One of the most beloved qualities of good character to Allah is kindness and gentleness. Allah has reserved a special reward for those who are kind and gentle. Allah loves kindness and gentleness in all matters, so we should manifest these qualities even when we face abuse and cruelty. On one occasion, the Prophet was insulted and cursed by his enemies but he did not return their curse. Rather, he showed patience and forbearance and encouraged his companions to be kind. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌا
“Only the charities (are) for the poor, and the needy and those who collect them, and the ones inclined their hearts, and in the (freeing of) the necks, and for those in debt and in (the) way (of) Allah, and the wayfarer – an obligation from Allah. And Allah (is) All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (Surat At-Taubah 9:60)
As human beings, we need to act kindly to achieve a better life. Islam itself has taught humans to be righteous and kind to others. Believe it, Allah concerns for us because he is kind and merciful. By knowing about that, we as his believers should reflect his kindness by spreading goodness among us. Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Indeed, Allah commands justice and the good, and giving (to) relatives, and forbids [from] the immorality and the bad and the oppression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:90)
Once you realize that this life is only an exam for you to pass it well, you will realize that you need to do good things. The realization is something important to achieve because when we already realize that, we will wholeheartedly have kindness upon us. Allah says:
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
“And those who believed and did righteous deeds, those (are the) companions (of) Paradise; they in it (will) abide forever.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:82)
The law of life is getting what we give. So, when we do good things, we receive good things too. When we do kindness, we will have a glimpse of the moment to think and reflect on our deeds while we do good to others. Reflection makes us do better and better good things as possible. Allah says:
Here some reasons why we need kindness in our lives:
- God’s love is poured into us through the Holy Spirit
- God’s love compels us to love one another
- God’s pleasure is taken in the object itself
- God’s love is steadfast and unchanging
- God’s kindness leads us to repentance
- God rewards kindness with goodness
- Kindness is the moment of reflection
- Kindness and love of God our Savior
- Kindness forbids us into the Hellfire
- God will guide us till the ends
- God’s love is revealed to us
- God does not love sinners
- Kind words are like honey
- God’s love comforts us
- God’s love never gives up
- God’s love suffers long and is kind
- We must not get tired of doing good
- Never doubt the power of your words
- You must show real love and kindness
- A kind word can change someone’s entire day
- Kindness makes you easier to have self-control
- A truer kindness in this world than to pray for me
- God desires and regards the good of all His creatures
- Kind words sweet to the soul and healthy for the body
Getting healthier is also one of the benefits of kindness in Islam. The research discovered that the act of kindness can make us healthier since the emotional warmth that we get can lower our blood pressure. So that, by acting kindness, we can also challenge our self-control because acting kindness prohibits us to be so much in anger. Allah says:
لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer, for he is concerned over you and to the believers, he is kind and merciful.” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:128)
We should keep our faith that Allah will reward us who spread kindness with kindness. Spreading kindness in our lives is what Allah obligates us to do. When we follow the path of Islam, by having so much indulgence to do kindness, we will surely in the path of Allah, and He will guide us till the end.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “Do good, for God loves those who do good.” (Al-Baqarah 2:195)
- “The reward of goodness is nothing but goodness.” (Al Quran 55:61)
- “And there is the type of man who gives his life to earn the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to (His) devotees.” (Surah Al-Baqara, 207)
- “Or that He may not call them to account by a process of slow wastage – for thy Lord is indeed full of kindness and mercy.” (Surah An-Nahl, 47)
- “Were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, and that Allah is full of kindness and mercy, (ye would be ruined indeed).” (Surah An-Nur, 20)
- “My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.” (Surah Al-Isra, 24)
We should be kind because as the believer of Allah, we are gracious. When we hear the word “kindness”, what pops up in our mind is only being kind to other people. But actually, being kind is not as limited as that. We need to reflect our kindness to our surroundings, including animals and the environment. Allah says:
وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ وَاغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ إِنَّ أَنكَرَ الْأَصْوَاتِ لَصَوْتُ الْحَمِيرِ
“And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys.” (Surah Luqman 31:19)
Do you remember the story of a thirsty man who filled his shoe with water to feed a thirsty dog? His kindness was rewarded by Allah a forgiven of all of his sins. In Islam, it is also prohibited to hunt animals and cut plants for pleasure. That’s why we need to be kind not only to other people but also to animals and the environment. Allah says:
ﻓَﻮَﻳْﻞٌ ﻟِّﻠْﻤُﺼَﻠِّﻴﻦَ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﻫُﻢْ ﻋَﻦ ﺻَﻠَﺎﺗِﻬِﻢْ ﺳَﺎﻫُﻮﻥَ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﻫُﻢْ ﻳُﺮَﺍﺀُﻭﻥَ ﻭَﻳَﻤْﻨَﻌُﻮﻥَ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺎﻋُﻮﻥَ
“Woe to those who pray, who are heedless of their prayer, who pray to be seen and withhold small acts of kindness.” (Surah Taha 20:44)
Al Qur’an has told us to be kind to neighbours either they are near, or strangers. Our prophet also said that we are not a believer if we eat our fill when our neighbour beside is hungry. He also added that we are not a believer if we enjoy safety meanwhile our neighbours are not safe from his injurious conduct. Our prophets always told us the benefits of kindness. Muslims should strive his compassion for children especially orphans. Allah says:
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ
“Woe to those who pray, who are heedless of their prayer, who pray to be seen and withhold small acts of kindness.” (Surah Al-Ma’un 107:4-7)
Besides being kind to animals, the environment, neighbours, and children, we should also be kind to parents. Kindness and respect for parents are written throughout Al Qur’an. Allah says:
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حُسْنًا وَإِن جَاهَدَاكَ لِتُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا إِلَيَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
“We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; but if they strive (to force) thee to join with Me anything of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not.” (Surah Al-‘Ankabut 29:8)
Therefore, we should train ourselves and our children to be kind and gentle in all matters, among the Muslims, among the unbelievers, and even with the animals. We should resist the temptation to indulge in cruelty and savagery. Times will come when must apply justice to criminals, but we have to remember that the opportunity for repentance will remain and even a great tyrant like Pharaoh should be given his portion of kindness.
