One of the secrets to khushu' in Salah...

Bismillah

The key to Paradise is Prayer

and the key to Prayer is Purification.

(Tirmidhi)

Wudu is an obligation imposed upon the believers in Surat al Maidah Verse 6: Allah Most High says:

O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.

Wudu comes from the root word: Daw' ضَوْء

Linguistically wudu means: illumination, light and brilliance.

Technically wudu means: (Muslims) Washing certain limbs as a pre-condition to certain acts of worship.

It is fard for: Salah, Tawaf and holding the Mushaf.

There are many virtues of wudu (briefly):

1. It washes the sins off even if they be under the nails (small/unknown/overlooked sins)
2. Qualifies one to stand before Allah without being weighed down by sins
3. Increases the illumination of Quran, Haddith, gatherings of knowledge
4. Physically illumiates the Muslim
5. Cause of illumination for that Muslim on the Day of Resurrection, a Day that is darkness upon darkness upon darkness
6. Repels shaytan
7. Mark of a true believer (who is upon wudu all the time)
8. Protection from harm (evil eyes, injustice, fear and the like)

The Question now is... How is wudu linked to khushu'?

Many people complain of not being able to ascertain khushu' in Salah, so it is interesting to know what scholars have to say about the various actions of wudu and how they relate to the Akhira and how when thinking about these during wudu one can prepare themselves for Salah in a state of khushu'..

I just want to draw a note here, that this is not sunnah or fard to make these internal thoughts.. But you will see how the connection scholars make between wudu and the Akhira can, in turn, aid us in being able to enter Salah in the right state of mind conjusive to khushu'..

Amidst a day that is constantly filled with dunya and thoughts and worries of dunya this is most definitely a practical way of tearing oneself away from this dunya, cleansing our thoughts of it prior to Salah and concentrating on the Inevitable that is to come and indeed what Salah prepares us for..

I'll go through it all step by step..

To begin:

While washing our hands:

Recite:

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

نَوْتُ اَلْوضُوء

A’uthubillahi minash shaytanir Rajim

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Nawatulwudu

“I seek reguge in Allah from the accursed satan

I begin in the name of Allah, who is Most Merciful Most Gracious.

I intend to make wudu”

We begin by reciting the isti'atha and basmallah and then by making an intention to perform wudu during our hand washing.

For the Ahnaf the intention is sunnah not fard- as they consider it a pre-requisite to Salah and pre-requisites don't need an intention formulated. They say for instance covering your awrah is a pre-requisite to salah, but we don't say out loud "I intend to cover my awrah for salah" so they say the same applies for wudud. According to the Hanafi Madhhab this can just be an internal realisation and this suffices in this madhhab, if they want they can recite it out loud, but it stands that for the ahnaaf this is a sunnah.

For the Shafi'es though they consider it fard to make an intention. So in any case begin with the isti'atha and basmallah, and whether it's, fard or sunnah depending on your madhhab, it's good to recite the intention for the Shafi'es or for the ahnaaf either recite it or have an internal realisation that you are about to make wudu.

(NB: It is sunnah to say the basmallah before washing every limb, so I have included it below with each action..)

One should then make an internal dua

"O Allah free my hands of debt (before my death)"

Washing the mouth:

بِسْمِ اللَّه

"O Allah allow me to say the shahada upon my death"

Washing the nose:

بِسْمِ اللَّه

"O Allah allow me to smell the fragrance of Jannah (tul firdaws al a'la,

always aim high, your dealing with the Most-Generous)

Washing the face:

بِسْمِ اللَّه

"O Allah illuminate my face on the Day of Rising"

Washing the right arm to the elbow:

بِسْمِ اللَّه

"O Allah allow me to receive my book of deeds in my right hand"

Washing the left arm to the elbow:

بِسْمِ اللَّه

"Not in my left hand"

Wiping over the head:

بِسْمِ اللَّه

"O Allah shade me under Your Throne

on the day there is no shade but Your shade"

Wiping the ears:

بِسْمِ اللَّه

"O Allah allow me to hear the call to Jannah (tul Firdaws al a'la)"

Wiping the neck:

بِسْمِ اللَّه

"O Allah free my neck from Hellfire"

Washing the right foot:

بِسْمِ اللَّه

"O Allah make my feet firm on the siraat

the day the feet are made firm or made to fall"

Washing the left foot:

بِسْمِ اللَّه

"O Allah make my feet firm on the siraat

the day the feet are made firm or made to fall"

To be honest with you I like to make these du'a out loud...

I tried the internal du'a thing a few years ago when I first studied this subject but I slowly forgot because thoughts occupy my mind all the time and slowly other thoughts crept in while I was making wudu which made me forget these dua's, now I just make it out loud so it's facilitates me remembering in the long run and making the thoughts more real.

Dua's then upon ending wudu

Look towards the sky and recite:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ

مُحَمَّدَاً عَبْدَهُ وَرَسُولَهُ

Ash-hadu al la ilaha illa Allah

wahdahu la sharika lah

wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.

"I testify that there is no one worthy of worship besides Allah.

He is all by Himself and has no partner

and I testify that Muhammad is Allah's Rasul (Messenger)".

Eight doors of Jannah will be open for the reciter of this dua.

He will be able to enter from whichever door he pleases. (Mishkat)

It is recorded in the same narration that the dua should be recited three times. (Hisnul Hasin)

Thereafter this dua should be recited:

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ التَّوَّابِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

Allahuma ij'alni minnat tawwabeena waj'alni minal mutattahireen.

"O Allah, count me (make me) among those who seek forgiveness

and amongst those who stay clean". (Hisnul Hasin)

Also recite this dua:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبَ إِلَيْكَ

Subhanaka Allahuma wabihamdika,

ash hadu al laa ilaha illa anta astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk.

"O Allah, You are pure,

I praise You and testify that only You are worthy of worship

and I seek forgiveness from You. (Hisnul Hasin)

InshaAllah this is of benefit to those who read it.

And Allah knows Best.

No title... Don’t want to give it away :)

Many of us wait for specific and beloved seasons. We wait in anticipation for the blessed annual seasons that Allah grants us out of His Mercy. We wait ( for example) for one Ramadan to the next Ramadan; and one Eid to the next Eid. We all wait for Laylatul Qadr and the nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan and so on and so forth. All of these are blessed and in them is good. But there is one season that Allah has put within it everything that we want and everything we seek from all the other seasons. It is all within this one season.

This season is: The entire day of Jumu'ah. As the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him said: "The best day in which the sun rises is the day of Jumu'ah." Allah has specifically reserved Jumu'ah for us and has given it this amazing virtue. The scholars have said that there is no single day in the entire year better than Jumu'ah; except the day of 'Arafa and the two Eids; Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha. It is even better than the days of Ramadan. The season we wait and anticipate and look forward to months in advance. And within Ramadan each one of us waits for it's last 10 blessed days and nights. Indeed , the day of Jumu'ah is better than the days of Ramadan! And this is day is literally at our fingertips, once a week, week in week out.. Allahu Akbar!

Prophetic traditions regarding Friday

The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him said:

“Whoever takes a bath sets out early walks and does not ride then comes close to the imam and listens he will have for every step he takes, the reward of One year’s worth of Fasting and Prayer” Allahu Akbar!

We could possibly sum up the etiquettes that we need to attain this virtue into 10 practices. There are 5 etiquettes in preparation for the day of Jumu’ah; and five others during the day of Jumu’ah

Etiquettes in preparation for the day of Jumu’ah:

1. Bathing.

Some scholars have said it is an obligation to bathe because the messenger said: “The Friday bath is an obligation on every adult”.

2. Wearing ones best attire.

One should reserve their best clothes for the day of Jumu’ah and it would be most preferable if one wears white because this was the Prophetic practice and the Messenger peace and blessings be upon him loved white.

3. To wear incense (for the brothers).

One should perfume himself in preparation for Jumu’ah and this is indeed a general sunnah for all other days too.

4. Personal Hygeine.

Trimming ones nails, getting a haircut if necessary; and trimming hair which pertains to one’s personal hygiene.

5. Anointment.

To anoint oneself on the night before or the day of Jumu’ah (using cream and the like).

If one does these five then he has done the prophetic practices for preparing for the day of Jumu’ah.

Then he heads out to the Masjid for which there are also

five prophetic practices:

1. Walking.

If one is able to walk to the Masjid and it is close he should do so, and if it is not, one may take a ride and then walk from his car to the Masjid and God-Willing this too will be counted for him and he will earn the reward for it.

2. Come early to the mosque.

One should aim to enter the mosque prior to the imam climbing his pulpit for it is narrated that the Messenger peace be upon him said: “That at every door of the Masjid there are angels that register the names of everyone that enters, in order. Then once the imam climbs on his pulpit (to begin his sermon) they wrap up their scrolls and (enter and) sit to listen to the imam.”

3. Greeting the Masjid.

The Prophet peace be upon him advised us to not sit until we greet the Masjid by praying two rak’aat called “Tahiyet il Masjid”. Even if the imam has climbed the pulpit and has begun his sermon it is still recommended to pray the greeting prayer.

4. Pick a close spot to the Imam.

I (sheikh Mohammad As Saggaf) find it strange that someone would come early to the Masjid and then go pick a spot right at the back of the Masjid and lean against the wall at the back of the Masjid, when indeed it is the Prophetic practise to look for the closest spot to the imam.

5. Attentiveness to the sermon.

Some people, for example, fall asleep throughout the entire sermon; MashaAllah! The tranquillity of sleep falls upon them only during the time of the sermon. Sometimes you find many people asleep during the sermon. Unfortunately they lose an immense reward. So listening is important, as well as avoiding nullifying acts. Indeed, there are some common mistakes that people make that nullify their Jumu’ah.

Some people for example check their emails, play with their phones etc. The Messenger has indicated to us that even moving a pebble during the sermon invalidates ones Jumu’ah and whoever invalidates it there is no Jumu’ah for him. Likewise if someone tells a friend next to him to listen he has invalidated his Jumu’ah and whoever invalidates it there is no Jumu’ah for him.

Etiquettes for the day and night of Jumu’ah

(other than those dealing with the prayer)

1. Reading Surat Al-Kahf (the Cave).

The Messenger peace be upon him said: Whoever reads the chapter of the Cave on the day of Jumu’ah light will shine from him until the following Jumu’ah. It will also serve as a defence for us from the trials of the Dajjal, may Allah protect us from his trials and from the precursors of his trials.

2. Salawaat.

This is a personally requested etiquette by the beloved Prophet peace be upon him to us. He said: “Send plenty of prayers upon me on the night and the day of Jumu’ah”. Indeed if we send one prayer upon the Prophet peace be upon him, Allah sends 10 prayers upon us, and prayer from Allah is Mercy.

3. Supplication and anticipation for the “Hour of Acceptance”!

The Prophet peace be upon him said to us: “There is an hour on the day of Jumu’ah, if a Muslim asks Allah in it, Allah will Most Surely! Give him!” And this hour is called the “Hour of Granting/Acceptance”. Most of the scholars and indeed some of the greatest Companions like: Imam Ali and Our Lady Fatima Al-Zahra may Allah be pleased with them said that this “Hour of Granting” is the final hour before sunset!

One of the most important things that one should be aware of while following the prophetic traditions is to realise on this day, the Day of Jumu’ah, the meaning of the love of Allah for us and our love to Allah which is the foundation for our following the Messenger peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

“Say: If you love Allah then follow me and Allah will love you”

(Surat Aal Imraan verse 31)

Taken from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzt5r1WQ_P0&feature=channel_video_title

:)

Rahman and Rahim... Same thing?

Asalamualaykum,

Excellent lesson in my Tafsir class... The difference between Rahman and Rahim. Are they the same thing? Both come from the root word Ra-H-Ma meaning Mercy and most of the time you will find this phrase "Al-Rahmanir Rahim" as in Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim; translated as:

• The Most Merciful the Compassionate
• The Most Merciful The Most Kind
• The Most Merciful the Gracious
• The Most Merciful the Beneficent.

Or vice versa,

The truth is all these translations more or less mean the same and are rather interchangeable. However, Allah is succinct and doesn't repeat the same meaning in the Quran... Indeed there is a distinct differentiation between Al-Rahman and Al-Rahim.

I'll begin with:

Al-Rahman

This is a very broad and comprehensive all encompassing statement or reference to the Mercy of Allah.

It is a Mercy that is

• Unlimited
• Unquantified
• Unrestricted

Every kind of Mercy that we know of and don't know of, eminates from this attribute of Mercy associated with Al-Rahman.

It encompasses
anyone and
everything
in any context.

Muslim or non, oppressor, tyrant, king, queen, rich poor, destitute, sinner, good-doer, kind caring lover or hater.

Because it is an all encompassing type of Mercy it is indeed an Attribute of Allah that none other can share, express or take part in.

That is to say no human is capable of expressing this sort of mercy. We are incapable of showing mercy to oppressors and tyrants for example. Yet we see Allah out of this attribute of Al-Rahman, still bestowing favours upon such people; tyrants still eat and drink and sustain themselves with the provisions Allah has bestowed on them and He gives them life, freedom and time. He does not cut off provisions from them even though they are a people who are tyrannical and oppressive. Allah's Mercy still encompasses such people. The same can be said for disbelievers in Allah Himself, Allah still provides for them and sustains them and gives them life, freedom and time even though they deny their Provider. Allahu Akbar.

So we say Allah is the only one entitled to this attribute.

One man during the time of the messenger tried to take this title of Allah for himself. He is known in history as Musaylamah al kathhab. Musaylamah had claimed prophethood at the time of the Messenger Muhammad peace and prayers be upon him.

"Musaylamah al Kathhab" is the only name I ever heard for him, I didn't know prior to my tafsir class that he had also called himself Rahman al Yamama (The Most Merciful (one) of Yamama-Yamama being a region of Arabia he resided in) he tried to let this self-imposed title take off with his followers and he tried to spread it so that they would call him by it, but no one did- not a single one, and he had a lot of followers... Reports of the size of his army was something like 20K or 60K. Instead the only title that stuck to him after his failed attempt at prophethood was Musaylamah al Kathhab (kathhab meaning liar). Allah had erased Rahman from his name, and replaced it with the lowest of attributes anyone can attain.

At the time he tried to come up with his own version of revelation, in which he tried to compete with a chapter revealed to the messenger which is titled "The Elephant" Surat Al-Feel chapter 105, which was in reference to an event that took place during the year of the Messengers birth, when Abraha of neighbouring Yemen and his 60,000 strong battalion army tried to attack the Ka'ba led by 9 or 13 elephants- the first of it's kind ever seen in the Arabian peninsula, the pack was lead by the unique white elephant named Mahmoud- I adore this name because of this elephant! Anyway, to cut a long story short Musaylamah had received Amr bin 'Aas who asked him if he had received any revelations as Muhammad peace be upon him had received Surat Al-Feel to which he said yes, I received this: ‘The elephant … and what will make you understand the elephant? It has a ropey tail and a long trunk.’ To which Amr bin 'Aas said, "I swear by Allah! You know that I know that you are a liar!" (kadhhab!)

So this is the name that befittingly stuck to him.

In application we are forbidden from calling anything/anyone- whether it be our sons, daughters or businesses "Rahman", unless "Abd" precedes the name eg: Abdur Rahman.

Al-Rahim

This is a much more narrower concept of Allah's Mercy, unlike Al-Rahman which is all encompassing, Al-Rahim is a special "brand" of Allah's mercy if you like. It refers only to the believers and how Allah will manifest His Mercy towards them on the Day of Resurrection.

This mercy is saved for His slaves on the Day of Rising, as following on from the Haddith of Allah's Beloved, peace and blessings be upon him: Upon the narration of Abu Hurayra, he reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "Allah Almighty has divided mercy into one hundred parts. He kept ninety-nine parts and sent down one part to earth. Because of that one single part, creatures are merciful to one another so that even the mare will lift its hooves away from its foal so that it does not trample on it." [Bukhari]

The 99 remaining Mercies are reserved for the Day of Resurrection and it is at this time we will see most the manifestation of Allah's attribute; Al-Rahim.

There are many haddith that show us how Allah's Mercy will be on this Momentous Day. The major ones include the following:

1. Shade of Allah on the Day of the Gathering. When one and all will be made to stand for 50,000 years, under the hot sun which will be just overhead, on the straight and level plain erected by Allah for all the nations to stand on. Everyone from Adam to the last man to ever live will be made to stand there, all awaiting the beginning of Judgement... As a result some people will be ankle high, knee high, waist high, neck high, chin high, nose high or drowing in their sweat. Allah protect us! While others the righteous believers will be shaded under Allah's Magnificent throne out of His Mercy towards them. That day, there will be no shade save His Alone. Beneath His throne are a 7 categories of believers as narrated by Abu Hurayrah in Sahih Bukhari:
1. A just ruler
2. A yong man who has been brought up in the worship of Allah (ie worships Allah alone, sincerely from his childhood)
3. A man whose heart is attached to the mosque (offers the 5 compulsory congregational prayers in the mosque)
4. Two persons who love each other only for Allah's sake and they meet and part in Allah's cause only
5. A man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for an illegal relationship with her and says; I am afraid of Allah
6. A person who practices charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (ie. no one knows how much he has given in charity)
7. A person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes become flooded with tears dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
2. Drinking from the blessed fountain- Al Kauthar- of the Messenger which he described in the following haddith as reported by Muslim. Anas reported: One day the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) was sitting amongst us and he dozed off. He then raised his head smilingly. We said: What makes you smile O Messenger of Allah? He said: A Sura has just been revealed to me, and then recited: "In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Verily We have given thee Kauthar (fount of abundance). Therefore turn to thy Lord for prayer and offer sacrifice, and surely thy enemy is cut off (from the good)". Then he (the Holy Prophet) said: Do you know what Kauthar is? We said: Allah and His Messenger know best. The Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) said: It (Kauthar) is a canal which my Lord, the Exalted and Glorious has promised me, and there is an abundance of good in it. It is a cistern and my people would come to it on the Day of Resurrection, and tumblers there would be equal to the number of stars. A servant would be turned away from (among the people gathered there). Upon this I would say: My Lord, he is one of my people, and He (the Lord) would say: You do not know that he innovated new things (in Islam) after you. Ibn Hujr made this addition in the hadith:” He (the Holy Prophet) was sitting amongst us in the mosque, and He (Allah) said: (You don’t know) what he innovated after you” dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
   Abu Huraira reported: Verily Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: My Cistern has its dimensions wider than the distance between Aila (in Jordan) and Aden (in Yemen), and its water is whiter than ice and sweeter than the honey diluted with milk, and its cups are more numerous than the numbers of the stars. Verily I shall prevent the (faithless) people therefrom just as a man prevents the camels of the people from his fountain. They said: Messenger of Allah, will you recognise us on that day? He said: Yes, you will have distinctive marks which nobody among the peoples (except you) will have; you would come to me with a blazing (luminous) forehead and bright hands and feet on account of the traces of ablution. [Muslim] dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
3. Intercession. Rasulullah peace be upon him will be the greatest intercessor for us on the Day of Rising. When people from every nation will be running around asking the prophets to save them from the Wrath of Allah that day, they will all reply with nafsy nafsy! Myself myself! None will be able to intercede for the people except the one granted the Greatest Intercession, Muhammad ibn Abdillah, peace be upon him- a station given to him from the Mercy of Allah. While the messengers on the Day of Rising are made to reside on their pulpits, the Messenger of Allah will not take his place on his as he will be preoccupied with seeking intercession for his nation. Truthful is the One who said, "We did not send you but a mercy to mankind!" (Surat Al Anbiyaa verse 107) dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
4. Light. The day that there will be no light save the light of Allah, Allah out of His Restricted Mercy He will grant the believers light on their faces, arms and feet and wherever water touched during their ablution. Allah says in the Holy Quran: On the Day you shall see the believing men and the believing women their light running forward before them and by their right hands. Glad tidings for you this Day! Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever! Truly, this is the great success! On the Day when the hypocrites men and women will say to the believers: "Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!" It will be said: "Go back to your rear! Then seek a light (of your own)!" So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment." (Surat Al Hadid, Verse 12-13) dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
5. Speed at the Siraat. The Siraat is a bridge that all must pass over, Muslim or Non Human or Jinn. This bridge is like a thread only thinner than a hair and sharper than the sharpest blade and beneath it is the fire of Hell, may Allah protect us! Those of the believers who were good and upright and held the laws of Allah will be made to pass on it at lightening speed out of His Mercy towards them and their upholding the covnant of Allah. Narrated by Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: We, the companions of the Prophet said, "O Allah's Apostle! What is the bridge?' He said, "It is a slippery (bridge) on which there are clamps and (Hooks like) a thorny seed that is wide at one side and narrow at the other and has thorns with bent ends. Such a thorny seed is found in Najd and is called As-Sa'dan. Some of the believers will cross the bridge as quickly as the wink of an eye, some others as quick as lightning, a strong wind, fast horses or she-camels. So some will be safe without any harm; some will be safe after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down into Hell. The last person will cross by being dragged over the bridge." [Bukhari] May Allah fasten our heels on the Day heels are made firm and heels are made to fall! dddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
6. Forgiveness and saving (believing) wrong-doers from Hellfire. This is the Primary manifestation of Allah's Mercy on that Day. The stories! O Allah, the stories! So many examples and beautiful stories of how people will be forgiven... To succinct I will only share one; which is *so* beautiful... Upon the narration of Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "A believer will be brought close to his Rubb on the Day of Resurrection and enveloping him in His Mercy, He (SWT) will make him confess his sins by saying: `Do you remember (doing) this sin and this sin?' He will reply: `My Rubb, I remember.' Then He (SWT) will say: `I covered it up for you in the life of world, and I forgive it for you today.' Then the record of his good deeds will be handed to him". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Allahu Akbar! What a beautiful note to end on. *tear*

I will just conclude by saying, we don't deal with the name Rahim as we do Rahman. This can be used as a name on its own (like Karim, Mumin, Aziz etc.) because Allah has allowed use for it in the Quran but just as a general rule of thumb it's more ideal to name sons Abdur Rahim out of honour and venerration for the Name of Allah. It can be used as a title too so one can refer to a man as "Rahim bi ahlih" or "Rahim be 'abdih"- one merciful to his household or one merciful towards his servant... We can share in this sort of mercy as it is a more restricted and targeted type of mercy.

May Allah aliven our hearts that we may be merciful and compassionate towards one another just as we would hope to receive the Mercy and Compassion of the Most Merciful...

As always, Allah knows best.