The Great Quality of Mercy

Salaam Minara Family,

Ma sha Allah, how are we here already?!

اَللّهُمَّ بَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَان

O Allah, let us reach the month of Ramadan.

This du’a has carried us through Rajab and Sha’ban and by Allah’s Grace, tonight Ramadan will commence its stay with us as our esteemed guest.

And when Ramadan comes knocking tonight, recite this sunnah du’a of the Prophet [peace be upon him] upon the sighting of the crescent moon 🌙

اللَّهمَّ أَهلَّهُ علينَا بالأمنِ والإيمانِ والسَّلامةِ والإسلامِ ربِّي وربُّكَ اللَّهُ

Allahumma ahillahu ‘alayna bi’l-yumni wa’l-iman wa’l-salamah wa’l-islam. Rabbiy wa rabbuka Allah. 

And if you’re feeling apprehensive, unprepared and unready, this poem by Minara is written just for you. If we could hear Ramadan speak, we imagine, this is some of what it would say ❣️

This is the magic of Ramadan. When life feels overwhelming, when your spirituality feels shattered, the rhythms and patterns of Ramadan can be a steadying arm: the spark returning, the orchestrated symphony of faith, the roots of your efforts filling out.

Ok, so maybe you know that Ramadan is split into three ‘ashara [sets of 10], each with its own significance.

The first ‘ashara of Ramadan is that of mercy.

You know what gives us the tingles?

That mercy is the prelude to not only Ramadan but the entirety of faith itself. The Qur’an starts with بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ [Qur’an 1,1], mercy is mentioned about 348 times in the Qur’an, there is an entire surah dedicated to mercy [Surah Ar-Rahman], Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a Messenger of Mercy, Allah introduces Himself as Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem even before any other quality such as His Power or Might. First impressions are everything and Allah wants us to know Him by His merciful nature.

Subhan Allah.

The following is a great du’a to seek Allah’s Mercy in but of course this isn’t an exhaustive list. Any du’a appealing to Allah’s Mercy, and every du’a is proper and pertinent.

Can there be a more universal experience of mercy than the one of a mother with her child?

Imagine a mother desperately searching for her child amongst soldiers and captives. Imagine the horror she feels and the anguished panic she feels as she runs from one spot to another. Hear her cries as she sobs her child’s precious name, her breath catching in her heart.

Then she spots him, his tiny, fragile body and she bolts to him like a storm chasing the horizon.

Imagine her desperate relief as she scoops him up and nurses him, his little face pressed against her wet cheek.

This is the scene described by the Prophet ﷺ in a hadith to analogise Allah’s Mercy in way that makes sense to us.

After witnessing such a scene, the Prophet ﷺ asked his companions, '“Do you think that this woman would throw her child in the fire?” They said, “No, by Allah, she would not, so far as it lies in her power.”

He ﷺ then said, “Allah the Exalted is more merciful with His slave than this women with her child. [al-Bukhari, 5999]

… Because how do we even begin to comprehend the sheer immensity of His Mercy?

A mother not only protects her child from the worst of situations, she also seeks only the best for them.

Allah is more merciful than this.

This is not just about protecting us from the Hell-Fire but actually finding reasons to enter us into sweet heaven for eternity 💜.

Allah divided mercy into a hundred parts and sent down just one to the earth which is why humans and creatures deal with each other with love, care and compassion.

Allahu-Akbar! Imagine the mercy we will be dealt with on the Day of Judgement because the remaining 99 parts have been reserved for the After Life. [Muslim, 6632]

Allah is  ٱلْرَّحْمَـانُ, The Entirely Merciful. What does this mean?

i. His Mercy is all-encompassing. Whether we are worthy or not, Muslim or otherwise, needs and beyond, what we know we need and even that we don’t know of.

ii. He is perfect in His Mercy. He creates the desires but also satisfies.

And he is ٱلْرَّحِيْمُ, The Especially Merciful. What does this mean?

i. There is a specific kind of mercy reserved for Muslim

ii. There is a specific kind of mercy for special occasions e.g. Ramadan

So seek His Mercy friends. Seek it in the most merciful of months. Seek it when the gates of heaven are wide open and the gates of hell chained shut.

Seek it unashamedly.

He will never let you down.

Mercy in Salah: A Path to Divine Connection

Here’s how you can incorporate mercy into your salah, along with practical ways to bring it into your life:

1. Pray with Humility and Sincerity
   When you pray, do so with a heart full of gratitude, recognizing that every prayer brings you closer to Allah and relies on His mercy. Acknowledge His greatness and your dependence on Him.

Real-life application: Before you begin each prayer, take a few seconds to reflect on just one blessing Allah has given you. Let it ground you in the present moment.

Lower your heart in prayer, remembering that Allah’s mercy brings you closer to Him.

2. Seek Forgiveness for Yourself and Others
   After salah, don’t just ask for forgiveness for yourself - pray for the forgiveness of others. These moments are a chance to extend your prayers beyond personal need.

Real-life application: After your prayers, make it a habit to offer a short but heartfelt du’a for someone you know who might be struggling, whether it’s a family member, a friend, or even someone in need across the world.

Make du’a for forgiveness and mercy, for you and for all those in need.

3. Focus and Devote Your Heart
   Focus fully on your Salah. Let each word you recite connect you deeply to Allah’s mercy. Clear your mind of distractions and open your heart to the beauty and meaning of your prayer.

Real-life application: Turn off distractions before prayer - put your phone on silent, and set aside any thoughts of the day. If you struggle with focus, try repeating one verse you find particularly meaningful or soothing to help center your mind.

Quiet your mind and reflect on the beauty of each verse, knowing it’s a direct plea for mercy.

4. Pray for the Well-being of Others
   Let your mercy extend beyond yourself by praying for others in your salah. The Prophet ﷺ said that when you pray for others, the angels make the same prayer for you.

Real-life application: As you pray, remember those around you - your family, neighbors, and even strangers. Include them in your du’as, asking Allah to grant them mercy, healing, and peace.

Pray for others, and let your mercy extend beyond your own needs.

5. Make Sujud Your Moment of Humility
   Sujud is the closest you come to Allah in salah. Use this moment to humble yourself completely, expressing your need for His mercy.

Real-life application: Take extra time in your sujud to reflect on areas where you need Allah’s mercy the most - whether it’s forgiveness for a mistake, guidance in a difficult situation, or mercy for someone in your life.

In sujud, pour your heart out, knowing that Allah’s mercy is closest in this moment.

 By embracing these moments of mercy in salah, you make mercy a living, breathing part of your everyday life. This spiritual practice transcends the prayer mat and nurtures your relationships with others, creating a life more centered in compassion.

Just one part of that hundred Allah has reserved for us all 💜.

Finally friends, [in the spirit of mercy] making our exuent with a gentle but pressing reminder to please sign up for Minara’s LaunchGood appeal in the next few hours so that Minara benefits from the platform’s referral program.

Minara has been created by our hearts for your hearts and we are so grateful for your continued support 🩵.

And while we cannot return this gratitude in a worthy way, we know Allah, Ar-Razzaq will never leave you dry.

May it be salvation for all our souls.

Aameen Ya Rabb.

💙💜🩵

The Minara Team