Written by: Fazal Akbar Kashmiri
وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ اِلَّا رَحۡمَۃً لِّلۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ۱۰۷
And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy to the worlds.
(Al-Anbiya: 107)
Mercy Towards Non-Believers
It is narrated by Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that people said: "O Messenger of Allah, pray against the polytheists." The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
"I have not been sent as one who curses, but rather I have been sent as a mercy."
(Muslim: 6613)
Since the Prophet (ﷺ) is Mercy to the worlds, even his anger and wrath towards a Muslim, if any, will become a source of mercy on the Day of Judgment. (See Abu Dawood: 4659, its chain is Hasan, Musnad Ahmad 5/437, Hadith 23706)
Mercy Towards Believers
Complete believers find mercy in the Prophet (ﷺ) because following him is a source of success in this world and the Hereafter. Waging Jihad against combatants is a mercy for them to accept Islam. Collecting Jizya from the people of Dhimma is a means of mercy and peace for them. Hypocrites harbor disbelief in their hearts, yet outwardly they are given the same rights as believers, which is also a mercy for them.
In Surah At-Tawbah, verse 41, a special mercy is specified for the believers. This is the result of the Prophet's mercy that his Ummah is safeguarded from complete destruction, unlike previous disobedient nations which were eradicated completely.
Allah Almighty says
:لَقَدۡ جَآءَکُمۡ رَسُوۡلٌ مِّنۡ اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ عَزِیۡزٌ عَلَیۡہِ مَا عَنِتُّمۡ حَرِیۡصٌ عَلَیۡکُمۡ بِالۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ رَءُوۡفٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ۱۲۸
Certainly, 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.
(At-Tawbah: 128)
Example of Mercy
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:"My example and the example of people is that of a person who made a fire. When it illuminated its surroundings, moths and other insects started falling into it. The person tried to prevent them, but they overpowered him and kept falling into the fire. Similarly, I am grabbing you by your waists to save you from the fire, but you are slipping away from my hands." (Bukhari: 6483, Muslim: 2284)Mercy Towards Animals
The Prophet (ﷺ) was also a mercy to animals. Once, the Prophet (ﷺ) went to relieve himself in the garden of an Ansari. There was a camel that, upon seeing the Prophet (ﷺ), cried and its eyes welled up with tears. The Prophet (ﷺ) approached it, patted its temple, and asked: "Whose camel is this?" A young Ansari came and said: "It is mine, O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet (ﷺ) said:"Do you not fear Allah regarding this animal which He has placed in your possession? It has complained to me that you keep it hungry and overwork it."
(Musnad Ahmad 1/204, Hadith 1745, its chain is authentic and its origin is in Sahih Muslim: 342)
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