OMAR SULEIMAN
Servants Most Merciful of the
K KUBE PUBLISHING
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Servants of the Most Merciful First published in England by Kube Publishing Ltd Markfield Conference Centre Ratby Lane, Markfield Leicestershire, LE67 9SY United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1530 249230 Website: www.kubepublishing.com Email: info@kubepublishing.com © Omar Suleiman 2026 All Rights Reserved. 1st impression, 2026. The right of Omar Suleiman to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patent Act 1988. Cataloguing-in-Publication Data is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-1-84774-269-8 Casebound eISBN 978-1-84774-270-4 Ebook Proofreading and editing: Quillspire Cover design and typesetting: Afreen Fazil (Jaryah Studio) Printed by: IMAK Ofset, Turkey.
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Contents 2 Introduction 16 Chapter 1 Humility and Gentleness 34 Chapter 2 Modesty and Peace 54 Chapter 3 Prostration and Standing 80 Chapter 4 Prayer and Protection 104 Chapter 5 Generosity and Moderation 130 Chapter 6 Piety and Scrupulousness 164 Chapter 7 Forgiveness and Punishment 190 Chapter 8 Speech and Indecency 212 Chapter 9 Receptivity and Families 236 Chapter 10 Reward and Bliss
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Introduction
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In this book, we will explore the concept of “ʿibād al-Raḥmān”, or “servants of the Most Merciful”, and analyse the profound characteristics we are told this exceptional group of servants possess. The term is taken from a beautiful passage in the Qurʾān that offers believers a comprehensive guide to living a life of purpose and meaning. It spans the full spectrum of human experience—from the intimate moments of qiyām al-layl (night prayer) in the corner of one’s room, to public dealings in a courtroom, to even the seemingly mundane moments of life. Before delving into the characteristics detailed in these verses, we must first understand the significance of the title Allah c bestows upon the ʿibād al-Raḥmān. Allah c says in the Qurʾān:
ِ ِ ِوَن ََع ََلى �اَأْلَ ْْرِض َ ُيَن ََي ْْمُش ْ الَّر َ ََوِع ََبا ُُد َ ْحَٰم� ٰ ِِن اَّلَِذ ِ َج َ َخا وَن َقَاُلُوا ََس ااَل ًًما َ ََه ْْو ًًنا ََو ِإ�َِذَا َ اِه ُُل َ َط ََب ُُه ُُم ا ْْل
The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk on the earth modestly, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace.” [al-Furqān 25:63] 3
Introduction Summary What is the definition of ‘Ibād al-Raḥmān? Those who are willingly serving and worshipping the Most Merciful. When Allah gives you a title with His name, it's a means of honoring you.
Why al-Raḥmān? This title belongs only to Allah. Only Allah can be called “al-Raḥmān” because no one can achieve all-encompassing mercy like Him. Every defined quality of the ʿIbād al-Raḥmān is an implementation of mercy. “The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you.” [Sunan at-Tirmidhi 1924]
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How is “Al-Raḥmān” different from “Al-Raḥīm”?
Al-Raḥmān Allah’s allencompassing mercy.
Al-Raḥīm Allah’s exclusive mercy.
Includes believers and disbelievers, the apparent and the Unseen, the dunya and the ākhirah.
Does not include everyone.
Humans cannot achieve all-encompassing mercy.
Humans can reflect this type of mercy.
Who are the Ultimate ʿIbād al-Raḥmān? The Prophet ﷺknown as Rahmatan lil ‘Aalameen (Mercy to All Worlds) “We did not send you except as a mercy to the worlds.” (21:107)
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CHAPTER 1
Humility and Gentleness
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ِ ِ ِوَن ََع ََلى �اَأْلَ ْْرِض َ ُيَن ََي ْْمُش ْ الَّر َ ََوِع ََبا ُُد َ ْحَٰم� ٰ ِِن اَّلَِذ ِ َج َ َخا وَن َقَاُلُوا ََس ااَل ًًما َ ََه ْْو ًًنا ََو ِإ�َِذَا َ اِه ُُل َ َط ََب ُُه ُُم ا ْْل
The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk on the earth modestly, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace.” [al-Furqān 25:63] Our journey began with the concept of ʿibād al-Raḥmān (servants of the Most Merciful) — a beautiful title that speaks volumes about the character expected of these special servants. Too often, we find ourselves rushing past the acute implications of this bond, eager to list the designation’s attributes instead. Many delve immediately into describing how these servants conduct themselves, overlooking the elegance of the title itself: “servants of the Most Merciful”. Allah c says that these individuals walk modestly upon the earth and respond with peace when confronted by the ignorant. It is easy to gloss over the significance of walking modestly, focusing instead on the response to ignorance, perhaps due to the many stories about our predecessors handling difficult encounters with wisdom and grace. Indeed, any biography of the Rightly Guided Caliphs of early Islam, the Companions, or any 17
CHAPTER 2
Modesty and Peace
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THINK What is Shayṭān trying to make you do? Stop to feel the level of pain when you are rude or harsh. How can you help yourself rise above that impulse? REFLECT What situations have you faced in which you practiced or failed to practice hilm? REMEMBER You are only responsible for your deeds. If someone acts like a jāhilūn with you, it doesn’t mean you are responsible for dealing with them. Your goal is to be elevated in the eyes of Allah. ACT Practice forbearance daily by being patient with small trials. Let the trials in your life not harden you; but soften you. Let it bring light into your heart and mind..
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CHAPTER 9
Receptivity and Families
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ِ ِ اِت ََرِّبِ ِِه ْْم ََل ْْم ََي ِ يَن ِإ�َِذَا ُُذِّك ُُِروا ِبِ�آ ََي ُص ًًّما ُ ِخ ُُّروا ََع ََل ْْي ََها َ ََواَّلَِذ ِ ِ ْب ََل ََنا ِِم ْْن َأَ ْْز ََو اِج ََنا َ ُيَن ََيُقُ وُل ْ وَن ََرَّب�َ ََنا ََه َ ََو ُُع ْْم ََيا ًًنا ۞ ََواَّلَِذ ِ ِ اًما ْ ََوُذ ُِِّرَّيَاِتِ ََنا ُق ََُّر ََة َأَ ْْع ُُي ٍٍن ََو ً يَن ِإ � ََِم َ اْج ََع ْْل ََنا ِل ْْل ُُمَّتَِق
And those who, when reminded of their Lord’s āyāt, do not fall against them deaf and blind. And those who say, “Our Lord! Give us comfort in our spouses and offspring. And make us a good example for the righteous.” [al-Furqān 25:73-74]
Now, we are told that the ʿibād al-Raḥmān do not ignore the āyāt of their Lord c. How does this relate to the previous āyah? Scholars describe two connections here. Firstly, these are people who receive critical advice and admonition well. Everyone loves to give naṣīḥah (advice), but few people love to receive it. Allah c indicates that these people, when reminded of His āyāt, do not dismiss them. When they encounter falsehood and vain speech, they pass by with honour and grace. But when someone reminds them of the āyāt of Allah c, they receive the admonition and critique gladly. This was exemplified by ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb h who, despite his dedication to rectifying everything around him, would humbly accept 213
Chapter Nine Summary ِ ِ ْب ََل ََنا ِِم ْْن َأَ ْْز ََو اِج ََنا َ ُيَن ََيُقُ وُل ْ وَن ََرَّب�َ ََنا ََه َ ََواَّلَِذ
ِ ِ اًما ْ ََوُذ ُِِّرَّيَاِتِ ََنا ُق ََُّر ََة َأَ ْْع ُُي ٍٍن ََو ً يَن ِإ � ََِم َ اْج ََع ْْل ََنا ِل ْْل ُُمَّتَِق
And those who say, “Our Lord! Give us comfort in our spouses and offspring. And make us a good example for the righteous.” [al-Furqān 25:74]
What separates the ʿIbād al-Raḥmān from the rest of the believers? • • •
Their most distinctive quality is their eagerness for Allah’s raḥmāh. This eagerness manifests itself in their supplication for salvation. But they don’t just want raḥmāh for themselves—they extend that raḥmāh to their families by making duʿāʾ for their salvation.
Why is this duʿāʾ mentioned in the Qur’an? •
The Sahabah were a generation of converts. In the early Makkan period, they asked for guidance for their families and to best exemplify the faith they’d adopted.
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The best form of da’wah is to live your faith and avoid hypocrisy. Your character, principles, and your public and private selves are witnesses for or against you. Making this duʿāʾ for your family continues to be one of the ways of exemplifying the beautiful character of the ʿIbād al-Raḥmān. It’s a prayer for salvation for those you love most.
What are the details of this duʿāʾ ? “Grant us from among our spouses and offspring coolness to our eyes…” (25:74) • •
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Qurrata ‘ayyun – coolness of the eyes The previous verses referenced those who do not become deaf or blind to the call of their Lord. Here, believers request that the joy of their eyes be synchronous: In the sight of Allah, those with taqwa are most deserving of His pleasure. In the sight of believers, their joy is to see their families embrace Islam and have taqwa.
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CHAPTER 10
Reward and Bliss
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ٰ ِ يَها ََت َ ُأُوَٰل� ِِئ ِح ََّي ًًة ْ َك ُُي َ ْج ََز ْْو ََن ا ْْل ُُغ ْْر ََف ََة ِبِ ََما َ َِص ََب ُُروا ََو ُُي ََلَّق َْْو ََن ِف ِ ِ َ ۞ ََوَس ااَل ًًما اًما ْ َح ُُس ََن َ ِيَن ِف َ ۚيَه ۚا ً َْت ُُم ْْس ََتَقَ ًًّرا ََو ُُمَق َ َخاِلِد َ ُ ِ۞ ُق ُْْل ََما ََي ْْع ََبُأُ ِب ُك ْْم ََرِّبِي ََل ْْواَلا ُُد ََعاُؤُ ُك ُْْم ۖۖ َفََقَ ْْد َك َََّذْب� ْ ُُت ْْم ِ ُ ُك ُ َف ََي اًما َ َف َََس ْْو ً وُن ِل ََز
It is they who will be awarded the Chamber for having persevered—and will be greeted there with salutations and peace. Remaining in there forever—it is an excellent residence and destination. Say, “What weight would my Lord give you, were it not for your prayer? But you have denied, and it will be inevitable.” [al-Furqān 25:75-77] The ʿibād al-Raḥmān are the ones rewarded with lofty palaces in Paradise for their patience, and they are received in Paradise with respect and greetings of peace. Here, taḥiyyah denotes salutation, honour, and dignity. They are welcomed into Paradise, and given salām, the verbal greeting of peace, throughout their stay. Paradise is Dār al-Salām (the Abode of Peace). Allah c says:
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All else being equal, the more hardships one endures in this life, whether inflicted by others or by inexplicable disasters, the higher one’s rank in Paradise will be, so long as the person endures these trials with patience. The Angels will say to the inhabitants of Jannah:
ُ ََس ااَل ٌٌم ََع ََل ْْي لَّدا ِِر َ َص ََب ْْرُتُ ْْم ۚۚ َف َِِن ْْع ََم ُُع ْْق ََبى ا َ ُك ْْم ِبِ ََما
“Peace be upon you—because you were patient. How excellent is the Final Home.” [al-Raʿd 13:24] The salutations the servants of the Most Merciful receive in Paradise are a mark of respect, compensating for the honour they were deprived of in this life due to their humility and character. They endured numerous insults and copiuous derision. However, in the Hereafter, they receive taḥiyyah from the Angels. This respect is returned to them as a reward for the salām they consistently responded with when faced with challenging situations, such as conciling between believers or responding to the ignorant. In the face of those who were foolish and tried to provoke them, they replied, “Salām.” It is only fitting that the salām they once extended to others is now returned to them, and by no less than the Angels! Allah c pronounces: 241