filled the upper and lower worlds and all created beings, and encompassed this world and the Hereafter—and reflects on the verses that convey this meaning, such as His saying, Most High: “I will, and My mercy encompasses all things” 1, and the other relevant verses:

“Indeed, Allah is Most Compassionate and Most Merciful to people” 2.

“Look, then, at the effects of Allah’s mercy: how He gives life to the earth after its death. Surely, He will raise the dead to life” 3.

“Do you not see that Allah has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth, and has lavished upon you His blessings, both outward and inward?” 4.

“Whatever blessing you have is from Allah. Then, when hardship touches you, it is to Him that you cry for help” 5.

“If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you could never enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful” 6.

He also recites Surah al-Nahl, which describes blessings both fundamental and subsidiary, all of which are a breath of Allah’s mercy and a manifestation of its effects. Thus, towards its end, He says: “In this way He perfects His blessing upon you, so that you may submit to Him” 7.

Then reflect on Surah al-Rahmān from beginning to end, for it explains and elaborates upon the mercy of Allah Most High. All the varied meanings and diverse forms it describes spring from the mercy of the Most Merciful. Thus, He concludes it by mentioning the perfect, everlasting bliss He has prepared in Paradise for the obedient—a manifestation of His mercy, Most High. For this reason, Allah calls Paradise “mercy,” as in His saying:

“As for those whose faces become white, they will be within Allah’s mercy, abiding therein forever” 8.

It is related in the hadith that Allah said to Paradise: “You are My mercy; through you I show mercy to whomever I will among