The Meaning of the Saying of Allah the Exalted: "Most Merciful and Compassionate to the Believers"

The Shaykh : Then He said: (peace and blessings be upon him), meaning that He protects the believers, especially the weak among them, such as orphans and the poor, and the like. Compassion (ru'afah) is mercy with gentleness. Accordingly, compassion is more specific than mercy. Regarding "Most Merciful and Compassionate to the Believers," I say: Compassion is mercy in what? In gentleness. So it is more specific than mercy. Every instance of compassion is mercy, but not every instance of mercy is compassion. An example of this, if you wish to know the difference: a person wanted to treat someone, so he treated him, but harshly. He squeezed the wound harshly and brought a hot medicine to put in the wound. This is undoubtedly mercy, because he treated him. Another doctor comes with gentleness and softness and says to the patient, "This is easy, and it contains nothing but a slight prick." Then he tries to bring cold medicines. Both are merciful, but what is the second one? Compassion toward the patient. The first is mercy without compassion.