From the mercy He created, which is ninety-nine, and Allah is the One who bestows mercy through it; how is that?
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The questioner : Here, regarding the ninety-nine, it is said that Allah is the One who bestows mercy through it?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is true that Allah bestows mercy through it. As for Paradise, Allah did not say about it, "You are My mercy; I will show mercy to whom I will through you." Rather, it is a created entity distinct from Allah. And the mercy of Allah is beyond counting, whether by ninety-nine, by thousands, or by millions of millions; it has no limit.
The questioner : But He said: These ninety-nine are the ones through which...
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right. It means that this one portion will be multiplied on the Day of Resurrection until it reaches one hundred.
The questioner : Is it a created thing?
The Shaykh : It is created, yes. But we do not know where its place is, nor do we know its nature, because it is among the things about which Allah has informed us. He sent down mercy, and we understood that the creatures receive mercy through it, while the rest remains with Him.
The questioner : Is it not Paradise?
The Shaykh : Paradise is a mercy among His mercies.
The Shaykh : Yes, it is true that Allah bestows mercy through it. As for Paradise, Allah did not say about it, "You are My mercy; I will show mercy to whom I will through you." Rather, it is a created entity distinct from Allah. And the mercy of Allah is beyond counting, whether by ninety-nine, by thousands, or by millions of millions; it has no limit.
The questioner : But He said: These ninety-nine are the ones through which...
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right. It means that this one portion will be multiplied on the Day of Resurrection until it reaches one hundred.
The questioner : Is it a created thing?
The Shaykh : It is created, yes. But we do not know where its place is, nor do we know its nature, because it is among the things about which Allah has informed us. He sent down mercy, and we understood that the creatures receive mercy through it, while the rest remains with Him.
The questioner : Is it not Paradise?
The Shaykh : Paradise is a mercy among His mercies.