If Allah Created Mercy, Does That Mean He Created His Own Attributes?
Answered by Shaykh Farid Dingle
Question
If Allah created mercy, does that mean He created his own attributes?
Answer
Thank you for your important question.
Allah created the manifestations of mercy and kindness in His creation, but His own mercy is pre-eternal.
Meanings of Mercy
When we say mercy, we mean two things—the act of showing mercy and the manifestations of mercy.
Allah’s act of showing mercy is, in reality, how He uses his beginninglessly eternal attributes of Will and Power and is, as such, beginninglessly eternal.
Out acts of showing mercy are created, as are the manifestations of mercy, such as having food, there being peace, kindness between people, etc.
Please see: What Is The Difference Between God’s Will And His Love And Mercy?
The Hadith
In the hadith, it says, ”Allah has one hundred mercies. He has sent down just one mercy to Jinnkind, mankind, and creatures, large and small. It is because of it that people are kind towards each other, that they are nice to each other, and it is because of it vicious animals are compassionate towards their young. Allah Most High has kept ninety-nine mercies for the Day of Rising with which He will show kindness to His slaves.” [Bukhari]
As mentioned, what is meant is the manifestations of mercy, such as the various mercies and blisses of Paradise.
Drawing from Allah’s Mercy
Allah and His attributes and the slave and his attributes are completely different and distinct. “And for Allah is the highest attribute. And He is Exalted in Might, the Wise.” [Quran, 16:60]
That said, there is an element to which we may draw from Allah’s attributes and reflect them in our own imperfect way.
One of the Sufi shaykhs of the 20th century, Shahidullah Faridi, said, “Since the ‘ruh’ by his nature is a reflector of the Divine Qualities, and the seat of ‘al-Takhalluq bi Akhlaq Allah’ (assimilation of the manners of God), his basic attitude towards other souls is that of sympathy and kindness, in consonance with the Divine pronouncement: ‘My Mercy prevails over My Anger.’” [Shahidullah Faridi, Inner Aspects of Faith]
This tells us that although Allah’s mercy is uncreated and our mercy is created, we can actually increase, fine-tune, and attain true mercy and sympathy towards others by increasing our appreciation of Allah’s mercy.
This true mercy and kindness, based on the solid ground of Allah’s mercy, is far more profound, supporting, and selfless than the limited sympathetic and loving energy we can spend on others.
It also differs greatly from the worry or hopeless pain we may experience when we see others suffer. It is also able to bear the sorrows and woes of humanity in a way that purely human sympathy cannot. ”That which you have runs out, while that which Allah has will remain forever.” [Quran, 16:96]
Conclusion
Allah’s own mercy is pre-eternal and uncreated, while the mercy that is seen in creation is the product of His mercy. The mercy that we show towards each other is also created.
I pray this helps.
[Shaykh] Farid Dingle
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years, he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.
