1:1
(In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.)
The Holy Quran also mentions in 51:56,
I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) explained this verse as follows: It is related by Umar Ibn al- Khattab (RA) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say: “The actions are but judged according to intentions; and to every man is due what he intended. Thus, whosoever migrates for the sake of Allah and His Messenger , his migration is accounted for the sake of Allah and His messenger -and shall receive the recompense prescribed for Hijrat-Migration- towards Allah and His Messenger]; and whosoever migrates for the sake of this world or to wed a woman , and it will be accounted only for the purpose for which it is intented.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
In Arabic, Allah is the personal and unique name used for the One Supreme God. People often translate it as “the One and Only God,” yet the word carries a deeper language history. Linguists explain that it comes from the ancient Semitic root ilah or elah, a term connected to worship, devotion, and turning toward God for help and safety. Some related words also describe feelings of awe, respect, and the need to seek refuge with the Creator, ideas that appear in many Qur’anic teachings. Similar names for God exist in Hebrew, including Eloah, El, and the plural Elohim, which shows that Arabic and Hebrew share the same early linguistic background. The name Allah is commonly understood as coming from al-ilah, meaning “The God,” reflecting a shared heritage among Abraham’s early descendants (Emerick).
(2) the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The Study Quran commentary explains that this verse highlights the Divine Names al-Raḥmān (the Compassionate) and al-Raḥīm (the Merciful), which also appear in the basmalah at the beginning of nearly every sūrah. Both Names originate from the root referring to mercy, yet they convey different theological dimensions. Al-Raḥmān represents a universal and all-encompassing mercy associated exclusively with God and understood as the creative compassion through which existence itself emerges. In contrast, al-Raḥīm refers to a more particularized mercy manifested through divine provision and care for individual beings; for this reason, the adjective can sometimes be applied figuratively to creatures, including the Prophet. Classical commentators describe the relationship between these Names metaphorically: the Compassionate resembles the sun illuminating the entire sky, while the Merciful is like a focused ray reaching a specific recipient. Within Islamic metaphysical thought, creation is viewed as arising from the “Breath of the Compassionate,” indicating that the cosmos reflects divine compassion at its origin. Together, the two Names signify universal mercy that grants existence and particular mercy that sustains and guides. Although divine beauty and gentleness openly display mercy, even Names associated with power or rigor ultimately express mercy within the unity of divine decree. Positioned between verses affirming God’s sovereignty over space and His authority over time and judgment, this passage emphasizes that divine mercy encompasses all dimensions of reality, echoing Qur’anic themes that God’s mercy extends to all things..
References:
Noomani, Manzur (2012). Meaning and Message of the Traditions).
Emerick, Yahiya. The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an in Today’s English (p. 827). Unknown. Kindle Edition.
Nasr, Hossein (2015). Study Quran.
Shafi, Muhammad (2008). Maariful Quran. (Vol .1 pg. 64- 65)
Kathir, Ibn. Tafsir Ibn Kathir. (vo. 1 p. 115).