The love and compassion of Allah’s Messenger for all kinds of creatures were not of the kind claimed by today’s ‘humanists’. He was sincere and balanced in his love and compassion. He was more compassionate than any other person. He was a Prophet raised by Allah, the Creator, and Sustainer of all beings, for the guidance and happiness of conscious beings – mankind and jinn – and the harmony of existence. Therefore, he lived not for himself but for others; he is a mercy for all the world. Allah says:
– لَقَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you [i.e., your guidance] and to the believers is kind and merciful.” (Quran: 9:128)
Islam teaches us to be merciful to the entire creation, to Muslims and non-Muslims, to friends and enemies and even to the animals. Mercy (raḥmah) in Islam has a very wide meaning that includes kindness, compassion, love, tolerance, patience with people, and treating others the way we would love to be treated. This Islamic value is at the core of the prophetic message and meaning of faith, just as it was in all of the revealed religions before Islam. Allah says:
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَةِ
“Then he was among those who had faith and advised one another to patience and advised one another to mercy.” (Surat al-Balad 90:17)
“Mercy for Mankind” represents the love of God for all people alike, deserving and undeserving, the righteous and the wicked, the pious and the sinful, the moral and the depraved, the saintly and the dissolute. Many Muslims claim that they are the chosen people in the sense that they are in a privileged position of being the special recipients of God’s mercy, as having the best. Allah says:
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
“Our Lord! (Do) not deviate our hearts after [when] You (have) guided us, and grant (for) us from Yourself mercy. Indeed You, You (are) the Bestower.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:8)
God Almighty is full of love and kindness to His creation. All blessings and goodness in this world and the next are clear proofs of His Mercy. Indeed, Islam teaches that God is more merciful toward us than our mothers. Every Muslim needs to strive to be an agent of mercy on earth for all human beings and creatures.
Here are some benefits obtained from the virtue of Mercy:
- Mercy deeds our fellowmen with various temporal goods
- Mercy speaks about the sentence at the last judgment
- Mercy sceptre shows the force of temporal power
- Mercy droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
- Mercy needs the special grace of forgiveness
- Mercy regaining our lost graces of sanctity
- Mercy both temporal and eternal goods
- Mercy obtains for us graces and light
- Mercy is an attribute to God himself
- Mercy develops seasons of justice
- Mercy is above the sceptred sway
- Mercy cleanses us from our sins
- Mercy is the attribute and majesty
- Mercy is the dread and fear of kings
- Mercy becomes better than his crown
- Mercy also brings an immortal reward
- Mercy is the mightiest in the mightiest
- Mercy always saves our soul from evils
- Mercy is enthronèd in the hearts of kings
- Mercy practice in the Holy Scripture assures
- Mercy treasure to lay up than any store of gold
فَلْيَضْحَکُوا قَلِيلاً وَلْيبْکُوا کَثِيراً جَزَاءً بِمَا کَانُوا يَکْسِبُونَ
“Therefore they shall laugh little and weep much as a recompense for what they earned.” (Surah Al-Tawbah 9:82)
Forgiveness of sins is another example of Allah’s Mercy, as Allah knows we are imperfect and commit mistakes. The fact that believers commit sins does not mean that we should lose hope of Allah’s Mercy or that we have exhausted Allah’s Forgiveness. Allah says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
“We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Surat al-Anbiya 21:107)
Throughout life, people continually receive Allah’s blessings, be it good health, sight, hearing, nourishment, clean air, children, wealth and countless others. Some use their God-given gifts of intelligence and reasoning to acknowledge these blessings, grasp the purpose of their existence, and hereby submit themselves to Allah. Others. Allah says:
وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ
“When those come to you who believe in Our verses, say: Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed mercy upon Himself.” (Surah Al-An’am 6:54)
However, do not appreciate the Mercy of Allah toward their selves, even though He feeds and sustains them despite their disobedience toward Him. They are given mobility, enjoyment, freedom of thought and action, despite their outright denial of Him. Their very existence would not be, were it not for the Mercy of Allah.
Allah, the Exalted, says in the Holy Quran:
- “And My Mercy encompasses everything.” (Quran 7:156)
- “Obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy.” (Quran 3:132)
- “Surely Allah is Most Gentle, Ever Compassionate to people.” (Quran 22:65)
- “And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Quran 21:107)
- “Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression. And do not repel the beggar.” (Quran 93: 9-10)
- “And this is a blessed Book We have revealed; therefore follow it and protect yourself (against evil), that mercy may be shown to you.” (Quran 6:155)
- “Keep up prayer and pay the compulsory charity (to the needy) and obey the Messenger, so that mercy may be shown to you.” (Quran 24:56)
- “Our Lord! Make not our hearts to deviate after You have guided us aright, and grant us mercy from Yourself; surely You are the Bestower.” (Quran 3:8)
- “This day let no reproach be (cast) on you: Allah will forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!” (Surah Yusuf, 92)
- “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)
- “And we have not sent you, [O Muhammad] except as a mercy for the entire humanity.” (Al Anbiya: 107)
God will only favour us as ‘His chosen people if and only if we abide by His religious tenets wholeheartedly, properly and completely. The blessings that the Almighty will then shower onus will be limitless. The Merciful Creator ensures that every creation is looked after – from the fish in the depths of the ocean, to the insects in the earth, and the birds in the skies – all are sustained by Him. Allah says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
“We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:107)
Muslims believe that through him, a human-like themselves, God has spoken to them, and guided him to live amongst them, setting an example and a model for all times to come. Even today he motivates and induces whole populations to yearn and strive to shape their private lives, politics, and policies according to Allah’s teachings. Allah says:
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِنَا وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ عَلِيًّا
“And We bestowed to them of Our Mercy, and We made for them a truthful mention, high.” (Surah Maryam 19:50)
Thus, we must do our best to be merciful to the entire creation, to the Muslims and non-Muslims, to our families and relatives, to friends and strangers, to people and animals, and even to our most bitter enemies. Allah says:
وَهَٰذَا كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“And this (is) a Book We have revealed it – blessed, so follow it and consciously revere (Allah) so that you may receive mercy.” (Surah Al-An`am 6:155)
The people who receive more of Allah’s Mercy are those who have acknowledged His blessings and favours; using them in a way which pleases God; spent their God-given wealth in charity and to look after the needy; employed their hands to care for orphans; utilized their gift of speech to speak good, and performed other honourable acts ordained by God.
