❀ Islam: A Religion of Mercy for All the Worlds ❀
This article is adapted from the book Islam Mustafa (علیہ الصلاۃ والسلام) by Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.✔ Islam: A Religion of Mercy for All Creation
Allah ﷻ says:﴿وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ﴾
[Al-Anbiyāʾ: 107]
“And We have not sent you (O Prophet ﷺ) but as a mercy to all the worlds.”
The mercy that the Prophet ﷺ brought to the world is the Tawḥīd (Oneness of Allah) and wisdom, which form the essence and foundation of Islam and all revealed religions. This verse highlights the Prophet’s ﷺ noble character and mission. The religion he brought is a mercy to both jinn and humans, and eternal success in this life and the next lies in accepting it.
Imam Muslim narrates from Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ was asked to curse the polytheists. He replied:
“I was not sent as one who curses, but I was sent only as a mercy.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Righteousness and Maintaining Ties, Hadith 2599
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما explained that those who believed after the Prophet’s ﷺ advent received complete mercy in both worlds. Even the disbelievers were spared from worldly punishments like transformation, swallowing by the earth, or stone rain that befell previous nations.
Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī, 18/552
✔ Mercy for the Believers
Allah ﷻ states:﴿لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾
[At-Tawbah: 128]
“Indeed, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.”
✔ Mercy Even for Disbelievers
Islam stands out as a religion that not only brings mercy to believers but also shows compassion to disbelievers as part of general humanity.The Prophet ﷺ declared:
"O people! I am nothing but a gifted mercy."
Mustadrak al-Ḥākim 1/35 | Al-Muʿjam aṣ-Ṣaghīr, Ṭabarānī 1/51 | Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ, 490
Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه narrated that when some people asked the Prophet ﷺ to curse the polytheists, he replied:
“I was not sent to curse, but rather I was sent as a mercy.”
Ibn Jarīr, as cited by Ibn Kathīr 3/487
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said: The Prophet ﷺ was a mercy to the believers in both worlds and to the disbelievers only in this world—shielding them from earthly punishments that struck former disbelievers.
✔ Mercy for Animals and Inanimate Objects
Islam not only brings mercy to humans but extends it to animals and even inanimate objects.➤ Jābir رضي الله عنه narrated: The Prophet ﷺ saw a donkey with a branded face and said:
“Do you not know that I have cursed the one who brands animals on the face or strikes them there?” Then he prohibited it.
Abu Dāwūd, Book of Jihād, Hadith 2564 – Declared Ṣaḥīḥ by Al-Albānī
➤ A sinful woman from Banī Isrāʾīl gave water to a thirsty dog, and Allah forgave her.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Musāqāt, Hadith 3467 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Peace, Hadith 2245
➤ Another woman was condemned to Hell for imprisoning a cat and not feeding it.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Prophets, Hadith 3482 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Hadith 2243
➤ The Prophet ﷺ forbade killing ants without cause.
Abu Dāwūd, Book of Manners, Hadith 5267 – Declared Ṣaḥīḥ by Al-Albānī
➤ He instructed that animals be slaughtered with kindness.
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Hadith 1955/75
➤ When Mount Uhud shook, the Prophet ﷺ told it to remain still, and it did.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Hadith 7333 | Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Hadith 1365/464
➤ He once placed his blessed hand on a weeping palm trunk, and it calmed down.
Jāmiʿ at-Tirmidhī, Book of Friday, Hadith 505 | Ṣaḥīḥah 2174
➤ Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ forbade making animals fight each other.
Tirmidhī, Book of Jihād, Hadith 1708, 1709
➤ He said:
“Do not curse the rooster, for it awakens one for prayer.”
Abu Dāwūd, Book of Manners, Hadith 1501 | Mishkāt, Hadith 4136 – Ṣaḥīḥ by Al-Albānī
➤ Jābir رضي الله عنه reported: The Prophet ﷺ forbade striking animals on the face.
Tirmidhī, Book of Jihād, Hadith 1710 | Abu Dāwūd, Hadith 2310
✔ Killing Lizards Permitted with Rewards Based on Attempts
➤ Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه narrated: The Prophet ﷺ said:“Whoever kills a lizard with the first strike gets the highest reward, the second less, and the third even less.”
Abu Dāwūd, Book of Manners, Hadith 5263 – Ṣaḥīḥ by Al-Albānī
➤ Another narration:
“He who kills a lizard in the first strike receives seventy good deeds.”
Abu Dāwūd, Hadith 5264 – Ṣaḥīḥ by Al-Albānī
➤ In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, it is stated:
“Killing it in the first blow earns one hundred rewards.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Peace, Hadith 2240
✔ Protection of Bird and Condemnation of Cruelty
➤ Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه narrated: During a journey, some companions caught chicks of a bird, making the mother flutter in distress. The Prophet ﷺ said:“Who has distressed this bird due to its chicks? Return them to her.”
Then he noticed a burned ant colony and asked,
“Who has burned this?”
They replied, “We did.”
He said:
“No one but the Lord of the Fire has the right to punish with fire.”
Abu Dāwūd, Book of Jihād, Hadith 2675 – Ṣaḥīḥ by Al-Albānī
