What is the wisdom behind describing Allah's mercy as "Qareeb" (masculine and singular for "near") in His exalted saying: {Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good}, and not as "Qareebah" (feminine and singular for "near")?

Scholars have differed in their interpretations of the masculine form of the word "qarīb" (close/near) in the Qur'anic verse, given that "rahmah" (mercy) is feminine. They have offered several explanations:

1. Interpretation of "rahmah": As meaning forgiveness or pardon (An-Nahhas), or rain (Al-Akhfash), or as a verbal noun (An-Nadr ibn Shumayl). 2. Permissible Masculine Form for Some Feminine Nouns: It is permissible in the Arabic language to use the masculine form for some feminine nouns. 3. Arabs Treat it as an Adverb of Place/Time: In terms of distances and times, feminization is not necessary except in attribution, such as "لعل الساعة تكون قريبًا" (Perhaps the Hour will be near). 4. Omission of a Genitive Construct: Such as "مكان رحمة الله قريب" (The place of Allah's mercy is near). 5. Omission of a Described Noun: Such as "شيء قريب" (A close thing). 6. The Annexed Noun Acquires Masculinity: If "rahmah" is phonetically close to "raḥim" (womb/kinship), and "qarīb" is on the pattern of "fa‘īl" (Ibn Hisham). 7. "Fa‘īl" as an Active Participle: Because mercy is an essential attribute and not something that draws near (Al-Alusi).

This difference highlights the eloquence and miraculous nature of the Qur'an. It is probable that the masculine form encompassed the sum of the reasons mentioned.