Allah has reserved a special reward for those who are kind and gentle. Kindness and gentleness are traits that are inherently good, and whoever has them has been given his portion of goodness. Kindness is considered one of the most adored and idolized qualities of a good character. Since love, kindness, care, and affection are some characters that were constantly flowing in the ocean of our Prophet’s (SAW) existence. Allah is the most merciful and kind. 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-Maun, 107:4-7)

Kindness must always be shown when dealing with parents and the near kins. Islam teaches that our relationships must be built on a foundation of kindness and compassion. 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 also urges the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) to stress kindness among believers in their daily actions. Simple acts of kindness are the seeds we plant to change the world. Allah says:

إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًا فَمَهِّلِ الْكَافِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًا

“Verily, they are planning a plan and I am planning a plan. So give respite to the unbelievers, deal gently with them for a while.” (Surah At-Tariq 86:15-17)

Kindness facilitates human understanding and reduces the chances of friction and conflict, which abound in practically every walk of life. Islam enjoins kindness towards all individuals, but more so towards certain categories, such as parents and orphans. We should keep our faith that Allah will reward us who spread kindness with kindness.

The importance of kindness, Allah loves kindness in all matters:

1. kindness helps in promoting peace, care and love
2. Kindness makes you easier to have self-control
3. kindness plants something or sows the seed
4. kindness is a language that a blind can see
5. kindness reduces anxiety and depression
6. kindness reduces mental health issues
7. Kindness forbids us into the Hellfire
8. Kindness makes a positive Dua
9. Kindness defuse our tension
10. Kindness marks one’s Faith
11. Kindness is a pearl of the heart
12. Kindness is the moment of reflection
13. Kindness be a source of blessings for us
14. kindness helps in promoting humbleness
15. kindness is a language that deaf can hear
16. kindness is also considered an act of charity
17. Kindness induces satisfaction and gratitude
18. Kindness creates a friendly social environment
19. kindness is a value in many cultures and religions
20. kindness is a part of a Muslim’s expression of faith
21. kindness a pleasant disposition, and concern for others
22. Kindness is a behaviour marked by ethical characteristics

Islam teaches us to be kind, not to expect back from others and always keep our deeds between ourselves and Allah. Never do good to expect something in return. Be honest about your inner feelings. kind manners and forgiveness are much better than giving lots in charity. 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)

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 be in the path of Allah, and He will guide us till the end. Acts of kindness can be as small as droplets of water, or as massive as the rocks on the mountain. 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)

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 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 Almighty says this particularly quality stressed in the Quran:

• “Lo! Allah enjoins justice and kindness….” (Surah An-Nahl: 90)
• “Verily, Allah is kind and merciful to the people.” (Quran 2:143)
• “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)
• “Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most Forbearing.” (Quran 2:263)
• “Peace be upon you because you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!” (Surah Ar-Ra`d 13:24)
• “My Lord! bestow on them thy Mercy even as they cherished me in childhood.” (Surah Al-Isra, 24)

Islam teaches us to be kind, reply humbly and politely, and care for the feelings of others. For everyone who does that, there is a reward in Akhirah. Just as Allah rewards His people for showing kindness and submissiveness to other living creatures, there is punishment for those who are cruel and barbaric. We should resist the temptation to indulge in cruelty and savagery. Allah says:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِي نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ

“And of the people (is the one) who sells his self-seeking pleasure (of) Allah. And Allah (is) full of Kindness to His servants.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:207)

Kindness must never be forgotten towards parents even when they attain old age and become a liability for a person. Towards people of other faiths, the Quran suggests tolerance and kindness as the preferred line of action to be adopted by Muslims. Islam strives to maintain a healthy balance in society in each and every facet of human dealing. Its injunctions are aimed at creating healthy relationships and close ties of kinship among people.

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

• “He who is deprived of kindness is deprived of goodness.” Muslim 2592
• O, Aisha, Allah is kind and He loves kindness in all matters. Bukhari 6528
• “The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it to others.” (Bukhari)
• O, Aisha, Allah is gentle and He loves gentleness. He rewards for gentleness what is not granted for harshness and He does not reward anything else like it. Muslim 2593
• Whoever is given his portion of kindness has been given his portion of goodness, and whoever is deprived of his portion of kindness has been deprived of his portion of goodness. Tirmidhi 2013
• Shall I not tell you for whom the Hellfire is forbidden? It is every person accessible, polite, and mild. Tirmidhi 2488
• The best of the deeds or deeds is the (observance of) prayer at its proper time and kindness to parents. Muslim

Islam teaches that our relationships must be built on a foundation of kindness and compassion. Let us reject influences that urge us to focus on materialism and let us return to the true teachings of Islam which are based on the human values of love and forgiveness. Small acts of kindness, although they might be trivial in the eyes of people, are an important means for us to be saved from Hellfire and admitted into Paradise. Allah says:

فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ

“Speak to him mildly that perhaps he may remember or fear Allah.” (Surat Ta-Ha 20:44)

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.  kindness challenge our self-control because acting kindness prohibits us to be so much in anger. 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)

Kindness, as shown in the Quran, is an attribute that Allah encourages believers to obtain and implement into their daily lives. It is an act of worship, as Allah states that people who don’t believe or are not mindful of him are often the ones that prevent kindness. It is the best manner of calling others to Islam and solving problems graciously. Therefore, we should train ourselves and our children to be kind and gentle in all matters, among the Muslims, among unbelievers, and even with the animals.