رَحْمَة
raḥmafeminine
In Arabic, mercy can be expressed as رَحْمَة (raḥma) or شَفَقَة.
Meaning: forgiveness or compassion (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| رَحْمَة | raḥma | feminine |
| شَفَقَة | šafaqa | feminine |
The term refers to the concept of forgiveness or compassion.
Which one should you use?
رَحْمَة (raḥma) is typically used to describe divine mercy or a broad, spiritual compassion. In contrast, شَفَقَة (šafaqa) is more specifically used to describe pity or compassion felt for someone in a vulnerable or suffering state.
How does it change in a sentence?
رَحْمَة is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
raḥma
When do people say it?
The phrase رَحْمَة الله (raḥmat Allāh), meaning the mercy of God, is a very common expression used to invoke God's mercy.
Did you know?
- The word رَحْمَة (raḥma) shares the same linguistic root as the word for 'womb', رَحِم (raḥim). This links the concept of mercy to the instinctive, nurturing care a mother provides for a child.
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, the phrase رَحْمَة الله is not just a prayer but is commonly added after mentioning the name of someone who has passed away.
- The root of رَحْمَة is used to describe various forms of kindness, including the 'mercy' shown by a rain shower that ends a drought.
Examples in context
- أسأل الله مَغْفِرَتَهُ وَرَحْمَتَهُI ask God for His forgiveness and mercy.
- يرحم والديكMay God have mercy on your parents.
- عفوك عني، أعتبره رحمةYour forgiveness to me, I consider it mercy.
- نَحْنُ نَحْتَاجُ إِلَى رَحْمَةِ اللهِ.nahnu nahtaaju ilaa rahmati Allah.We need the mercy of God.
- هَذَا الْفِعْلُ يَنْبَعُ مِنْ رَحْمَةٍ.haadhaa al-fi'lu yanba'u min rahmatin.This act stems from mercy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mercy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
