, Chapter #57, Verse #28)
Furthermore, in Surah Al-Imran, Allah says:
And obey Allah and the Messenger. That ye may obtain mercy.
(سورة آل عمران, Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #132)
So the belief in Allah and His Messenger, by testifying the Shahada, pleases Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) for He will not only forgive our past sins as we repent, but He will also provide for us a light-the light of Guidance towards seeking the pleasure of Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala).
Allah’s Mercy for those Who Accept Faith
Belief in the six articles of faith is significant for every believer. In Surah An-Nisa, Allah says:
O you who believe! Believe in Allah, and His Messenger and the Book (the Qur’an) which He sent down to those before him, and whosoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, then indeed he has strayed far away
(Surah An-Nisa, verse # 136).
In this ayah, Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) sums up the six articles of faith that every believer must have in order to call claim himself a Muslim. Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) not only commands His people to accept faith, He attaches a blessing alongside with accepting faith: His Mercy.
In Surah An-Nisa, Allah says:
Then those who believe in Allah, and hold fast to Him, – soon will He admit them to mercy and grace from Himself, and guide them to Himself by a straight way.
(سورة النساء, An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #175)
In Surah Al-Anaam, Allah says:
When those come to thee who believe in Our signs, Say: “Peace be on you: Your Lord hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) mercy: verily, if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented, and amend (his conduct), lo! He is Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful.
(سورة الأنعام, Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #54)
In Surah Al-Anaam and Surah Al-Araf, Allah talks about the Qur’an as a blessing for all of Mankind. In it, Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) has provided a Guidance and Mercy to all that pay heed.
And this is a Book which we have revealed as a blessing: so follow it and be righteous, that ye may receive mercy.
(سورة الأنعام, Al-Anaam, Chapter #6, Verse #155)
For We had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on knowledge, which We explained in detail,- a guide and a mercy to all who believe.
(سورة الأعراف, Al-Araf, Chapter #7, Verse #52)
For those who reject faith awaits a humiliating and grievous punishment. Allah (subhanahu’wa’t'aala) condemns those who, in spite of having knowledge of the true message of Islam, reject Allah and His Messenger’s teachings. Such people harm none but themselves.
For those who accept faith, Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) grants them glad tidings in this world and the Hereafter through his Mercy, Insha’Allah.
Allah’s Mercy for those who Continue to Repent
Say: “If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most merciful.”
(سورة آل عمران,Aal-e-Imran,Chapter#3,Verse#31)
Tell My servants that I am indeed the Oft-forgiving, Most merciful;
(سورة الحجر,Al-Hijr,Chapter#15,Verse#49)
In a Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), a comparison is given of the believer and the unbeliever who commits a sin. For the believer, the sin towers over him like a tall building ready to collapse; whereas, for the unbeliever, the sin is like a fly that he slaps away but it keeps coming back. For the believer, the sin committed may not be a grave sin, but he ponders over the crime day and night, regretting it. For the unbeliever, it does not matter whether the sin committed was grave or not, because the sinner does not care of the consequences.
Repentance is open to all of Mankind:
There is always room for forgiveness when one chooses the option to repent upon committing a sin.
In Surah Al-Araf, Allah says:
But those who do wrong but repent thereafter and (truly) believe; – verily thy Lord is thereafter Oft-Forgiving, Most merciful.
(سورة الأعراف,Al-Araf,Chapter#7,Verse#153)
In Surah An-Nahl, Allah says:
But verily thy Lord, – to those who do wrong in ignorance, but who thereafter repent and make amends, – thy Lord, after all this, is Oft-Forgiving, Most merciful.
(سورة النحل,An-Nahl,Chapter#16,Verse#119)
In Surah An-Nisa, Allah says:
If any one does evil or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-forgiving, Most merciful.
(سورة النس,An-Nisa,Chapter#4,Verse#110)
In Surah Al-Maida, Allah says:
But if the thief repents after his crime, and amends his conduct, Allah turneth to him in forgiveness; for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most merciful.
(سورة المائدة,Al-Maeda,Chapter#5,Verse#39)
Repentance merely by the tongue is not enough; it is imperative that the heart remain steadfast and firm on the right path after the repentance is made. Allah’s mercy has been explicitly stated here in the above verses. Ignorance or no ignorance, Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) is ready to forgive all types of sins, anytime and anywhere, subhan’Allah.
Sincere Repentance:
Whenever a believer commits a sin and repents a sincere repentance (taubah-tun-nasuha), Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) erases all traces of that bad deed and puts into its place a good deed, Insha’Allah. He treats the sins as if they no longer existed; however, in order to maintain a sincere repentance, the believer should put forth his best foot and utmost effort in staying away from committing that sin again. In Surah An-Noor, Allah says:
Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most merciful
(سورة النور,An-Noor,Chapter#24,Verse#5)
And furthermore, in Surah An-Naml, Allah says:
But if any have done wrong and have thereafter substituted good to take the place of evil, truly, I am Oft-Forgiving, Most merciful. (سورة النمل,An-Naml,Chapter#27,Verse#11)
We cannot even comprehend the mercy of Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala). These ayats are truly for those who reflect and ponder over the depth of Kindness and Compassion that our Creator has. May Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) guide us all into seeking a sincere repentance for all the sins we have committed, and continue to commit, Insha’Allah.
Seek Forgiveness: Never Despair!
A believer must never despair of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, for that is a sin in itself, because it entails the incapablity of our Lord to forgive sins. In Surah Az-Zumar, Allah says:
Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah. For Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most merciful.
(سورة الزمر,Az-Zumar,Chapter#39,Verse#53)
Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) questions those who do not turn to Him in repentance, and orders the believers to seek His forgiveness. In Surah Al-Maida, Allah says:
Why turn they not to Allah, and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft- forgiving, Most merciful.
(سورة المائدة,Al-Maeda,Chapter#5,Verse#74)
Furthermore, in Surah An-Nisa, Allah says:
But seek the forgiveness of Allah. For Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most merciful.
(سورة النساء,An-Nisa,Chapter#4,Verse#106)
Allah orders his Creation to “seek forgiveness.” He does not provide it as an option, but as an obligation for the believers and all of Mankind who pay heed to His warnings.
Allah punishes and forgives whom He Wills:
Ultimately, human beings cannot decide whether or not a particular person is forgiven or not forgiven by Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala). He is the ultimate judge and to Him we shall return. In Surah Al-Imran and Al-Fath, Allah says:
To Allah belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth. He forgiveth whom He pleaseth and punisheth whom He pleaseth; but Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most merciful.
(سورة آل عمران,Aal-e-Imran,Chapter#3,Verse#129)
(سورة الفتح,Al-Fath,Chapter#48,Verse#14)
Every human being living or dead, will return to Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’la). To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. He Created us from dust and clay; therefore, He can re-create us on the Day of Judgment. These last two verses from the Qur’an sums up the title of this essay by highlighting the main points in this paper. These ayahs are comprehensive for both Allah’s Mercy and His Wrath upon the believers and disbelievers respectively.
May Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) Guide us all on the straight path. Ameen.
May Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) make us amongst those whom He is pleased with. Ameen.
May Allah (subhanahu’wa’ta’ala) accept our repentance. Ameen.
