The Quran Says That Almighty Allah Is Merciful And That He Gives Sever Punishment. So Is He Forgiven Or Is He Revengeful?

The Majestic Quran Mentions many times that Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is the Most Merciful. In fact, all except one of the 114 chapters of the Glorious Quran being with “بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ”, which means

Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) – beginning with the name of – the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

The Compassionate, the Merciful; however in Arabic grammar, both names are intensive forms of the word ‘merciful’. Rahmaan means merciful to all creations, and justice is part of his mercy. Raheem mans merciful especially to the believers and forgiveness is part of this mercy. A complimentary and comprehensive meaning is intended by the use of both of them together.

In addition, Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ speaks of His forgiveness throughout the Glorious Quran. In fact, Almighty Allah’s mercy and forgiveness have been mentioned together more than 70 times in the Holy Quran. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, the Most Exalted, repeatedly reminds us by saying:

وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ “And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful”

[Al-Baqarah 2:218]

But He عَزَّوَجَلَّ also gives severs punishment to those who deserve it. Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ told the beloved and Blessed Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم:

نَبِّئْ عِبَادِىٓ أَنِّىٓ أَنَا ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿٤٩﴾ وَأَنَّ عَذَابِى هُوَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ٱلْأَلِيمُ ﴿٥٠﴾

Inform My bondman that undoubtedly, I surely am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. And that indeed the punishment of Mine is a painful punishment. [Hijr 15:49-50]

Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is ‘Just’, and His justice necessitates that He rewards those who obey and serve Him and punishes those who disobey and rebel against Him.

If Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, the Most Just, punishes a criminal, this would be regarded as His justice and if He forgives a criminal, this would be regarded as his mercy, blessing and forgiveness.

Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, the Most Merciful, forgives all those who repent and correct themselves at any stage in their lives, and He has invited all people to His abundant forgiveness and mercy:

قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ ﴿٥٣﴾ وَأَنِيبُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا۟ لَهُۥ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ ﴿٥٤﴾ وَٱتَّبِعُوٓا۟ أَحْسَنَ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٥٥﴾

Proclaim (O dear Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم), “O my slaves, who have wronged themselves, do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy; indeed Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) forgives all sins; indeed He only is the Oft Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” And incline towads you Lord and submit to Him, before the punishment comes to you and then you may not be helped. And follow this, the best among all, which has been sent down towards you from your Lord, before the punishment comes suddenly upon you whilst you are unaware.” [Zumar 39:53-55]