Is Saying “O Allah’s Mercy” Permissible?

Author: Allama Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jibreen (May Allah protect him)

Question:
Is it permissible to say in supplication: “O Allah’s Mercy, grant me success,” or “O Allah’s Strength, protect me”?

Answer:​

Allah Almighty states:
وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ فَادْعُوهُ بِهَا

"And to Allah belong the best names, so call upon Him by them."
[Surah Al-A’raf: 180]
This verse emphasizes that supplication should be made using Allah’s Asma' al-Husna (the most beautiful names), seeking closeness to Him through these attributes. For example, one might say:

• اللهم اغفرلي وارحمني إنك أنت الغفور الرحيم
  "O Allah, forgive me and have mercy upon me; indeed, You are the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Or:

• يا غفور اغفرلي و يا رحيم ارحمني
  "O Forgiving One, forgive me, and O Merciful One, have mercy on me."

Evidence for Using Allah’s Names in Supplication​

It is a fundamental principle that supplication and seeking Allah’s help should be through His names and attributes as described by Him. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) instructed:
"Invoke Allah with the phrase ‘Ya Dhal Jalali Wal Ikram’."
(O Possessor of Majesty and Honor)
[Reported by Tirmidhi and Ahmad; authenticated by Al-Albani]
Additionally, a man once supplicated using the words:

اللهم انى اسئلك بانى اشهد انك انت الله لا إله إلا انت الأحد الصمد الذى لم يلد ولم يولد ولم يكن له كفوا احد

"O Allah, I ask You as I testify that You are Allah, there is no deity but You, the One, the Self-Sufficient, who neither begets nor is begotten, and none is equal to Him."
Upon hearing this, the Prophet (ﷺ) remarked:

"He has supplicated Allah by His Greatest Name, which, when asked by it, He grants, and when called upon, He responds."
[Reported by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]

Prohibition of Calling with Terms Like "O Allah’s Mercy"​

Allah’s names are used to describe His attributes, and the Qur’an explicitly commands invoking Allah by these names. For example:

قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَٰنَ ۖ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا فَلَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ

"Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever [name] you call - to Him belong the best names."
[Surah Al-Isra: 110]
The term “O Allah’s Mercy” or “O Allah’s Strength” has not been mentioned in any Islamic text as a way to address Allah in supplication. Moreover:

1. “Rahmah” (Mercy)is used in the Qur’an to refer to creations such as:
   • Paradise: ﴿يُدْخِلُ مَن يَشَاءُ فِي رَحْمَتِهِ﴾
     (He admits whomever He wills into His mercy.)
     [Surah Al-Insan: 31]
   • Rain: ﴿يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ﴾
     (He sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy [rain].)
     [Surah Al-A’raf: 57]
   • Since these terms often refer to creations, they cannot be used directly to address Allah.
2. Similarly, attributes like “Strength” (Quwwah) and “Power” (Qudrah) are Allah’s attributes, and derived names like “Al-Qawiyy” (The Strong) and “Al-Qadeer” (The All-Powerful) are among His Asma' al-Husna. These names can be invoked directly, but phrases like “O Allah’s Strength” are incorrect because they are not established forms of invocation.

Prophetic Supplications and Their Structure​

In a supplication reported by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), he said:
"I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath and in Your forgiveness from Your punishment."
[Reported by Nasai]
Here, the meaning is seeking Allah’s refuge from His punishment and displeasure, while requesting His pleasure and forgiveness. It does not involve directly addressing the attribute itself, such as "O Pleasure of Allah."

Conclusion​

It is not permissible to say “O Allah’s Mercy” or “O Allah’s Strength” in supplication. Instead, one should call upon Allah by His most beautiful names (e.g., “O Merciful,” “O Forgiving”) or directly invoke His essence as described in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Allah knows best.