Few Points about God’s Unconditional Mercy
This is according to Hojat-ol-Isam Mohammad Soroush Mahalati, a seminary teacher, who made the remarks while interpreting Du’a al-Baha. Here are excerpts from his speech:
God’s all-embracing mercy has no boundaries and covers all beings as no one is excluded. According to Tafsir Al-Mizan (written by Allameh Tabatabai), this divine all-encompassing mercy is not limited to a special individual or group.
Are there any conditions for God's unlimited mercy?
Does everyone receive this unlimited mercy? Allameh Tabatabai answered in Tafsir al-Mizan that some people are deprived of this, not because this mercy has a condition, but because some people do not have the ability or willingness to accept it. The human should have the capacity and readiness to receive this mercy. If someone does not want it or rejects it and goes another way, it is not God's fault, but the person's. God's mercy is like rain that falls on everyone, but some people do not put their containers under it or put them upside down. God's mercy has no limitations and is infinite.
For example, a teacher teaches the same lesson to all students and does not oust anyone from the class, but some students are not prepared or less prepared and some may say they don't want the lesson. This is not the teacher's fault.
Two kinds of mercy
We can say that there are two kinds of divine mercy: the first one is based on the ability and readiness of individuals. A person who has purified his heart through actions and practices and has gained spiritual capacity and softness receive divine mercy according to his level. This is called merit-based mercy.
The other kind of mercy is the one that does not consider the merit of individuals. Is this possible for God to bestow mercy on someone who has not the required qualification? We have some supplications that show we should ask God for mercy even if we don't deserve it. In Shabaniyah supplication, we read that God, if I don't have the competence and merit for Your mercy, then give me Your generosity and grace.
Supplication of Abu Hamza al-Thumali also reads that “O our Lord, if Your grace and mercy depend on our actions, we know that our actions and behaviors are bad. God, we are not qualified for Your mercy, but You are merciful. God bless us and give us what suits Your forgiveness.”
In the first category, there are conditions, but in the second one, all these conditions are removed. The first one entails logic and calculation and the second one is love and kindness.
When we pay attention to this part of Du’a al-Baha which reads “O Allah, I ask You to give me from Your mercy at its utmost inclusiveness,” we ask God to ignore this calculation and give us great mercy. A mercy that has no conditions and can be given without any qualification or merit.
