Authored by: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Azmi (Rahimahullah)
Chapter Title: Compassion and Mercy
Arabic Title: باب ما جاء فى الرحمة
"We came to the Prophet (PBUH) as young men of similar age. We stayed with him for twenty nights. The Prophet (PBUH) was very kind and merciful. He sensed that we were longing for our families, so he asked about those we had left behind. When we informed him, he said: 'Return to your families and stay with them. Teach them and instruct them to do good. When the time for prayer comes, let one of you call the Adhan, and let the eldest among you lead the prayer.'”
(Agreed Upon: Bukhari 6000, Muslim 674)
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated:
"The Prophet (PBUH) stood for prayer, and we stood with him. During the prayer, a Bedouin said: 'O Allah, have mercy on me and Muhammad, but do not have mercy on anyone else.' When the Prophet (PBUH) finished the prayer, he said to the Bedouin: 'You have restricted something vast,' referring to Allah’s mercy."
(Sahih: Bukhari 6010)
❀ Sayyiduna Jarir ibn Abdullah (RA) narrated:
"The Prophet (PBUH) said: 'He who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.'"
(Agreed Upon: Bukhari 6013, Muslim 2319)
"The Prophet (PBUH) kissed Hasan ibn Ali while Al-Aqra ibn Habis al-Tamimi was sitting beside him. Al-Aqra said: 'I have ten children, and I have never kissed any of them.' The Prophet (PBUH) looked at him and said: 'Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.'”
(Agreed Upon: Bukhari 5997, Muslim 2318)
❀ Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated:
"The Prophet (PBUH) said: 'By the One in whose hand is my soul, Allah places His mercy only in the heart of a merciful person.' The companions said: 'O Messenger of Allah, we are all merciful.' The Prophet (PBUH) replied: 'The mercy I am referring to is not just the mercy of one of you towards his companion, but it is the mercy that encompasses all humanity.'”
(Hasan: Abu Ya’la 4258, al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman 10549)
"The Merciful One shows mercy to those who are merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One above the heavens will have mercy on you."
(Hasan: Abu Dawood 4941, Tirmidhi 1924)
"A Bedouin came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said: 'Do you kiss children? We do not kiss them.' The Prophet (PBUH) replied: 'What can I do if Allah has removed mercy from your heart?'"
(Agreed Upon: Bukhari 5998, Muslim 2317)
Chapter Title: Compassion and Mercy
Arabic Title: باب ما جاء فى الرحمة
Hadiths on Compassion
❀ Sayyiduna Malik ibn Huwayrith (RA) narrated:"We came to the Prophet (PBUH) as young men of similar age. We stayed with him for twenty nights. The Prophet (PBUH) was very kind and merciful. He sensed that we were longing for our families, so he asked about those we had left behind. When we informed him, he said: 'Return to your families and stay with them. Teach them and instruct them to do good. When the time for prayer comes, let one of you call the Adhan, and let the eldest among you lead the prayer.'”
(Agreed Upon: Bukhari 6000, Muslim 674)
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated:
"The Prophet (PBUH) stood for prayer, and we stood with him. During the prayer, a Bedouin said: 'O Allah, have mercy on me and Muhammad, but do not have mercy on anyone else.' When the Prophet (PBUH) finished the prayer, he said to the Bedouin: 'You have restricted something vast,' referring to Allah’s mercy."
(Sahih: Bukhari 6010)
❀ Sayyiduna Jarir ibn Abdullah (RA) narrated:
"The Prophet (PBUH) said: 'He who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.'"
(Agreed Upon: Bukhari 6013, Muslim 2319)
Practical Examples of Mercy
❀ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated:"The Prophet (PBUH) kissed Hasan ibn Ali while Al-Aqra ibn Habis al-Tamimi was sitting beside him. Al-Aqra said: 'I have ten children, and I have never kissed any of them.' The Prophet (PBUH) looked at him and said: 'Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.'”
(Agreed Upon: Bukhari 5997, Muslim 2318)
❀ Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrated:
"The Prophet (PBUH) said: 'By the One in whose hand is my soul, Allah places His mercy only in the heart of a merciful person.' The companions said: 'O Messenger of Allah, we are all merciful.' The Prophet (PBUH) replied: 'The mercy I am referring to is not just the mercy of one of you towards his companion, but it is the mercy that encompasses all humanity.'”
(Hasan: Abu Ya’la 4258, al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman 10549)
General Advice on Mercy
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Amr (RA) narrated from the Prophet (PBUH):"The Merciful One shows mercy to those who are merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One above the heavens will have mercy on you."
(Hasan: Abu Dawood 4941, Tirmidhi 1924)
Warnings for Lack of Compassion
❀ Sayyidah Aisha (RA) narrated:"A Bedouin came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said: 'Do you kiss children? We do not kiss them.' The Prophet (PBUH) replied: 'What can I do if Allah has removed mercy from your heart?'"
(Agreed Upon: Bukhari 5998, Muslim 2317)
Key Lessons from These Ahadith
- Compassion is Central to Faith: Mercy towards others is a key characteristic of a true believer.
- Universal Mercy: Compassion should not be limited to specific individuals but should extend to all of humanity.
- Consequences of Hard-heartedness: Lack of mercy is a sign of misfortune and deprives one of Allah's mercy.
- Practical Acts of Mercy: Simple acts of kindness, such as showing affection to children or being gentle in daily interactions, are encouraged in Islam.
- Allah’s Mercy for the Merciful: Those who are merciful to others will receive Allah’s mercy, both in this world and the Hereafter.