Allah's boundless mercy towards His servants

There are many descriptive names of Allah Almighty in the Holy Quran. One of them is ‘Latif’.

The literal meaning of the word ‘Latif’ is, the Most Gracious.

Allama Abdur Rahman As-Sa’di (rah.) said, ‘Al-Latif’ is the Being who knows all the secrets, who conveys the benefits to the servants in a way that they themselves do not understand. He is ‘Khabir’ (All-Knowing) and ‘Rauf’ (Extremely Kind).

This name contains deep knowledge as well as subtle mercy. Allah is invisibly merciful to each of His servants, He arranges for their sustenance, guidance and welfare in a way that they never imagine.

In the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty says, ‘Allah is Most Merciful to His servants.

He provides sustenance to whom He wills. And He is the Almighty, the Mighty. (Surah: Ash-Shura, verse: 19)

In this verse, Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) has translated the word ‘Latif’ as the merciful, while Muqatil (may Allah be pleased with him) has translated it as the merciful. Another meaning is subtle.

Muqatil (may Allah be pleased with him) said, Allah is merciful to all His servants. Even the disbelievers and sinners are showered with His blessings in this world. Allah’s grace and mercy towards His servants are innumerable.

Allah’s provision is extensive for the entire creation. The provision of Allah reaches even the animals that no one knows about, living on land and in water.

The verse says that He provides sustenance to whom He wills. Allah Almighty has countless types of sustenance. Everyone receives sustenance suitable for life. Then He has placed different levels and standards in the distribution of special types of sustenance. To some He has given more sustenance of wealth. To some He has given health and strength, to some He has given knowledge and to others other types of sustenance. In this way, every person is dependent on others, and this dependence motivates them to mutual help and cooperation, on which the foundation of human civilization is based. (Qurtubi, Fathul Qadir)

According to some, ‘Lateef’ means helping secretly. For example, Allama As-Sa’di (rah.) said, ‘Allah’s Attributed Name Latif means that He leads the servant to such goodness that he never even realizes. For example, He guides the servant in a way that he does not even think of; the angels inspire good deeds in his mind; social worship such as congregational prayers, Hajj or Ramadan; through these, He connects the servants to mutual benefit.

Sometimes He limits some worldly desires for the servant, because it might make him heedless. This is also the immense mercy of Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran, ‘Fighting has been prescribed for you, although it is disliked by you; and it may be that you dislike a thing, but it is good for you; and it may be that you love a thing, but it is bad for you. And Allah knows and you do not know.’ (Surah: Al-Baqarah, verse: 216)

Although this verse is mainly about jihad, sometimes Allah puts people in temporary hardship, to purify them, to strengthen their faith, to save them from the destruction of this world and the Hereafter - this temporary hardship is also given by Allah Almighty out of mercy. So that they can be protected from greater and permanent hardship.

Again, Allah Almighty shows mercy to some of his servants by giving them birth in good families or giving them the opportunity to be in contact with righteous servants, which helps them to become mentally pure and faithful. It helps them to seek lawful sustenance and be content with little. In short, we are under the shadow of Allah Almighty’s immense mercy at every moment. Therefore, we should be grateful to Allah Almighty at every moment of our lives. Try to guide ourselves towards the path of Allah’s pleasure.