u/Redgeraraged

What are some really good postbacc programs that offer most value? I was looking into columbia and fordham but I heard it's not the best.

Often, it is translated as most merciful, most beneficient, or the mercy that encompasses all living beings irrespective of their morals or alignment. This generally comes from its root rhm, which relates to the safety and nurturing nature of the womb.

The name appears to have been either foreign or hostile to Mecca, as shown by the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah where Suhayl ibn Amr refused to use Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, demanding instead to use the Meccan equivalent, Bismika Allahumma. This is likely based on the origin of Ar-Rahman, who was originally called Rahmanan by the southern Arabians. Rahmanan was an omnipotent, omnipresent, monotheistic deity worshiped by the Himyarites, Jews, and later Christian empires.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Furqan, "And when it is said to them, 'Prostrate to Ar-Rahman,' they say, 'And what is Ar-Rahman?'"(25:60). I don't think I need to say more as the verse explicitly says what it says, so either out of ignorance or out of political / rival / militarial malice, they refused to acknowledge Rahman. Though this is purely speculative on my part, this refusal might have to in part do with a rival prophet, Musaylimah of Yamana, who was also preaching strict monotheism and a title for him was Rahman al-Yamama.

The equivalent being in the north, Al-ilah (which was contracted to Allah), was also a supreme creator deity. Interestingly, in Surah Al-Isra, it says: “Call upon Allah or call upon Ar-Rahman; whichever you call, He has the Most Beautiful Names" (17:110). Here, Rahman is used as an equivalent to Allah. In fact, it is the only name among the 99 names to be used this way, reflecting their history.

Another point is that Rahman is frequently tied to the divine throne. There are frequent verses where it is Rahman who established the throne, or who is above the throne that Rahman created and established, such as in Surah Taha, Al-Mulk, Al-Furqan, and many more. One might think Malik (King) would be used more frequently, but most verses for the Arsh (Throne) in relation to a divine name use either Allah or Rahman.

Power and authority are heavily highlighted at the beginning of Surah Taha, to the point that it makes more sense for Rahman to be associated with power (Qadir), kingship (Malik), rulership (Rabb), and in some verses creation (Khaliq), rather than just simple mercy.

Another aspect is guardianship, as shown in Surah Maryam where Mary invokes Ar-Rahman to protect her against Jibril as he comes to give news of her upcoming birth. She explicitly uses the term, "I seek refuge in Ar-Rahman from you."

There are some verses where Rahman is also used in the context of a judge. In Surah Taha, Harun attempts to steer the wayward people back to the path and away from the golden calf. We know he is emphasizing divine authority because the text states: "And Aaron had already told them before, 'O my people, you are only being tested by this. And indeed, your Lord is the Most Merciful, so follow me and obey my order'" (20:90). This is followed by verses where Allah re-establishes His authority among the people; some are even killed as Musa descends the mountain and reacts to the scene.

While there are many more examples, one last point is that it is Rahman who explicitly teaches the Quran, and in many popular hadiths, it is Allah who creates mankind in the image of Ar-Rahman.

It seems quite plausible that Rahman should not simply translate to mercy. Instead, it acts as a generic catch-all term for divine attributes, much like Allah, as established earlier with Surah Al-Isra. It supercedes, at the very least it's function of being the Sifah (attribute) of mercy and thus acts in a super-position of both an aspect, attribute, and a generic name for God.

Fascinatingly, it retained its historical connection to Rahmanan, which was the generic name for the Omni-God in the south of Arabia, just as Al-ilah was for the north, though as previously mentioned, the religion of Rahmanan was strictly monotheistic.

Often, it is translated as most merciful, most beneficient, or the mercy that encompasses all living beings irrespective of their morals or alignment. This generally comes from its root rhm, which relates to the safety and nurturing nature of the womb.

The name appears to have been either foreign or hostile to Mecca, as shown by the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah where Suhayl ibn Amr refused to use Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, demanding instead to use the Meccan equivalent, Bismika Allahumma. This is likely based on the origin of Ar-Rahman, who was originally called Rahmanan by the southern Arabians. Rahmanan was an omnipotent, omnipresent, monotheistic deity worshiped by the Himyarites, Jews, and later Christian empires.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Furqan, "And when it is said to them, 'Prostrate to Ar-Rahman,' they say, 'And what is Ar-Rahman?'"(25:60). I don't think I need to say more as the verse explicitly says what it says, so either out of ignorance or out of political / rival / militarial malice, they refused to acknowledge Rahman. Though this is purely speculative on my part, this refusal might have to in part do with a rival prophet, Musaylimah of Yamana, who was also preaching strict monotheism and a title for him was Rahman al-Yamama.

The equivalent being in the north, Al-ilah (which was contracted to Allah), was also a supreme creator deity. Interestingly, in Surah Al-Isra, it says: “Call upon Allah or call upon Ar-Rahman; whichever you call, He has the Most Beautiful Names" (17:110). Here, Rahman is used as an equivalent to Allah. In fact, it is the only name among the 99 names to be used this way, reflecting their history.

Another point is that Rahman is frequently tied to the divine throne. There are frequent verses where it is Rahman who established the throne, or who is above the throne that Rahman created and established, such as in Surah Taha, Al-Mulk, Al-Furqan, and many more. One might think Malik (King) would be used more frequently, but most verses for the Arsh (Throne) in relation to a divine name use either Allah or Rahman.

Power and authority are heavily highlighted at the beginning of Surah Taha, to the point that it makes more sense for Rahman to be associated with power (Qadir), kingship (Malik), rulership (Rabb), and in some verses creation (Khaliq), rather than just simple mercy.

Another aspect is guardianship, as shown in Surah Maryam where Mary invokes Ar-Rahman to protect her against Jibril as he comes to give news of her upcoming birth. She explicitly uses the term, "I seek refuge in Ar-Rahman from you."

There are some verses where Rahman is also used in the context of a judge. In Surah Taha, Harun attempts to steer the wayward people back to the path and away from the golden calf. We know he is emphasizing divine authority because the text states: "And Aaron had already told them before, 'O my people, you are only being tested by this. And indeed, your Lord is the Most Merciful, so follow me and obey my order'" (20:90). This is followed by verses where Allah re-establishes His authority among the people; some are even killed as Musa descends the mountain and reacts to the scene.

While there are many more examples, one last point is that it is Rahman who explicitly teaches the Quran, and in many popular hadiths, it is Allah who creates mankind in the image of Ar-Rahman.

It seems quite plausible that Rahman should not simply translate to mercy. Instead, it acts as a generic catch-all term for divine attributes, much like Allah, as established earlier with Surah Al-Isra. It supercedes, at the very least it's function of being the Sifah (attribute) of mercy and thus acts in a super-position of both an aspect, attribute, and a generic name for God.

Fascinatingly, it retained its historical connection to Rahmanan, which was the generic name for the Omni-God in the south of Arabia, just as Al-ilah was for the north, though as previously mentioned, the religion of Rahmanan was strictly monotheistic.