Greetings,
format_quote Originally Posted by
glo
Kind of deflated my initial elation about just HOW loving and merciful Allah may be ...
How can the fact that an FB story is false lead you to believe that Allah is not as Loving and Merciful as you thought you'd just newly discovered? (While, as I mentioned above, it's nothing new or surprising for Muslims, as we have always known Allah to be the Most Loving, and Forgiving).
It's not a good idea to base your view of how loving Allah is on FB stories, when you know that we base our view of Allah on the Qur'an and hadeeth.
In any case, the deflation of your elation about just HOW loving and merciful Allah may be, is premature and wrongly placed, as the Qur'an is replete with verses of Allah's Mercy, just one passage of which is below in purple, and it should be read carefully to the end.
As I mentioned above, Allah is Kind, Loving, Forgiving, and Merciful, but also stern in punishment, yet fair, and the Most Just, as outlined in the Qur'an and hadeeth, from where we learn about Allah. Our sources for learning about Allah and His attributes, as you know, are the Qur'an and Hadeeth. The Qur'an contains verses that tell us that nobody shall be wronged by even such an amount as the tiny spot on a date stone, and also verses telling us Allah is Forgiving, Merciful, as well as stern but fair in punishment.
No Muslim should believe "how can Allah punish people in hell-fire?" Punishing in hell-fire in no way precludes Allah from being the Most Loving and Forgiving the likes of which we can never imagine. You must remember that Allah has a
perfect balance of Love, Forgiveness, Kindness, Mercy, Fairness, Justness, and Firmness.
"And ordain for us in this world that which is good, and in the Hereafter (that which is good), certainly we have turned unto You." [Allah] said, "My punishment - I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things." So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakah and those who believe in Our verses-
Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful." (7:156-157)
Peace.