Islam, teaches love, kindness, and compassion for every human being, no matter their religion. The word “Islam” is derived from the word meaning “peace” in Arabic. Islam is a religion revealed to mankind to present a peaceful life where the infinite compassion and mercy of God manifest on earth. Allah says:
يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ مُّحْضَرًا وَمَا عَمِلَتْ مِن سُوءٍ تَوَدُّ لَوْ أَنَّ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَهُ أَمَدًا بَعِيدًا وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ
“(On the) day will find every soul what it did of good – presented, and what it did of evil, it will wish [if] that between itself and between it (evil) (was) a great distance. And Allah warns you (against) Himself, and Allah (is) Most Kind to (His) [the] slaves.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:30)
God calls all people to live by moral values. A kind person will bring out food for you without you even having to ask. You can be nice and not care. You can be nice to someone and still not like them. It happens all the time in this world. Allah says:
وَإِمَّا تُعْرِضَنَّ عَنْهُمُ ابْتِغَاءَ رَحْمَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكَ تَرْجُوهَا فَقُل لَّهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّيْسُورًا
“And if you turn away from them seeking mercy from your Lord, which you expect then say to them a word gentle.” (Surah Al-Isra` 17:28)
Islam intrinsically calls for peace, love, kindness and fosters life in absolute sincerity and honesty before God. Therefore it is vitally important for an individual to believe in God with his own will and aspiration, and observe God’s commands and advice through personal conscientious contentment. Allah is not only the Gracious and the Merciful, but, also wants humanity to be gracious and merciful, to each other. 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)
The Quran provides an environment where people can fully enjoy the freedom of thought and freedom of religion and allows people to live by the faith and values they believe in. According to Islam, everyone has the right to live freely by his beliefs, whatever they may be.
God to speak to hearts on the importance of kindness, which in the end leads to good in the world:
- Kind words sweet to the soul and healthy for the body
- Kindness means giving gallantly, warding off evil
- Kindness is the depth the accuracy in our deeds
- Kindness makes you easier to have self-control
- Kindness is an outstanding virtue of humanity
- Kindness is excellence in work, charity affairs
- Kindness is bestowing favour, mercifulness
- Kindness shows real love and progress
- Kind words sweet to the soul
- Kind words are like honey
- Kind acts have a positive effect
- Kindness forbids us into the Hellfire
- Kindness is the moment of reflection
- Kindness compete for with each other
- God rewards kindness with goodness
- God’s kindness leads us to repentance
- God’s love is steadfast and unchanging
- God’s love compels us to love one another
- God’s love is poured into us through the Holy Spirit
- God desires and regards the good of all His creatures
Muslims have an inner love and compassion for people of all faiths, races, and nations, for they consider them as the manifestations of God in this world and treat them with heartfelt respect and love. This is the very basis of communities administered by Islamic morality. Allah says:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:90)
The values of the Quran hold a Muslim responsible for treating all people, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, kindly and justly, protecting the needy and the innocent and “preventing the dissemination of mischief”. Mischief comprises all forms of anarchy and terror that remove security, comfort, and peace. Allah says:
مَّنْ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحًا فَلِنَفْسِهِۦۖ وَمَنْ أَسَآءَ فَعَلَيْهَاۗ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِظَلَّٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
“Whoever does righteousness – it is for his [own] soul, and whoever does evil [does so] against it. And your Lord is not ever unjust to [His] servants.” (Surah Fussilat 41:46)
Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great. Kindness doesn’t have to wait for someone to ask. Kindness moves on its own. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran about love and kindness:
- “God does not love corruption.” (Surat al-Baqara, 205)
- “There is no compulsion where the religion is concerned.” (Quran: 2:256)
- “Indeed, Allah is with those who are righteous and those who do good.” (Quran 16:129)
- “O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in the footsteps of Satan. He is an outright enemy to you.” (Quran: 2, 208)
- “And Allah gave them a reward in this world and the excellent reward of the Hereafter. For Allah Loveth those who do good.” (Surah Al-Imran, 148)
- “So Allah gave them the reward of this world, as also an excellent reward of the next; and Allah loves those who do good.” (Quran 3:149)
- “And be steadfast in patience; for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish.” (Surah Hud, 115)
- “And be thou steadfast; for surely, Allah suffers not the reward of the righteous to perish.” (Quran 11:116)
The love of complacency is wholly confined to moral beings who are possessed of moral excellence. God’s kind words have a major impact on our lives. They comfort us, encourage us, inspire us, guide us, etc. Kind words were spoken at the right time to affect people. They give people hope. They motivate people. Is your speech characterized by kindness? Don’t overlook kind words. Allah says:
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ جَاءُوكَ يَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلَّا إِحْسَانًا وَتَوْفِيقًا
“So how when befalls them a disaster for what sent forth their hands then they come to you swearing by Allah, “Not we intended except good and reconciliation.” (Surah an-Nisa 4:62)
Continue to be kind even when it is hard to be kind. If you struggle with this be still before God and cry out for more kindness in your life. Get closer to Him and He will help you. Make war with these things that seek to hinder your kindness. 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)
We are to be kind to our enemies. It is so easy to be kind to someone who likes you. Many of you don’t know how a moment of kindness can change someone’s life. People cherish kindness when you go the extra mile. Kindness gives people hope. Many people are nice, but they don’t get dirty. When your actions show evidence of a heart that truly cares people take notice. Allah says:
ﻳَﺎ ﻋَﺎﺋِﺸَﺔُ ﺇِﻥَّ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪَ ﺭَﻓِﻴﻖٌ ﻳُﺤِﺐُّ ﺍﻟﺮِّﻓْﻖَ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟْﺄَﻣْﺮِ ﻛُﻠِّﻪِ
“O Aisha, Allah is kind and He loves kindness in all matters.” (Surah Al-Ma’un 107:4-7)
All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another. Nothing but virtue, goodness, or real holiness is the object of God’s complacency. May we spend our lives, time, money and efforts or everything in us to do deeds that Allah accepts as forms of worship solely for His Sake.
