This Attribute is derived from "mercy" and "compassion." This requires us to distinguish
between both of these words. Also, whenever the Almighty uses both of these words, He
mentions the Attribute "al-Ra'oof" before "al-Rahim;" therefore, we have to explain the
difference between both of them and the reason for such a preference.
The Messenger of Allah was travelling once as he happened to pass by a woman baking
bread. Her young son was with her. She was told that the Messenger of Allah was passing by,
so she came to him and said, "O Messenger of Allah! It has come to my knowledge that you
have said, `Allah is more Compassionate towards His servants than a mother towards her son.'
Is this the correct statement which you have spoken?" He answered her in the affirmative,
whereupon she said, "A mother does not hurl her son in an oven like this one." Having heard
her say so, the Messenger of Allah wept, then he said, "Allah does not torment anyone by the
fire [of hell] except one who is too arrogant to bear witness that there is no god but He."
If a servant of Allah wishes to model his conduct after the inspiration of this Attribute, he has
first to remember and mention it quite often, hence the light of al-Ra'oof will manifest itself to
his heart, so much so that he will become compassionate towards all people, the commoners
as well as the elite, always remembering the saying of the Messenger of Allah, "Be merciful
unto the people of the earth so that the people of the heavens may be merciful to you."
- "Malikul-Mulk"
Allah has said: Say: O Allah, Master of the Kingdom! You give the kingdom to whomsoever
You please and take the kingdom away from whomsoever You please, and You exalt
whomsoever You please and abase whomsoever You please; in Your hand is goodness; surely
You have power over all things. (3:26)
Malikul-Mulk affects His will in His kingdom however He pleases, letting some live and
others perish. The mulk in this context means the kingdom, and the Malik is the Omnipotent,
the Most Powerful. All things in existence are included in His kingdom, so His is one
kingdom because all things in it are somehow connected to one another. Although they may
be regarded as many, they constitute one entity, one kingdom.
Malikul-Mulk fares with His kingdom as He pleases, and none can revoke His judgment, nor
can anyone appeal or repeal it. All things in existence, in all their degrees and levels,
constitute one kingdom owned by One: Allah, the Most Exalted.
Malikul-Mulk is the true King Who deals with His kingdom as He pleases, bringing things
into existence in it or ending the existence of some of its beings, chastising some and
accepting the repentance of others, without anyone sharing the authority with Him or
prohibiting Him from doing whatever He pleases.