Why Is Islam Called a Religion of Mercy?

When people hear the word Islam, mercy may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet for Muslims, mercy (rahmah in Arabic) runs through everything: how God describes Himself, why the Prophet ﷺ was sent, and how believers are asked to live.

Mercy is one of God’s names

Every chapter of the Qur’an but one opens with the same words:

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

Both names — Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem — come from the same Arabic root as rahmah, mercy. The Qur’an also says that God’s mercy reaches everything He created:

۞ وَٱكْتُبْ لَنَا فِى هَٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ عَذَابِىٓ أُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَنْ أَشَآءُ ۖ وَرَحْمَتِى وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۢ ۚ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١٥٦﴾

And decree for us in this world [that which is] good and [also] in the Hereafter; indeed, we have turned back to You." [Allah] said, "My punishment - I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things." So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakah and those who believe in Our verses -

The Prophet ﷺ described God’s mercy in a way that is easy to remember:

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "When Allah completed the creation, He wrote in His Book which is with Him on His Throne, "My Mercy overpowers My Anger

A Prophet sent as mercy

Muslims believe that Muhammad ﷺ was the final messenger in a long line of prophets that includes Abraham, Moses and Jesus. The Qur’an describes the purpose of his mission in one short sentence — the verse this website is named after:

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةًۭ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿١٠٧﴾

And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.

Notice that the verse says the worlds — not only Muslims, and not only people. His message was meant to be a mercy for everyone.

Mercy between people

Islam teaches that the mercy we see between people — a mother’s care for her child, a stranger’s kindness — is itself a small part of God’s mercy:

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, Allah divided Mercy into one hundred parts. He kept ninety nine parts with Him and sent down one part to the earth, and because of that, its one single part, His Creations are merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts up its hoofs away from its baby animal, lest it should trample on it

Because of this, mercy is not just something Muslims hope to receive. It is something they are commanded to give:

…The Compassionate One has mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on the earth, He Who is in the heaven will show mercy to you.…

Mercy to animals and all living things

Mercy in Islam does not stop with human beings. The Prophet ﷺ told the story of a man who was forgiven for giving water to a thirsty dog:

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "While a man was walking on a road. he became very thirsty. Then he came across a well, got down into it, drank (of its water) and then came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. The man said to himself "This dog is suffering from the same state of thirst as I did." So he went down the well (again) and filled his shoe (with water) and held it in his mouth and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?" He said, "(Yes) There is a reward for serving any animate (living being)

No one is beyond God’s mercy

Perhaps the most hopeful verse in the Qur’an is addressed to people who feel they have done too much wrong to ever be forgiven:

۞ قُلْ يَٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿٥٣﴾

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."

This is why Muslims say Islam is mercy: it begins with a merciful God, it was delivered by a Prophet sent as mercy, and it asks every believer to become a source of mercy for others.