Its Arabic equivalent is “refet” and it means showing compassion and mercy, to protect and stoutheartedness.

 The word “rauf” which is from the same root with “refet” means someone who protects much and who shows compassion and mercy. Because this attributes belongs to only Allah-May His Glory be exalted- one of His beautiful names that mentioned in the Noble Quran is “rauf”

 “Or that He may not call them to account by a process of slow wastage- -for thy Lord is indeed full of kindness and mercy.” (1)

 Although the meaning of “rauf”-clement- seems to be same with the word “ rahim”- compassionate- , in the verses in which those two qualities mentioned together, Allah The Most High mentioned the word -Rauf- before -Rahim-. In this case it is certain that those two words have slightly different meanings. Because in a holy verse it is against the eloquence and pure expression of the Noble Quran, the mention of the two words which has the same meaning one after another. According to this, the source of refet is the highest point of giving of goodness by its Owner. The source of rahmet is the highest point of the need of the person to whom the goodness will be reached. So refet-clemency- is the most superior and powerful of the meanings of grace, mercy and compassion. (2)

 The opposite of clemency is mercilessness, cruelty and violence.

 Allah Almighty, praised Our Prophet for showing clemency which is one of His attributes and declared:

 “Now hath come unto you an apostle from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the believers is he most kind and merciful.” (3)

 Also He praised the believers who follow The Exalted Prophet with the verse of:

 “Then in their wake We followed them up with (others of) Our apostles: We sent after them Jesus the son of Mary and bestowed on him the Gospel; and We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him Compassion and Mercy. But the monasticism which they invented for themselves We did not prescribe for them: (We commanded) only the seeking for the Good pleasure of Allah; but that they did not foster as they should have done. Yet We bestowed on those among them who believed their (due) reward but many of them are rebellious transgressors.”

(4)

 People with the feeling of clemency whose heart are filled with the feeling of pity and compassion extend their help up to a weak and powerless animal. They try to save a fly that fell into water but they behave bravely in the defense to an enemy.

 So about the execution of the punishments that commanded by Allah clemency is not in question.

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(1) Chapter Nahl, 16/47.

(2) Shamil Encyclopedia of Islam.

(3) Chapter Tevbe, 9/128

•  Chapter Hadid, 57/27.