Title: Who receives God's Love? Question: We are well aware that God's Mercy ( Rahmat ) is open for all in this world, for both believers and non-believers. The description of God as al-Ghaffaar or al-Ghaffoor appears very frequently in the Qur'an. However, the description of God as "Loving" ( Al-Wadood ) appears only twice. I think the paucity of this term in the Qur'an is because while all of us may receive His mercy in various ways, only a small fraction of humanity has made the effort of establishing a close, intimate relationship with God, thereby receiving not only His mercy, but His Love. What do you think? Omar Answer: This is an interesting derivation and an interesting explanation, indeed. However, with my present understanding, I consider the various attributes of God mentioned in the Qur'an as the various shades of His basic attributes. Many of God's attributes referred in the Qur'an are, in fact, the extensions of one or the other basic attributes of God. For instance, ' Al-Samee` ' (hearing) and ' Al-Baseer ' (seeing) are, in fact, the various shades and extensions of God's Omniscience ( Al-`Aleem ). Similarly, as I understand it, the attributes of ' Al-Ghafoor ' (forgiving), ' Al-Wadood ' (loving) etc. are the varying shades and extensions of God's ' Rahmat ' (mercy). Nevertheless, even if my foregoing explanation is correct, it does not hinder from accepting your explanation of the paucity of the reference to ' Al-Wadood '. Yours is quite a considerable explanation, indeed. Your explanation implies that God shall be 'Al-Wadood' only for those, who have proven themselves deserving for His continuing mercy and forgiveness, in the hereafter. JazaakAllah for your input. Moiz Amjad October 12, 2001