--- title: "Why Is Islam Called a Religion of Mercy? | Islam Is Mercy" description: "Mercy is at the heart of Islam — in God's names, in the Prophet's mission, and in how Muslims are taught to treat people, animals and the earth." lang: en url: https://islamismercy.com/en/start/why-islam-is-mercy/ --- 1. [Home](https://islamismercy.com/en/) 2. [Start Here](https://islamismercy.com/en/start/) 3. Why Is Islam Called a Religion of Mercy? # Why Is Islam Called a Religion of Mercy? Written by **Islam Is Mercy Editorial Team**· 2 min readAwaiting scholar review ## The short answer Islam teaches that mercy is one of God's defining qualities — He describes Himself as "the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful" and says His mercy encompasses all things. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent "as a mercy to the worlds", and Muslims are taught that showing mercy to others is a path to receiving God's mercy. ## On this page 1. Mercy is one of God’s names 2. A Prophet sent as mercy 3. Mercy between people 4. Mercy to animals and all living things 5. No one is beyond God’s mercy When people hear the word *Islam*, mercy may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet for Muslims, mercy (*[rahmah](https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/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](https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/quran/) but one opens with the same words: > بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ > In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. [Qur'an, Al-Faatiha 1:1](https://quran.com/1?startingVerse=1&translations=20)Saheeh International 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 - [Qur'an, Al-A'raaf 7:156](https://quran.com/7?startingVerse=156&translations=20)Saheeh International 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 [Sahih al-Bukhari 3194](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/59#:~:text=He%20wrote%20in%20His%20Book)Grade: Sahih (in Sahih al-Bukhari) ## 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. [Qur'an, Al-Anbiyaa 21:107](https://quran.com/21?startingVerse=107&translations=20)Saheeh International 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 [Sahih al-Bukhari 6000](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/78#:~:text=divided%20Mercy%20into%20one%20hundred)Grade: Sahih (in Sahih al-Bukhari) 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.… [Sunan Abi Dawud 4941](https://sunnah.com/abudawud/43#:~:text=has%20mercy%20on%20those%20who)Grade: Sahih — Al-Albani ## 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) [Sahih al-Bukhari 6009](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/78#:~:text=Then%20he%20came%20across%20a)Grade: Sahih (in Sahih al-Bukhari) ## 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." [Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:53](https://quran.com/39?startingVerse=53&translations=20)Saheeh International 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. ![Why Is Islam Called a Religion of Mercy?](https://islamismercy.com/_astro/why-islam-is-mercy-info.DsOfYDq3_Z1FGAyb.jpg) ## Key takeaways - Mercy (rahmah) is central to how God describes Himself in the Qur'an. - The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent as a mercy to all people — not only to Muslims. - Muslims are taught to show mercy to people, animals and all living things. - No one is beyond God's mercy if they turn back to Him. ## Share this article [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=Why%20Is%20Islam%20Called%20a%20Religion%20of%20Mercy%3F%20https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fstart%2Fwhy-islam-is-mercy%2F)[Telegram](https://t.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fstart%2Fwhy-islam-is-mercy%2F&text=Why%20Is%20Islam%20Called%20a%20Religion%20of%20Mercy%3F)[X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Why%20Is%20Islam%20Called%20a%20Religion%20of%20Mercy%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fstart%2Fwhy-islam-is-mercy%2F)[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fstart%2Fwhy-islam-is-mercy%2F) ## Sources - [Qur'an, Al-Faatiha 1:1](https://quran.com/1?startingVerse=1&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Al-A'raaf 7:156](https://quran.com/7?startingVerse=156&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Al-Anbiyaa 21:107](https://quran.com/21?startingVerse=107&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:53](https://quran.com/39?startingVerse=53&translations=20) - [Sahih al-Bukhari 3194](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/59#:~:text=He%20wrote%20in%20His%20Book) - [Sahih al-Bukhari 6000](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/78#:~:text=divided%20Mercy%20into%20one%20hundred) - [Sunan Abi Dawud 4941](https://sunnah.com/abudawud/43#:~:text=has%20mercy%20on%20those%20who) - [Sahih al-Bukhari 6009](https://sunnah.com/bukhari/78#:~:text=Then%20he%20came%20across%20a) ## Talk to a Muslim Have a question that isn't answered here? Ask a real person — no pressure, no judgement. [Ask your question](https://islamismercy.com/en/talk/) ## Keep reading [Start Here ### Who Is Allah? Allah is the Arabic word for the one God, Creator of everything. Learn how the Qur'an describes Him, His beautiful names, and why Arab Christians say Allah too. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/start/who-is-allah/)[Start Here ### Who Was Prophet Muhammad ﷺ? A short introduction to the life and character of Muhammad ﷺ, the final messenger of God — from orphan in Mecca to the Prophet sent as a mercy to all people. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/start/who-was-prophet-muhammad/)[Start Here ### What Is Islam? A Simple Introduction A clear, friendly introduction to Islam — what Muslims believe about God, the prophets and the Qur'an, and how faith shapes everyday life. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/start/what-is-islam/)