Allah SWT sent the Quran to guide humanity to that which is good and beneficial for us. Allah the Most Merciful sent the Quran as a glad tiding, as a Warner, warning us away from the things that harm us now and in the long term. Allah SWT 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. Allah wants for all people a good end. Allah says:
إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
“When retreated the youths to the cave, and they said, “Our Lord! Grant us from Yourself Mercy, and facilitate for us [from] our affair (in the) right way.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:10)
Mercy 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. The Mercy of Allah is evident the minute you’re born because we’re unable to walk or talk or dress or even feed ourselves. We are 100% dependent on others for our very existence. Allah says:
وَلَمَّا سَكَتَ عَن مُّوسَى الْغَضَبُ أَخَذَ الْأَلْوَاحَ وَفِي نُسْخَتِهَا هُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِرَبِّهِمْ يَرْهَبُونَ
“And when was calmed from Musa the anger, he took (up) the tablets and in their inscription (was) guidance and mercy for those who [they] (are) fearful of their Lord.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:154 )
Islam teaches us to be merciful to the entire creation, to Muslims and non-Muslims, to friends and enemies and even to the animals. Allah has commanded that mercy be applied to everything and in every action. Verily, in Islam, mercy encompasses this world and the Hereafter, as well as humankind, animals, birds and the surrounding habitats. Islam is a faith that is flexible, lenient and merciful.
Here are some signs of Allah’s Mercy to His Creation:
- Mercy speaks about the sentence at the last judgment
- Mercy sceptre shows the force of temporal power
- Mercy practice in the Holy Scripture assures
- Mercy regaining our lost graces of sanctity
- Mercy both temporal and eternal goods
- Mercy also brings an immortal reward
- Mercy is an attribute to God himself
- Mercy develops seasons of justice
- Mercy is the attribute and majesty
- Mercy cleanses us from our sins
- Mercy is above the sceptred sway
- Mercy is the dread and fear of kings
- Mercy obtains for us graces and light
- Mercy becomes better than his crown
- Mercy is the mightiest in the mightiest
- Mercy always saves our soul from evils
- Mercy is enthronèd in the hearts of kings
- Mercy droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
- Mercy treasure to lay up than any store of gold
- Mercy is in need of the special grace of forgiveness
Allah takes care of us when we cannot take care of ourselves. He is making our hearts beat without us having any control of it. He wakes us up every morning after we sleep instead of making us die. Allah is taking care of us constantly in ways that we cannot number. In spite of the fact that we sin, we transgress, we do all the things that Allah has asked us not to do, we still are encompassed by His mercy, from all sides. Allah says:
وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
“And obey Allah and the Messenger so that you may receive mercy.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:132)
Every action that is devoid of mercy has no blessing in it, nor does it have any good. If the servants of Allah show mercy towards one another, this is a cause for Allah sending His mercy down on them. All blessings and goodness in this world and the next are clear proofs of His Mercy. Allah says:
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَاعْتَصَمُوا بِهِ فَسَيُدْخِلُهُمْ فِي رَحْمَةٍ مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلٍ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَيْهِ صِرَاطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا
“So as for those who believed in Allah and held fast to Him, then He will admit them in Mercy from Himself and Bounty and will guide them to Himself (on) a straightway.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:175)
“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. Islam teaches us to be merciful to the entire creation, to Muslims and non-Muslims, to friends and enemies and even to the animals. Creation itself is an expression of divine favour, mercy, and love. God invites us to observe the effects of His mercy around us.
The Mercy of Allah (SWT) 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 we have not sent you, [O Muhammad] except as a mercy for the entire humanity.” (Al Anbiya: 107)
Allah intends for the mercy of Islam to touch every person on earth. The creation of human beings and all their faculties is great mercy in itself. The weaker and poorer a human being is, the more we are required to show mercy to him and be gentle with him. Every Muslim needs to strive to be an agent of mercy on earth for all human beings and creatures. 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.” (Surah Al-Balad 90:17)
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. Every Muslim needs to strive to be an agent of mercy on earth for all human beings and creatures. The truth is that hard work isn’t enough. Your effort is essential, but once you have taken action to attain the things you want, it is entirely up to Allah if you receive it or not. Allah says:
قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِأَخِي وَأَدْخِلْنَا فِي رَحْمَتِكَ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
“O, my Lord! Forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your Mercy, for You (are) the Most Merciful (of) the merciful.” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:151 )
Islam is a religion of mercy and peace. The people who receive more of Allah’s Mercy are those who have acknowledged His blessings and favours. It is very important that we are grateful for the blessings we have and that we recognise the Mercy of Allah in our lives, and to do this all you have to do is start thinking about it, and you will see that the Mercy is in your life every day.
