Al-Fatihah · 1:3Makkah
The Lord of everything leads with mercy.
Why mercy comes right after lordship
What follows Lord of the worlds
Lord of the worldsowns all of it
and is
Entirely Mercifulmercy over everything
Especially Mercifulmercy for you
What His power looks like
power means harshnessthe boss who crushes
power wrapped in mercyMy servant has glorified Me
Straight after naming Allah as Lord of all the worlds, the servant names His mercy again. In the same hadith of the divided prayer, Allah answers this line: My servant has glorified Me.
Think of the most powerful person you know: a manager, a landlord, a judge. Power usually makes people nervous. Here the One with all power introduces Himself by mercy, twice. That is who you are speaking to when you stand to pray.
Someone that powerful must be waiting to punish me.
The One who owns everything chose to be known first by His mercy.
Try this
Remember one mercy you received this week that you did nothing to earn. Thank Him for it.
Simplified reflection. Read the tafsir for scholarship.draft