The All-Merciful

The Mercy that precedes all things and embraces the entire universe.

The tongue

An intensive form (faʿlān) on the root r-ḥ-m: the womb, the matrix. Al-Kāfījī specifies that this form indicates amplitude — a mercy so vast that it overflows onto every existent thing, believer or not.

The reason

This is the mercy of creation: it is through it that things are, rather than not being. The gift of existence before any other gift.

The Sufi meaning

For al-Kāfījī, ar-Raḥmān is the breath (nafas (النَّفَس)) that sustains the worlds. At every instant, His mercy begins the world anew. Without it, the universe would return to nothingness.

The servant's portion

Let the servant be merciful toward every being, without distinction — for the rain of ar-Raḥmān falls upon all.