Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

A cosmic depiction symbolizes the ever-expanding “womb” of divine mercy nurturing all creation. In Islamic spirituality, the mercy of God is often likened to a nurturing motherly embrace – a womb of compassion that encompasses the entire universethemuslimtimes.infothemuslimtimes.info. This metaphor stems from the very names of God: Ar-Raḥmān (Most Merciful) and Ar-Raḥīm (Most Compassionate) both derive from the Arabic raḥm (womb), indicating that divine mercy is as sheltering and life-giving as a mother’s womb themuslimtimes.info. With this understanding, we approach one of the Qur’an’s most hope-filled verses:

“Say, [that Allah declares] ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [through sin], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’” thequran.love

This verse (Qur’an 39:53) is a powerful divine invitation to hope and repentance. Allah addresses those who have “transgressed against themselves” – that is, committed sins harming their own souls – and still lovingly calls them “My servants” thequran.love. Despite their wrongdoing, they have not lost their relationship with Him. The message is emphatic: never think any sin is too great for God’s forgiveness. Classical scholars note that even the gravest sins are included in “Allah forgives all sins” – “even polytheism (shirk), if one repents and turns sincerely to monotheism, will be completely forgiven” thequran.love thequran.love. According to Imam al-Qurṭubī, this verse was revealed as a solace to people who thought their sins – like murder or adultery committed before Islam – were unforgivable; Allah “extends forgiveness to every sin in its entirety”, provided one truly repents thequran.love. Thus, no matter how far one has fallen, the door of return is wide open.

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