Ar-Rahman (الرَّحْمَٰن)
The Most Compassionate
Linguistic Origins & Arabic Root
Root: ر - ح - م (R-H-M)
Etymology: Abundant tenderness, womb-like encompassment, unconditional nurturing love.
Same root: the root ر - ح - م (R-H-M) also gives Ar-Raheem.
Spelling & Pronunciation
Written: الرحمن — alif · lam · ra · ha · mim · nun.
The article: Arabic ra (ر) is a sun letter, so the lam of the definite article ال assimilates into it. That is why the Name is pronounced Ar-Rahman rather than Al-Rahman. Fourteen of the twenty-eight Arabic letters behave this way.
Also written: Ar Rahman, Al-Rahman, Al Rahman — all romanisations of الرحمن, which has no single official spelling in the Latin alphabet.
Mention in the Holy Quran
“In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.”
— Surah Al-Fatihah (1:1-3)
Spiritual Significance & Contemplation
Ar-Rahman denotes an all-encompassing, overflowing mercy that covers all creation unconditionally—sustaining believers and non-believers, humanity, animals, and the natural cosmos alike.
Translations in Multiple Languages
The Most Compassionate
نہایت مہربان، بے حد رحم فرمانے والا
Yang Maha Pengasih
Sonsuz Merhamet Sahibi