ر-ح-م

Feminine noun. From the same root as رَحِيمٌ (merciful), رَحْمَانٌ (most merciful), and رَحِمٌ (womb). The connection between 'womb' and 'mercy' is significant.

God's mercy is a dominant theme in the Quran. Every surah except one begins with 'In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.'

Intensive adjective (فَعِيل pattern). Ar-Raḥīm indicates specific, focused mercy. Distinguished from ar-Raḥmān (general, all-encompassing mercy). Both are from the root ر-ح-م.

The Basmalah (بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ) opens every surah except one. Scholars say ar-Raḥmān is mercy for all creation while ar-Raḥīm is special mercy for believers.

Intensive form (faʿlān) indicating all-encompassing mercy. One of the most frequent divine names. Always definite with al-.

Appears at the start of every surah (except at-Tawbah) in the Basmalah. Denotes God's universal mercy to all creation.

Form I verb. Present: يَرْحَمُ. Imperative: اِرْحَمْ. This root generates more divine names than any other: الرَّحْمٰنُ, الرَّحِيمُ, and the noun رَحْمَةٌ (q038).

God's mercy encompasses everything — this is the foundational principle. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'God divided mercy into 100 parts; 99 He reserved for the Day of Judgment.'