Ad-Dukhan · Makki · ayah 42 of 59

Ad-Dukhan 44:42

إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

“Except those [believers] on whom Allāh has mercy. Indeed, He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.”

Saheeh International

Essence

When no relative or ally can help, one exception remains: whoever Allah has mercy on, for He is the Almighty, the Merciful.

A reflection

A nest no rope can reach

Illā man raḥima Allāh, innahu huwa al-ʿAzīzu al-Raḥīm: except whoever Allah has mercy on. Indeed, He is the Almighty, the Merciful.

The root of ʿAzīz is strength and hardness. The lexicons describe ʿazāz, hard ground where rain runs off fast and hooves cannot sink. A poet called the eagle ʿazīza, because she nests on the highest peaks, out of every hand's reach. Something ʿazza when it became so rare it could hardly be found.

A climber reaches a high ridge after a long day. Across the gorge, on a sheer crag, he sees an eagle's nest. No path leads there. No rope could reach it. He has climbed all day and feels, for a moment, very strong. Looking at that nest, he feels very small.

One linguistic commentary explains al-ʿAzīz here. He is the One who overwhelms, so that no one can rescue whoever He has willed to punish. And al-Raḥīm: merciful to whoever He wills to have mercy on.

The ego wants to be the one who decides. Who deserves a second chance. Who is beyond forgiveness. Who should be helped. This ayah takes that power out of our hands entirely. On the Day, mercy is not ours to hand out or to withhold. It sits on a crag no human rope can reach.

Does Allah need to describe Himself this way? Is it a demand for praise? The ayah's setting answers. It is spoken into the fear of the Day, just after we are told no one can help anyone. The names are not a boast. They are the only hope left in the room. We do not praise Him to fill some need of His. We praise Him because without His mercy, there is nothing else.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.