The Messenger ﷺ also explains a word through its implications and aspects of its meaning, as when he explains misgiving as doubt, although doubt is only one aspect of misgiving. Likewise, explaining forgiveness as concealment conveys only part of what forgiveness means. Explaining mercy as the will to do good describes something that mercy entails. There are many similar examples, which we have discussed in The Principles of Quranic Interpretation.

Third, there is no disagreement about the permissibility of invoking mercy upon believers. Yet earlier and later scholars have differed over the permissibility of invoking blessings upon anyone other than the prophets, holding three views that we shall mention later, if Allah Most High wills. Thus, it is clear that the two are not synonymous.

Fourth, if blessings meant mercy, invoking mercy would suffice to fulfill the command to invoke blessings and discharge the obligation according to those who consider it obligatory. One could simply say, “O Allah, have mercy upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.” But this is not the case.

Fifth, someone who has mercy upon another, feels compassion for him, and feeds him, gives him drink, or clothes him is not said to have bestowed blessings upon him. He is, however, said to have shown him mercy.

Sixth, a person may have mercy upon someone he hates and regards as an enemy, finding compassion for him in his heart without invoking blessings upon him.

Seventh, blessings necessarily involve speech: they constitute praise by the one bestowing them for the one upon whom they are bestowed, honouring him, extolling his virtues and qualities, and making mention of him. Al-Bukhārī cited Abū al-‘Āliyah in his Sahīh as saying: “Allah’s blessings upon His Messenger are His praise of him before the angels.”

Ismā‘īl said in his book: Nasr ibn ‘Alī narrated to us: Khālid ibn Yazīd narrated to us, from Abū Ja‘far, from al-Rabī‘ ibn Anas, from Abū al-‘Āliyah, who said concerning “Indeed, Allah and His angels bestow blessings upon the Prophet”: “Allah’s blessings—Almighty and Majestic is He—are His praise of him, and the angels’ blessings upon him are supplication.”

Eighth, Allah—glorified is He—distinguished between His blessings and those of His angels, yet combined them in