Did some of the polytheists know the name al-Rahman, as evidenced by His saying, the Exalted: (And they said, "If al-Rahman had willed, we would not have worshipped them")?
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Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Some people say that the mushrikeen (those who associate partners with Allah) knew al-Rahman (the Most Merciful), citing the words of the Exalted:[Az-Zukhruf 43:20]
Answer:
Some of the discussion concerns the people of Makkah, who denied al-Rahman when they heard the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) say, "In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy." They said, "We do not know any al-Rahman except the al-Rahman of al-Yamamah." This is specific to the people of Makkah. As for the rest of the polytheists, it is not necessary that they all denied al-Rahman.[Ar-Ra'd 13:30]. He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Isra 17:110]
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Some people say that the mushrikeen (those who associate partners with Allah) knew al-Rahman (the Most Merciful), citing the words of the Exalted:
And they said, "If the Most Merciful had willed, we would not have worshipped them."
وَقَالُوا لَوْ شَاءَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ مَا عَبَدْنَاهُمAnswer:
Some of the discussion concerns the people of Makkah, who denied al-Rahman when they heard the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) say, "In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy." They said, "We do not know any al-Rahman except the al-Rahman of al-Yamamah." This is specific to the people of Makkah. As for the rest of the polytheists, it is not necessary that they all denied al-Rahman.
disbelieve in the Most Merciful. Say, "He is my Lord
يَكْفُرُونَ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّيSay, "Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever [name] you call - to Him belong the best names."
قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَٰنَ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا فَلَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، [371 -582] هل كان بعض المشركين يعرفون اسم الرحمن بدليل قوله تعالى (وقالوا لو شاء الرحمن ما عبدناهم)؟ — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.