Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful)
"Say, 'Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful (Ar-Rahman). Whichever [name] you call - to Him belong the best names (...).'" (Quran 17:110)
Allah is recognized by Muslims as "Ar-Rahman" and "Ar-Rahim," emphasizing His infinite mercy and compassion. The Quran begins with the phrase "Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim" (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), underscoring these attributes. Allah's mercy is considered all-encompassing, extending to every aspect of creation and to all living beings. This belief in Allah's mercy is central to Islamic teachings, encouraging believers to seek forgiveness, show compassion to others, and place their trust in the boundless compassion of the Most Merciful.
Allah's mercy is expressed through the opportunities for repentance and forgiveness. Muslims believe that, regardless of their sins, Allah's door of mercy is always open, and sincere repentance is met with forgiveness.
Even trials and challenges in life are seen as opportunities for personal growth and purification. Muslims believe that facing difficulties with patience can lead to Allah's mercy and reward.
Islamic term meaning:
auzubillah minashaitan ni rajeem (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the accursed Satan)
astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness in God)
auzubillah (I seek refuge in Allah)
In sha Allah (God willing)
Subhanallah (Glory be to God)
La hawla wala kuwata illa billah (there is no power and no strength except with Allah)
bismillah (in the name of Allah)
alhamdulillah (praise be to God)
Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest)
Assalamu Alaykom wa rahmatallahi wa barakatu (Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings)
wassalamu Alaykom wa rahmatallahi wa barakatu (and Peace be upon you too and God's mercy and blessings)
Ma sha Allah (God has willed it)
A blind woman was in labor by the side of the road, but somehow, the people seemed to not notice her and didn't extend help towards her. However, someone from the shadows did see her, observing her.
The man intended to not interfere and let them both die in order for the sinister energy coming off them to cease its existence. But Shinji Hirako wasn't that heartless, even though he didn't believe in God or religion. And so, he tried to help her, but she died in labor.
Shinji decided to take the baby and put it in the care of the Kuchiki clan's orphanage instead of killing it. But he vowed to watch over Sosuke, and if he so much as noticed him manifesting his darkness, he would eliminate him immediately.
Sosuke Aizen grew up to be a charming and smart boy. Everyone loved him and admired him, and he used that to his advantage, hiding his true intentions. When he was very young, he became aware that someone was watching over him with an intent to kill him. Though he pretended not to notice.
He didn't understand why someone would want to kill him and for what purpose. But then he realized something. He seemed to be smarter than everyone else and able to manipulate their emotions towards liking him. And with that, he began to analyze himself and his abilities. Surely something within him caused this man immense fear to the point of stalking him since he was a child.
Soon, Aizen entered the Soul Academy and learned about the world and how to control it. He basked in the feeling that he was a genius and everyone's life was at his mercy. That he could easily do anything to them, and he would not get caught. And with the power of being a Shinigami, he was basically a god—an immortal. If he could incorporate all the powers within himself and transcend, he could be the Soul King.
He was drunk in power, but no one was aware of it.
But then he met Urahara Kisuke, a genius like himself, submitting his will to God like those idiots who don't think for themselves and rely on a fantasy. They are like sheep waiting to be slaughtered willingly. And somehow, it frustrates him.
Why don't people think for themselves? Can't they see that religion is only a tool for the powerful to control the weak and feeble-minded people into submitting to their will as though it's God's will?
We have achieved the height of technology, in which we could transfer our consciousness to another vessel, practically solving the problem of mortality. We have Zanpakuto, an artificial intelligence with virtual power that can destroy the natural world. We managed to divide the world into different realms to cheat death.
"Urahara is a fool," Aizen uttered to himself as he watched him and Kuchiki Byakuya's adopted sister interact. "If he refuses to use the Hogyuko, I will take it."
Rukia stood in the middle of the night, performing Salatul Istikhara, asking Allah for guidance. She knew that there was no way she could escape the consequences of her actions. On the other hand, she still hoped to fulfill her duties of protecting the citizens of Karakura until her replacement arrived.
At the end of her prayer, she recited Surah Ad-Duha, verses 5-6:
"Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?
And He found you lost and guided [you]."
This particular verse from the Qur'an resonated with her.
She was just a baby when she was abandoned in Rukongai, and only with the help of a traveling merchant who found her in the forest and took her to an orphanage was she able to live. But aside from that information, the only thing he left her was her name, Rukia. So she lived without a last name most of her life.
She was lost and didn't know what to do; the other orphans didn't like her and were told that she was too stubborn and hardheaded, always getting into fights with the boys.
One fortunate afternoon, she was tasked to accompany the caretaker to the market to fetch some supplies for the orphanage for the first time; she was only 10 years old at that time.
Amazed at the buzzing marketplace, Rukia found herself separated from the caretaker and lost in the sea of people. She couldn't find her way back, no matter how hard she tried. Hours turned into days, and Rukia became homeless.
Thankfully, she survived by doing chores in the market and getting paid for her efforts.
Rukia began traveling from one district to another, trying to find her way back. Then, one afternoon, she saw a group of boys stealing water and decided to help them. Not long after, she became their new leader of some sort, and together they became family: Renji and the three others whom she loved dearly. And so, she settled with them.
Their family grew as more and more orphans joined their group. But not long after they grew and became self-sufficient, they all went their own ways. Rukia was happy to help them and protect them; it was her purpose in life of some sort.
Until the only remaining people in the family were the original members, but soon, one by one, they met their demise. It was very painful. She felt powerless to save her loved ones.
Most people don't care about street rats like them, viewing them as nothing but cockroaches, a bane to society.
And so she decided that enough was enough. She told Renji that they should become shinigami.
They entered the Soul Academy, an educational institution that is free for all those who wished to become a shinigami, protector of the world.
And not a year later, the prestigious Kuchiki clan offered to adopt her for some reason. They offered her the opportunity to immediately graduate and become a shinigami.
Although Rukia didn't care about luxury, what pushed her to accept the offer was Renji's nonchalance. His reaction to their offer disheartened her. She couldn't believe that the person she considered her family would push her into accepting a strange offer like she was nothing to him. The pain of getting abandoned again was too much for her.
And so she became a Kuchiki, a noblewoman belonging to a traditional Muslim family. Although Byakuya, her new nii-sama, didn't seem to genuinely care about her even though he adopted her, she found the noble Kuchiki clan to be worthy of praise. Their values resonated with her. She found out that the orphanage that took her in belonged to the clan.
Their mission of taking care of orphans, widows, and the poor greatly impressed her. In fact, Byakuya even married a commoner from Rukongai despite his status.
And so, she decided to study the religion that inspired such a noble clan to do humanitarian work: Islam. What amazed her more was that the Muslims humble themselves in front of a God they don't even see, whom they consider as worthy of all praise and their submission. Byakuya, who was the wealthiest and one of the most powerful shinigami in Soul Society, bowed down his head along with his servants as nothing more than slaves of God, nothing more, nothing less.
Islam humbles the mighty and weak alike. Their unity in prayer and equal status in front of Allah is not only an ideology but acted upon at least 5 times a day during Salah.
As she read the Qur'an and hadiths, she found answers to questions about life and death. Why people suffer and how the world seems so cruel.
And she found the answers to be comforting. That everything is within Allah's plan. All hope belongs to Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
She realized in her search that everything Allah commanded is good for the person and to the community at large.
That life and death are a trial to reveal who has done good deeds and remained patient. By being compassionate, accountable, and taking righteous actions, you can protect yourself and others. Make the world a better place starting within oneself.
And so, she decided to become a Muslim. Doing her best to fight the evil within and around her, by following Allah's guidance through Qur'an and Sunnah, to the best of her ability.
Urahara stood in silent prayer on the other end of the shop, reflecting on Allah's wisdom.
Surah Al-Anfal (8:63)
"And He has united their hearts. If you had spent all that is in the earth, you could not have united their hearts, but Allah has united them. Indeed, He is Exalted in Might and Wise"