Islam: A Religion of Mercy, Peace, and Universal Compassion

Source: Khutbāt of Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Isḥāq Zāhid, compiled by Tawḥīd.com

Islam is the true religion, and in the sight of Allah Almighty, only this religion is acceptable. In this article, it will be clarified in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah that Islam is purely a religion of mercy, peace, and security.

In today’s era, allegations of extremism, violence, and terrorism are being leveled against Islam. However, these allegations are not only baseless, but are also completely contrary to the true teachings of Islam. This article will demonstrate that Allah Himself is Merciful, His Beautiful Names point towards mercy, His Sharīʿah is founded upon ease and compassion, and He has opened the doors of mercy for His servants in both this world and the Hereafter.

Islam Is the Only True Religion​

Islam is the only religion that Allah Almighty has chosen for humanity, and following it alone is the means of salvation.

﴿ إِنَّ الدِّیْنَ عِنْدَ اللّٰہِ الْاِسْلَامُ ﴾

Reference: Āl ʿImrān: 19

Translation:
“Indeed, the (true) religion with Allah is Islam.”

This is why whoever adopts a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted by Allah Almighty.

﴿ وَمَنْ یَّبْتَغِ غَیْرَ الْاِسْلَامِ دِیْنًا فَلَنْ یُّقْبَلَ مِنْہُ وَہُوَ فِی الْاٰخِرَۃِ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِیْنَ ﴾

Reference: Āl ʿImrān: 85

Translation:
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.”

The False Allegation Against Islam​

It is extremely unfortunate that today some circles propagate that Islam is a religion of violence, extremism, and terrorism. In reality, this is a clear slander against Islam. The truth is that Islam is a religion of mercy, which delivers a message of peace and security to all humanity.

The One who bestowed this religion is Allah, the Most Merciful of those who show mercy, and the Messenger ﷺ through whom it was conveyed is Raḥmatan lil-ʿĀlamīn (a mercy for all worlds).

Allah Has Made Mercy Obligatory Upon Himself​

The Qur’an informs us that Allah Almighty has obligated mercy upon Himself.

﴿ وَإِذَا جَآئَکَ الَّذِیْنَ یُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِاٰیٰتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلٰمٌ عَلَیْکُمْ کَتَبَ رَبُّکُمْ عَلٰی نَفْسِہِ الرَّحْمَۃَ … ﴾

Reference: al-Anʿām: 54

Translation:
“And when those who believe in Our verses come to you, say: Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed mercy upon Himself. If anyone among you commits an evil out of ignorance, then repents and reforms, then indeed Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Mercy Belongs Only to Allah​

The true and complete Owner of mercy is Allah alone; all its treasures belong to Him.

﴿ وَرَبُّکَ الْغَفُوْرُ ذُو الرَّحْمَۃِ ﴾

Reference: al-Kahf: 58

Translation:
“And your Lord is Most Forgiving, Possessor of mercy.”

﴿ اَمْ عِنْدَہُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَحْمَۃِ رَبِّکَ الْعَزِیْزِ الْوَہَّابِ ﴾

Reference: Ṣād: 9

Translation:
“Or do they possess the treasures of the mercy of your Lord, the Almighty, the Bestower?”

Allah grants His mercy to whom He wills and withholds it from whom He wills; no one shares in His decision.

﴿ مَا یَفْتَحِ اللّٰہُ لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ رَّحْمَۃٍ فَلَا مُمْسِکَ لَہَا ﴾

Reference: Fāṭir: 2

Translation:
“Whatever mercy Allah opens for the people, none can withhold it.”

Allah’s Beautiful Names and Mercy​

Among Allah’s Beautiful Names are al-Raḥmān and al-Raḥīm, both of which clearly indicate His immense mercy.

﴿ وَإِلٰـہُکُمْ إِلٰـہٌ وَّاحِدٌ لَّا إِلٰـہَ إِلَّا ہُوَ الرَّحْمٰنُ الرَّحِیْمُ ﴾

Reference: al-Baqarah: 163

Translation:
“And your God is One God; there is no deity except Him—the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.”

These two noble Names are repeatedly mentioned in the Qur’an, which is a clear proof that Allah’s essence is entirely mercy.

Allah Is the Most Merciful of the Merciful​

One of Allah’s greatest attributes is that He is Arḥam al-Rāḥimīn—the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.

﴿ فَاللّٰہُ خَیْرٌ حٰفِظًا وَّہُوَ اَرْحَمُ الرّٰحِمِیْنَ ﴾

Reference: Yūsuf: 64

Translation:
“Allah is the best Protector, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.”

﴿ وَقُلْ رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَاَنْتَ خَیْرُ الرّٰحِمِیْنَ ﴾

Reference: al-Muʾminūn: 118

Translation:
“And say: My Lord, forgive and have mercy, for You are the Best of those who show mercy.”

The Ḥadīth of Intercession and Allah’s Unmatched Mercy​

In the ḥadīth of intercession, the Prophet ﷺ said that on the Day of Resurrection, after all intercessions are completed, Allah will say:

«فَيَقُولُ اللّٰهُ: شَفَعَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ، وَشَفَعَ النَّبِيُّونَ، وَشَفَعَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ، وَلَمْ يَبْقَ إِلَّا أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ…»

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7439; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 183

Translation:
“Allah will say: The angels have interceded, the prophets have interceded, and the believers have interceded—and none remains except the Most Merciful of those who show mercy…”

Then Allah will remove from Hell such people who performed no good deeds at all, solely on the basis of His boundless mercy.

A Mother’s Compassion and Allah’s Mercy​

ʿUmar bin al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه narrated that once a woman among the captives was desperately searching for her child. When she found him, she embraced him and began nursing him. The Prophet ﷺ said:

«أَتَرَوْنَ هَذِهِ الْمَرْأَةَ طَارِحَةً وَلَدَهَا فِي النَّارِ؟»

“Do you think this woman would throw her child into the fire?”

We replied: Never.

He ﷺ then said:

«لَلّٰهُ أَرْحَمُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا»

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5999; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2754

Translation:
“Allah is more merciful to His servants than this woman is to her child.”

Allah’s Mercy Encompasses Everything​

Allah’s mercy is not limited; rather, it encompasses everything.

﴿ وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ … ﴾

Reference: al-Aʿrāf: 156

Translation:
“And My mercy encompasses all things…”

This verse clarifies that mercy is general in this world, but in the Hereafter it will be specifically for those who have faith, piety, and follow the Messenger ﷺ.

Who Are the Recipients of Allah’s Mercy?​

Allah’s mercy is especially bestowed upon those who themselves are merciful.

«الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمُ الرَّحْمٰنُ، اِرْحَمُوا مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ»

Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 1924

Translation:
“The Merciful shows mercy to those who are merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and the One above the heavens will show mercy to you.”

Deeds That Make One Deserving of Mercy​

The Qur’an clearly mentions actions through which Allah’s mercy is attained:

✔ Faith and piety
✔ Obedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ
✔ Following the Qur’an
✔ Good character
✔ Establishing prayer and giving zakāh
✔ Righteous deeds
✔ Seeking forgiveness
✔ Reconciliation among believers
✔ Patience during hardships
✔ Enjoining good and forbidding evil

Practical Manifestations of Divine Mercy in Islam​

Dear brothers! We have established that Allah Himself is mercy and that His religion is built upon mercy. Let us now observe how this mercy practically manifests in Islam:

① Sending Messengers Before Punishment​

Allah does not punish a nation until He sends a Messenger to clarify the truth.

﴿ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا ﴾

Reference: al-Isrāʾ: 15

② No Burden Beyond One’s Capacity​

﴿ لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ﴾

Reference: al-Baqarah: 286

Examples include:
✔ Tayammum when water is unavailable
✔ Praying sitting or lying if unable to stand
✔ Exemption of women from prayer during menstruation and postnatal bleeding
✔ Ḥajj once in a lifetime for those who can afford it
✔ Concessions for the sick and travelers in fasting

③ Prohibited Becomes Permissible in Necessity​

﴿ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ﴾

Reference: al-Baqarah: 173

④ Mistake, Forgetfulness, and Coercion Are Forgiven​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5269

Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah: 2043

⑤ The Pen Is Lifted From Three​

Reference: Sunan Ibn Mājah: 2041

⑥ The Door of Repentance Is Open Until Death​

Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 3537

⑦ Good Deeds Are Multiplied, Evil Is One​

Reference: al-Nisāʾ: 40

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 162

⑧ Mercy Prevails Over Wrath​

«إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي سَبَقَتْ غَضَبِي»

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7554

⑨ One Hundred Portions of Mercy​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6000

⑩ Mercy Even Toward Animals​

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3467, 2363; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 2244

Conclusion​

Can a religion like this teach terrorism? Never.
Islam is the religion sent by Allah, the Most Merciful of the merciful, and it conveys a message of peace, safety, and mercy for all humanity.

May Allah envelop us in His mercy and enable us to become true ambassadors of Islam.
Āmīn yā Rabb al-ʿĀlamīn.