1. Gods Rahmah (Loving Grace) in Islam Dr. M. Omar March 2012, Orlando www.islamfromwithin.net www.islamfromwithin.net Awaken to Presence Transform your life workshop series

2. What is Rahmah? Rahmah: The quality of abounding grace inherent in, and inseparable from, the concept of Gods being (Ibn Qayyim) Rahmah: Look at the loving care and tenderness (hanan) and loving kindness of the mother to her baby… (Sharawi, Quran exegesis) Rahmah is derived from RHM, which is the womb. Sustenance and all needs come from there.

3. What is Rahmah? Mercy: the act of forgiving someone or not treating them severely, especially someone who you have the authority to punish (Webster) Grace: the love and kindness that God gives to people Compassion: a feeling of sympathy for someone who is in a bad situation because you understand and care about them (Webster) Love: to care very much about someone Rahmah: Loving Grace

4. Understanding difficulties in life… Every theological and spiritual issue is based on this reality (Gods Loving Grace - Rahmah). Without it, we cannot proceed… When we recognize Gods all-encompassing grace, we can understand the wisdom behind difficulties in our life…

5. Cultural luggage… Weak slaves that are worshipping God in fear of his wrath Angry, powerful God

6. Is this really the case? What do the Scriptures and the Prophets (p) teach us? How should we think of grace vs. wrath? How can this transform our daily life?

7. وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ My loving grace overspreads every thing (Quran 7:56) رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّحْمَةً Our Sustainer! You embrace all things within your loving grace (Quran 40:7) قُل لِّمَن مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ قُل لِّلَّهِ ۚ كَتَبَ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ Say: Unto whom belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth? Say: "Unto God, who has willed upon Himself loving grace (Quran 6:12) Saying of Prophet Muhammad (p): God says: … My loving grace prevails over My anger

8. I need to satisfy my mind and heart Being spiritual and talking about love of God is not playing Pollyanna… Love of God is about seeing the reality as it is, with both our intellects and heart If it is the truth, everything in creation should confirm it…

9. Lets reflect… Saying of Prophet Muhammad (p): Gods loving grace towards His creatures is (infinitely) more than a mothers towards her baby

10. Lets reflect on an example… A loving mother is preparing a surprise party for her daughter…

11. The outcome A surprise party Determines, specifies, shapes General structure is determined Knowledge and wisdom Acts of ordering and choosing Artistry, loving care Every little detail is thought of Will to beautify and intention to decorate Inherent qualities of inner beauty and adornment The whole party and its every little detail is an embodiment of the grace and generosity Loving Grace and Generosity Every action arises from her pure, unconditional love and loving grace Because she is full of beauty and perfection Nothing is expected in return She is known/witnessed through each of her actions, which shows her attributes stemming from her loving grace Her loving grace is overflowing…

12. Lets reflect on the Prophetic saying again: Gods loving grace towards His creatures is (infinitely) more than a mothers towards her baby

13. I can witness and experience all the Divine Attributes And He taught Adam all the Names (Quran 2:31) The outcome World, plants, animals, humans, angels, everything, small and big Determines, specifies, shapes [All-Determiner (Muqaddir), All-Designer (Munazzim), All-Fashioner (Musawwir)] General shape is determined Knowledge and wisdom [All-Knowing (Alim), All-Wise (Hakim)] Acts of ordering and shaping Artistry, loving care [Artist (Sani), Generous (Karim)] Every little detail is thought of Will to beautify and intention to decorate [Beautiful (Jameel), Muzayyin] Inherent qualities of inner beauty and adornment The whole creation and its every little detail is an embodiment of His grace and generosity [Gracious (Rahim), Munificent (Munim)] Loving Grace and Generosity Every creation arises from His pure love and loving grace (Rahmah, Tawaddud) Because He is full of beauty and perfection (Jameel zhul-Kamal) Nothing is expected in return He is known/witnessed through each of His actions which shows His attributes stemming from His loving grace (Rahmah) His love and loving grace are overflowing…

14. Gods Loving Grace is the cause of all creation Loving Grace (Rahmah) Wisdom (Hikmah) Creation

15. The fabric of the universe is LOVE Meaning Material

16. Reality The Prophets way: We have sent you only as loving grace to humankind (Quran 21:107) Surrendering: The natural way Paradise: Now and forever Illusion Apparent freedom, but real slavery Hell: Now and forever I Choose (Loving Grace) (God creates) How are things created? Unity of God Why are things created? Why am I created? Who am I? Love & Grace

17. I can witness and experience all the Divine attributes When I witness the Loving Grace, I fall in love with Him… When I fall in love with Him, I fulfill my purpose of creation Meanwhile, I am transformed too! Life is paradise, now! Wow! Thank you! When I witness the Loving Grace, I fall in love with Him… When I fall in love with Him, I fulfill my purpose of creation Meanwhile, I am transformed too! Life is paradise, now! Wow! Thank you! And He taught Adam all the Names (Quran 2:31)

18. What about fear of God? RealityIllusion I Choose Reality: Loving Grace (Loving Grace) Fear of God is the fear to lose the Loving Grace Like a child hugging her mother, and saying: Never leave me alone!

19. CAUTION: Our ego might not like this reality! We might insist on our illusions: It is all dark (despair) Religion is hard Worship God in fear It is all about destiny (fatalism) Ego does not want change (law of physics!) If I built my life on the illusion that it is dark, I dont want to see that it is actually not! My pride does not want to accept I have been wrong

20. Who else might not like this reality? Those who exploit fear-mongering rhetoric! Fear is an easy way to control the masses... It has been used for ages!

21. I can witness and experience all the Divine attributes وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ My loving grace overspreads every thing (Quran 7:56) رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّحْمَةً Our Sustainer! You embrace all things within your loving grace (Quran 40:7) وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ...those who have attained to faith love God more than all else (Quran 2:165) وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ My loving grace overspreads every thing (Quran 7:56) رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّحْمَةً Our Sustainer! You embrace all things within your loving grace (Quran 40:7) وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ...those who have attained to faith love God more than all else (Quran 2:165) How would our lives be transformed with this reality? What stops us from feeling Gods love every moment? And He taught Adam all the Names (Quran 2:31)