A Cushion For Every Fall

Ar-Rahmaan: One of Allah’s most beautiful names. The name after which a Surah in the Qur’an was named, and with which it had began. A name we mention at least 30 times a day. What does it really mean?

The very fact that it is on its own a single Ayah in the Qur’an, calls on us to give more than just a brief thought. It behooves us to reflect and internalize this word because it is in itself a ‘sign’.

The word Ar-Rahmaan literally does not have a single English word sufficient to describe it. It is from a root word “Rahm” which means the “womb” where a child receives delicate treatment unconditionally; where a mother who doesn’t even know the child yet, already supplies him/her with so much love, comfort and care, a place that represents a source of mercy, love and compassion.

Ar-Rahmaan, not only means “The Merciful” as it is often translated as, but the one who is full of love, compassion and kindness. The one who treats our affairs so delicately as though they were babies in the womb of a mother; constantly being cared for and protected. The one who’s love and concern has no boundaries; at a peak, comparable to none.

More Amazing about this beautiful word is that it denotes an ongoing kind of love, in its present-continuous form. So it means, its not just that Allaah is the ultimate source of comfort, love, care and compassion, but that His own love and care is ongoing and continuous. It means we are constantly receiving them and He’s literally caring for us and having mercy on us right now.

This point is incredible and very important to internalize because it especially has the ability to in sha Allaah (by the will of Allaah) change our attitudes towards the events of our lives. Knowing this, accepting this and constantly remembering this is enough to fill our hearts with enough patience, tawakkul (trust in Allah) and gratitude towards Allaah in whatever situation.

Also, the fruits of simply internalizing this single word are exactly what we need, our pre-requisites to attain Jannah and the pleasure of Allaah, success in sha Allaah.

So Allaah will test us, no doubt, in ways we may never imagine, but even as He tests us, He does so delicately. He does not overburden us with more than we can handle. He takes care to give us only that test which we have the ability to pass.

And as things happen in our lives, one event succeeding another, one phase after the other we  need to remember that He plans our affairs with so much care that we should only pause and be grateful, be a little more patient and trust in Him.

This also means that for every time something happens that seems like a “fall”, hard times and trials, Allaah has placed a cushion right there, He has made it bearable for us by His mercy, He’s right there tending to our needs, caring for us beyond our comprehension, in ways we would never understand. And yes, I mean we would never be able to understand, because our perception is too limited, our insight and grasp are way too little to understand everything He does for us. But when we do believe and accept this, and are ready to be patient even in the hardest of times, to be grateful even at the lowest of lows, then glad-tidings await us, for we will be sure to find more reasons to be grateful for even showing patience and gratitude. In the end, we would be of those who will smile having pleased our Lord, ever so loving, All-appreciative of good.

“O you who are patient! Bear a little more, just a little more remains”