Attributes of God
Primary 6 · Social and Religious Studies
Attributes of God
Lesson 5 of 5
12 min
Let's begin
Ishimwe broke his neighbour's window with a football. For two days he was too afraid to say sorry. When he finally knocked on the door, his neighbour said, "Thank you for telling the truth. I forgive you. Come, help me fix it."
Ishimwe felt light again. That is a small picture of mercy.
Mercy means forgiving someone and being kind to them even when they do not deserve it. Love means caring deeply for someone and wanting what is good for them.
"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness. ... He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities." (Psalm 103:8, 10)
"...his mercies don't fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22–23)
"Iniquities" means wrong things we have done. Jesus told the story of the Prodigal (Lost) Son (Luke 15). A young man wasted all his father's money and came home ashamed. "While he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him." (Luke 15:20) The forgiving father is a picture of God's mercy.
"In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful."
These words, the Bismillah, open every surah of the Qur'an except one (Surah 9). Muslims also say them before eating and before starting good work. They contain two of Allah's beautiful names: Ar-Rahman (the Beneficent) and Ar-Rahim (the Merciful).
"Say: O My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgiveth all sins. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful." (Qur'an 39:53)
"Prodigal to their own hurt" means people who have done wrong and harmed themselves. The verse tells them never to give up hope of Allah's forgiveness.
"God is love." (1 John 4:8)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
"And He is the Forgiving, the Loving." (Qur'an 85:14)
One of Allah's beautiful names is Al-Wadud, the Loving. The Qur'an also shows Allah's caring closeness: "I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me." (Qur'an 2:186) "Nigh" means near, and a "suppliant" is a person who prays and asks for help.
Jesus taught, "Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful." (Luke 6:36) In the same way, Muslims try to copy the mercy of Ar-Rahim in the way they treat others.
Worked example
A classmate laughed at Mutesi, and later came to say sorry. What would a merciful answer be?
Step 1 Mercy means forgiving, even when the person does not deserve it.
Step 2 So Mutesi accepts the apology and stays kind.
Answer: "I forgive you. Let's be friends again."
Tip
Mercy holds back the stick; love holds out a hand
Mercy = not giving the punishment someone deserves. Love = giving the good that someone needs.
What is mercy?
Answer: forgiving someone and being kind to them even when they do not deserve it.
Which Bible verse says "God is love"?
Answer: 1 John 4:8.
Which two names of Allah are in the Bismillah?
Answer: Ar-Rahman (the Beneficent) and Ar-Rahim (the Merciful).
In the story of the Prodigal Son, what did the father do when he saw his son coming home?
Answer: he ran to him, hugged him, kissed him and forgave him.
Give one way you can show mercy at school.
Answer: for example, forgive a classmate who says sorry instead of taking revenge.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
Everything else in this lesson, including the practice questions, was written by Ganzaa.
Quick check
Match each beautiful name of Allah to its meaning.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
