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. The Prophet (PBUH) has been sent by Allah to teach people good morals and abstain from bad characters and behaviours. In Islam, kindness is a very important part of a Muslim’s expression of faith. This highly praised manner solves all matters and affairs, corrects all errors, adjusts our conduct, and guides us to excellent morals and virtues in a better way and with an impressive and effective method. Allah says:
وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
“Nothing is the life of this world but play and amusement, but best is the Home in the Hereafter, for those who are righteous, will you not then understand?” (Surah Al-An’am, 6:32)
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:
لَّا خَيْرَ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِّن نَّجْوَاهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلَاحٍ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
“(There is) no good in much of their secret talk except (he) who orders charity or kindness or conciliation between the people. And who does that seeking pleasure (of) Allah then soon We a reward great.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:114)
Furthermore, kindness and gentleness should be shown to the animals and indeed all of creation. Islam teaches Muslims to be kind to all of God’s creations, including their parents, relatives, neighbours, animals and the environment. 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. Allah says:
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
“And those who believe and do good deeds, they are dwellers of Paradise, they dwell therein forever.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:82)
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. 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 a 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.
Here are some benefits why we need kindness in our lives:
- Kind words sweet to the soul and healthy for the body
- Kindness is the depth the accuracy in our deeds
- Kindness means giving gallantly, warding off evil
- Kindness makes you easier to have self-control
- Kindness is an outstanding virtue of humanity
- Kindness is bestowing favour, mercifulness
- Kindness give someone a thoughtful gift
- Kindness is may also mean originality
- Kindness and love of God our Savior
- Kindness forbids us into the Hellfire
- Kindness is a natural result of faith
- Kindness is excellence in work
- Kind words are like honey
- Kindness forbids us into the hellfire
- Kindness is the moment of reflection
- Kind words sweet to the soul and healthy
- kind to yourself sounds easy in conversation
- Kindness is excellence in work, charity affairs
- kindness acts increase and sustain happiness
- kindness behave positively in your everyday life
- Kindness provoke forgive someone who wronged
- Kindness creates opportunities to give compliments
- Kind words sweet to the soul and healthy for the body
- kindness, Allah wishes something to accomplish it excellently
- kindness act allows you to appreciate yourself, reflect and grow
Goodness or kindness is a natural result of faith and the outstanding virtues of humanity. The believer is gracious, for there is no goodness in one who is neither kind nor friendly. Harshness is not found in anything except that it disgraces it. Verily, Allah is kind and He loves kindness. When a man performs his duty towards Allah and people as well, he is regarded in Islam to have done and achieved favour to himself. Allah says:
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَةِ
“Then he is of those who believe and enjoin (each other) to patience, and enjoin (each other) to compassion.” (Surah Al-Balad 90:17)
Kindness is one of the good deeds we can do to achieve Allah’s paradise and become the dweller of it forever. 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. The law of life is getting what we give.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “You are magnificent.” (Surah Al-Qalam: 4)
- “Lo! Allah enjoins justice and kindness….” (Surah An-Nahl: 90)
- “The reward of goodness is nothing but goodness.” (Quran 55:61)
- “Is the reward of fairness aught save fairness?” (Surah Ar-Rahman: 60)
- “… And do fair deeds, for sure Allah loves the fair-doers.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 195)
- “Lo! Allah favours those who go righteously and those who are kind.” (Surah An-Nahl: 128)
- “My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.” (Surah Al-Isra, 24)
- “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)
- “Whoso does good it is for himself and who does evil it is against it and your Lord is not unjust to His servants.” (Surah Fussilat: 46)
- “Peace be upon you because you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!” (Ar-Ra`d 13:24)
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. 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:
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)
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. Allah says:
وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
“And lower to them (the) wing (of) humility (out) of [the] mercy and say, “My Lord! Have mercy on both of them as they brought me up (when I was) small.” (Surah Al-Isra` 17:24)
May Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful give us opportunities to do many ways of acts of kindness for His pleasure and reward our best life, especially in the Hereafter. 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. May our Rabb save us from the Hellfire by protecting us from being a miser. Aameen.
