Name 83 of 99

الرَّؤُوفُ

Ar-Ra'uf – The Most Kind, the Most Compassionate

Transliteration
Ar-Ra'uf
Meaning
The Most Kind, the Most Compassionate
Arabic root
ر أ ف
Theme
Mercy and love

Meaning of Ar-Ra'uf

Ar-Ra'uf describes an intense, tender compassion that removes hardship. Ra'fah is often explained as the gentlest kind of mercy. In the Quran it is usually paired with Ar-Rahim, as in the statement that Allah is Kind and Merciful to people.

Ar-Ra'uf in the Quran

Ar-Ra'uf appears in the Quran as a name or description of Allah. Two of the verses where it occurs:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَٰكُمْ أُمَّةًۭ وَسَطًۭا لِّتَكُونُوا۟ شُهَدَآءَ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَيَكُونَ ٱلرَّسُولُ عَلَيْكُمْ شَهِيدًۭا ۗ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا ٱلْقِبْلَةَ ٱلَّتِى كُنتَ عَلَيْهَآ إِلَّا لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يَتَّبِعُ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِمَّن يَنقَلِبُ عَلَىٰ عَقِبَيْهِ ۚ وَإِن كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَٰنَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِٱلنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Thus We have appointed you a middle nation, that ye may be witnesses against mankind, and that the messenger may be a witness against you. And We appointed the qiblah which ye formerly observed only that We might know him who followeth the messenger, from him who turneth on his heels. In truth it was a hard (test) save for those whom Allah guided. But it was not Allah's purpose that your faith should be in vain, for Allah is Full of Pity, Merciful toward mankind.

Quran Surah Al-Baqarah 2:143 · Translation: Pickthall

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِۦٓ ءَايَٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَٰتٍۢ لِّيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

He it is Who sendeth down clear revelations unto His slave, that He may bring you forth from darkness unto light; and lo! for you, Allah is Full of Pity, Merciful.

Quran Surah Al-Hadid 57:9 · Translation: Pickthall

Reflection

Allah's laws contain ease and compassion; His religion is not meant to crush people.

Related names: mercy and love

Frequently asked questions

What does Ar-Ra'uf mean?

Ar-Ra'uf (الرَّؤُوفُ) means "The Most Kind, the Most Compassionate". Ar-Ra'uf describes an intense, tender compassion that removes hardship. Ra'fah is often explained as the gentlest kind of mercy. In the Quran it is usually paired with Ar-Rahim, as in the statement that Allah is Kind and Merciful to people.

Is Ar-Ra'uf mentioned in the Quran?

Yes. Ar-Ra'uf is mentioned as a name or description of Allah in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:143 and Surah Al-Hadid 57:9.

The list of 99 names follows the order of the narration in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3507, without the name “Allah”, and adds Al-Ahad from Sunan Ibn Majah 3861. The hadith that Allah has ninety-nine names is in Sahih al-Bukhari 2736 and Sahih Muslim 2677. Quran text: Tanzil (Uthmani); translation: Marmaduke Pickthall (1930, public domain).