Mercy in Christianity and Islam (Part Two)

Many Christians, even bishops, priests, pastors, religious men and women and lay women and lay men, have heard Muslims begin their public utterances with BISMILLAH AL-RAHMAN AL-RAHIM. Translated into English, the Arabic words mean, “In the name of God, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.” Yes, many of us really do not understand the meaning of the words, their importance and their implications. But, unfortunately, many more do not care! I suspect many ordinary Muslims do not know, and several Ulama, Ustadjs and Imams do not care either.

For those who are interested in this subject of mercy, the following might serve as a beginning of further study and research. First, we can ask, “is there something similar in the way Pope Francis understands mercy and the meaning of “BISMILLAH al-Rahman al-RAHIM”? The answer is Yes. In his homilies and statements for the past three years now one can notice that for Pope Francis mercy is not simply pity or forgiveness after we’ve sinned. For him, mercy is God’s overarching attitude and disposition toward creation, a parental love that extends to all. This is also true in Islam. Why do we say this?

Our Ulama brothers always tell us that Muslims do not refer to God as “Father.” But they also tell us that the roots of the Arabic word for mercy is RAHMAH. This word – and the names for God AL-RAHMAN (the Entirely Merciful) and AL-RAHIM (the Especially Merciful) – comes from RAHM, the Arabic word for a mother’s womb. Commentators say that the Prophet Muhammad compared God’s RAHMAH to that of a nurturing mother. Hence in Islam God has a parent-like nature or attribute.

Furthermore, commentators say that in the Qur-an, God identifies RAHMAH – which  Muslims also translate into English as graciousness, compassion and loving kindness – as his chief attribute, and says that the name AL-RAHMAN is but a synonym of ALLAH, the Arabic word for God. In a famous Hadith, or saying of the Prophet, Muhammad tells his followers that God has more mercy toward his servants than a mother does toward her child. (End of part two).