What does the name Ar-Rauf mean?

Ar-Rauf means Allah utterly compassionate, tender-hearted, and kind toward His servants.

Do ra'fah and rahmah differ?

Both are mercy; ra'fah is the most tender, most delicate kind of mercy: the deep compassion felt toward one in hardship.

Al-Asma al-Husna

The one utterly compassionate and kind toward His servants

Arabic

الرَّؤُوف

Transliteration: ar-Raʾūf
Meaning: Ar-Rauf means the one utterly compassionate, tender-hearted, and kind toward His servants. Ra'fah is the most tender, most delicate kind of mercy: the deep compassion felt toward one in hardship. Allah eases the religion so that its burden does not weigh heavily on His servants, and approaches them with compassion.

«...Indeed, Allah is Most Compassionate (Ar-Rauf), Most Merciful (Ar-Rahim), to the people.»

Explanation

Tender compassion
Ra'fah is more tender than rahmah; it is the deep kindness felt toward one who suffers. This compassion of Allah is manifest in the ease of the religion, the openness of the door of repentance, and countless blessings (Al-Hashr, 10).
Encouraging compassion
A servant who recognizes Allah as Ar-Rauf becomes compassionate toward the weak, the needy, and sinners. Not harshness but mercy and gentleness is the character of the believer.

This page is based on Quran verses and authentic hadith sources.

QuranSurah Al-Baqarah, 143
Allah's being Ar-Rauf and Ar-Rahim occurs together in this verse.
QuranSurah Al-Hashr, 10
Allah's being Ar-Rauf and Ar-Rahim also occurs in this verse.
Classical sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Esmâ-i hüsnâ"
Academic source for the explanation of the name Ar-Rauf.

Other Names with closely connected meanings.

Common questions about this Name.

What does the name Ar-Rauf mean?
Ar-Rauf means Allah utterly compassionate, tender-hearted, and kind toward His servants.
Do ra'fah and rahmah differ?
Both are mercy; ra'fah is the most tender, most delicate kind of mercy: the deep compassion felt toward one in hardship.