Bismillāh.
From ʿAlī ibn Mūsā al-Ridā (a): “Whoever asks forgiveness from God — Blessed and Exalted — seventy times during Shaʿbān, God will forgive his sins, even if they are as numerous as the stars.”
Bihār al-Anwār, v. 94, p. 90
الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
The Merciful [whose mercy is all-encompassing], the Merciful [whose special mercy is ever-lasting].
Sūrat al-Fātihah, No.1, Āyat 3
In the opening chapter of the Qur’ān, two famous names of Allah are repeated twice in the first and third verses: ar-Rahmān and ar-Rahīm. While English translations often render these as “The Beneficent” and “The Merciful,” the Arabic language contains a depth that these singular adjectives cannot fully capture. Both names share the root r-h-m (رحم), meaning mercy, compassion, or tenderness. This root is also used for the word “womb” (rahim), suggesting a mercy that provides life, protection, and nurturance.
Grammatically, ar-Rahmān is an Ism Mubālaghah (an intensive active participle). It describes a mercy that is immense, overwhelming, and vast. Think of a torrential rain that covers an entire landscape, leaving no stone or leaf untouched. This is the mercy of God that sustains the universe. It is “All-Encompassing” because it is extended to every single existence by the mere fact that they exist. Whether a person acknowledges God or denies Him, they breathe His air, eat His food, and live under His sky. This is the Rahmānī mercy—a massive outpouring of grace that is given to the believer and the disbeliever, the saint and the sinner, and even the animal. However, this specific manifestation of mercy is tied to this world, providing the temporary provisions required for life on Earth.
In contrast, ar-Rahīm is a Sifah Mushabbihah (a permanent attribute). In Arabic, this form denotes a quality that is deeply rooted, stable, and everlasting. While ar-Rahmān describes the vastness of the mercy, ar-Rahīm describes its consistency and endurance.
Ar-Rahīm is a more exclusive mercy. It is a special grace reserved for those who turn toward their Creator in faith and obedience. The Qur’an emphasizes this distinction in Surah Al-Ahzāb (33:43), stating:
وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا
And He is ever, to the believers, Merciful (Rahīm).
While the mercy of ar-Rahmān may cease for the disbeliever when this temporary world ends, the mercy of ar-Rahīm is long-lasting. It continues into the next world, culminating in eternal Paradise.
Imam Ja’far al-Sādiq ‘alayhis salām summarized this distinction in the following narration: “[He is] Ar-Rahmān is for all of His creation, while [He is] Ar-Rahīm is specifically for the believers.” (Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 82, p. 51)
By mentioning both names in Sūrat al-Fātihah that believers must repeat many times daily, God teaches us that His mercy is both broad and deep. He provides for our existence through His Rahmānī mercy, ensuring our survival. Yet, He invites us to seek His Rahīmī mercy—the kind secures our future in the hereafter.
One manifestation of God’s mercy is in this blessed month of Sha’bān, an opportunity for seeking forgiveness and purifying ourselves. As we read in the salawāt that is recommended to be recited at zuhr times in this month, this is a month that ِAllah has “enveloped with mercy “. May Allah envelope us in His special Rahīmī mercy in this month and allow us to attain His forgiveness before entering the holy month of Ramadān.