Tafsir Ibn Kathir of Qur'an - Surah Fatiha

Verse 3

﴿ﺍﻟﺮَّﺣْﻤَـﻦِ ﺍﻟﺮَّﺣِﻴﻢِ ﴾

(3. Ar-Rahman (the Most Gracious), Ar-Rahim (the Most Merciful)).

Allah said next,

﴿ﺍﻟﺮَّﺣْﻤَـﻦِ ﺍﻟﺮَّﺣِﻴﻢِ ﴾

(Ar-Rahman (the Most Gracious), Ar-Rahim (the Most Merciful))

We explained these Names in the Basmalah. Al-Qurtubi said, "Allah has described Himself by 'Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim' after saying 'the Lord of the Alamin', so His statement here includes a warning, and then an encouragement.

Similarly, Allah said,

 (Declare (O Muhammad ) unto My servants, that truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. And that My torment is indeed the most painful torment.) (15:49-50) 

Allah said,

 (Surely, your Lord is swift in retribution, and certainly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) (6:165)

Hence, Rabb contains a warning while Ar- Rahman Ar-Rahim encourages. Further, Muslim recorded in his Sahih that the Messenger of Allah said,

 (If the believer knew what punishment Allah has, none would have hope in acquiring His Paradise, and if the disbeliever knew what mercy Allah has, none will lose hope of earning His earning.)