Names of Allah
Ar-Ra'uf
Ar-Ra'ūf
The Most Kind, the Compassionate — whose tender mercy and compassion is exceedingly intense.
What does Ar-Rauf mean?
Ar-Rauf is one of the 99 Names of Allah, meaning "The Most Compassionate," "The Most Kind". It expresses an especially tender, gentle mercy that moves to ease hardship and spare His servants from harm. Often mentioned alongside Ar-Rahim (the Merciful), Ar-Rauf adds a nuance of intimate, gentle compassion — a mercy that is delicate and caring.
The Meaning in Depth
Ra'fah is a tender pity even more delicate than rahmah (mercy): it is the gentleness that recoils from causing hardship and rushes to relieve it. Ar-Rauf eases the religion for His servants, lightens their burdens, accepts their repentance gently, and deals with their weakness with kindness rather than severity. The Quran repeatedly describes God as Ra'uf Rahim — Compassionate and Merciful — toward humanity.
Ar-Rauf in the Quran
- "...Indeed, Allah is, to the people, Compassionate and Merciful (Ra'uf Rahim)." (2:143)
- "...And Allah is Kind to His servants." (3:30)
- "...Indeed your Lord is Compassionate and Merciful." (16:7)
Living by This Name
Ar-Rauf fills the believer with hope and intimacy with God: the One they worship is tenderly compassionate, easing their path and treating their faults gently. It dispels despair and harsh images of God, replacing them with the truth of His delicate care. It also inspires the believer to be compassionate and gentle with others — with family, the weak, and all creation — reflecting the ra'fah of Ar-Rauf in their dealings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Ar-Rauf and Ar-Rahim?
Both express mercy. Ar-Rahim is the encompassing, abundant mercy of God; Ar-Rauf adds the nuance of an especially tender, gentle compassion that recoils from causing hardship and hastens to relieve it. The two are often paired to show both the breadth and the gentleness of His mercy.
How does Ar-Rauf show in Islamic practice?
In the ease of the religion: God did not burden His servants beyond their capacity, gave concessions for travel, illness, and hardship, and opened the door of repentance gently. These mercies reflect that the Lawgiver is Ar-Rauf, compassionate toward His servants.
Etymology & origin
Ar-Rauf (الرؤوف) is from the root R-A-F (ر-أ-ف), meaning "tender compassion, deep pity, gentle kindness". Ra'fah is an intense, tender mercy that moves one to remove hardship. Ar-Rauf is the Most Compassionate and Kind: the One whose tender mercy is so great that He guides, eases, and spares His servants out of gentle compassion.
References
- Quran:
- 2:143, 3:30, 9:117, 16:7, 24:20, 57:9
- Hadith:
- Muslim 2319 (Allah is more merciful to His servants than a mother to her child); Bukhari 7376 (Allah's mercy precedes His wrath); Muslim 2754 (Allah's vast mercy divided into one hundred parts); Bukhari 5999 (the tenderness of Allah's mercy)
Related terms
Al-Ghafur
The Forgiving — whose forgiveness is vast, covering even the greatest of sins for those who sincerely repent.
Al-Halim
The Forbearing — who does not hasten in punishing those who disobey, giving them time to repent.
Al-Latif
The Subtle, the Gentle — who is kind to His servants in ways they may not perceive.
Ar-Raheem
The Most Merciful — the special mercy that Allah reserves for the believers in the hereafter.
Ar-Rahman
The Most Gracious — Allah's all-encompassing mercy extending to all creation in this world, believers and disbelievers alike.