AR-RAḤĪM (الرحيم). “The Compassionate.” One of the ninety-nine names or attributes of God. It generally occurs in conjunction with the attribute ar-Raḥmān, e.g. Qurʾān, [Sūrah ii. 158]: “The Merciful, The Compassionate.” [[RAHMAN].]
RAḤMAH (رحمة), Heb. רִחַם riham. “Mercy, compassion.” The attribute of mercy is frequently dwelt upon in the Qurʾān, e.g.:—
[Sūrah vii. 54]: “The mercy of God is nigh unto those who do well.”
[Sūrah x. 58]: “A guidance and a mercy to believers.”
[Sūrah vi. 133]: “Thy Lord is the rich one, full of compassion.”
Ar-Raḥmān, “The Merciful,” is one of the chief attributes of the Almighty.
AR-RAḤMĀN (الرحمان), Heb. רַחוּם rahūm. “The Merciful.” One of the ninety-nine names or attributes of God. It generally occurs in conjunction with the attribute ar-Raḥīm, e.g. Qurʾān, [Sūrah ii. 159]: “Your God is one God. There is no god but He, the Merciful, the Compassionate.” It also occurs in the initial formula, placed at the commencement of each Sūrah, with the exception of the IXth, “In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.”
Al-Baiẓāwī says that ar-Raḥmān is a more exalted attribute than ar-Raḥīm, because it not only contains five letters whilst Raḥīm only has four, but it expresses that universal attribute of mercy which the Almighty extends to all mankind, the wicked and the good, believers and unbelievers.
RAHN (رهن). Pledging or pawning. A legal term which signifies the detention of a thing on account of a claim which may be answered by means of that thing; as in the case of debt. This practice of pawning and pledging is lawful in Islām, for it is related that the Prophet, in a bargain with a Jew for grain, gave his coat of mail in pledge for the payment. It is also said in the Qurʾān, [Sūrah ii. 283]: “Let pledges be taken.” The word is used in the Qurʾān in its plural form, rihān. (For further information on the subject of Pawning, see Hamilton’s Hidāyah, vol. iv. p. 188.)
RAIḤĀNAH (ريحانة). A Jewess whose husband had been cruelly murdered in the massacre of the Banū Quraiz̤ah. Muḥammad offered to marry her if she would embrace Islām; but she refused to forsake the faith of her forefathers, and consented to become his concubine instead of his wife.