Prophet Muhammad: A Rahmah for the Worlds
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ(الأنبياء 107)
We sent you only as a mercy for the worlds. ( Al-Anbiya’ 21:107)
لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ(التوبة 128)
A Messenger has come to you from among yourselves. Your suffering distresses him: he is deeply concerned for you and full of kindness and mercy towards the believers . (Al-Tawbah 9:128)
The sole purpose of Prophet Muhammad’s coming to the world was to manifest the ‘rahmah’ of Allah. What is ‘rahmah’? This word is mentioned in the Qur’an in its various forms about 326 times. It means “mercy, compassion, love, care, kindness, pity, consideration, benevolence etc.” Al-Rahman and al-Rahim are the two Beautiful Names of Allah; and they are most frequently mentioned in the Qur’an. Rahmah is a divine quality and it brings goodness everywhere. Among the human beings Prophet Muhammad was the perfect example of mercy. He was sent as a mercy for all the worlds and he was most kind and merciful towards the believers. Prophet Muhammad was most kind and merciful person in every aspect of his life and he was also one of the greatest teachers of kindness and mercy.
The Role Model of Mercy : Sayyidna ‘Ali – may Allah be pleased with him- said about the Prophet –peace be upon him:
أَجْوَدُ النَّاسِ كَفَّا وَأَشْرَحُهُمْ صَدْرًا وَأَصْدَقُ النَّاسِ لَهْجَةً وَأَلْيَنُهُمْ عَرِيكَةً وَأَكْرَمُهُمْ عِشْرَةً مَنْ رَآهُ بَدِيهَةً هَابَهُ وَمَنْ خَالَطَهُ مَعْرِفَةً أَحَبَّهُ يَقُولُ نَاعِتُهُ لَمْ أَرَ قَبْلَهُ وَلَا بَعْدَهُ مِثْلَهُ (الترمذى 3571)
Among the people he had the most generous hand, the most open heart, the most truthful tongue, the most kind shoulder and most noble companionship. Whosoever saw him suddenly feared him; but whoever associated with him loved him. Anyone who describes him would say, ‘I never saw before him or after him any one like him.’ (Al-Tirmidhi, 3571)
Ways of Prophet’s mercy are many. We can mention only few of them here. He was the most loving, kind and generous person. He was merciful to men, women and children. He was merciful to his own family and to all people. He was kind to the poor, slaves, widows and orphans. He was merciful to animals. He did not misuse anything. He did not waste or spoil anything. Everything he used with care and consideration. He lived a very simple and humble life. He never became angry for his own self or took revenge for his own self. He was always patient and forgiving. He never began hostilities. When his enemies attacked Islam and his people, he vigorously defended his religion and his followers. He was brave and courageous, he did not want to see a single Muslim hurt at the hands of the enemies of Islam. However, when he was victorious and defeated the aggressors, he was most magnanimous. He forgave his enemies and he won their hearts by being kind and generous towards them. He described his way in these words:
عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أوصاني ربي بتسع أوصيكم بها : أوصاني بالإخلاص قي السر والعلانية ، والعدل في الغضب والرضا، والقصد في الفقر والغنى ، وأن أصل من قطعني وأعطى من حرمني ,أعفو عمن ظلمني ، وأن يكون صمتي فكرا ونطقي ذكرا ونظري عبرة (رواه رزين)
The Prophet –peace be upon him- said, “My Lord gave me nine advices and I give them to you. He advised me:
- To be sincere whether in private and in public
- To do justice whether in anger or in happiness
- To be moderate whether in riches or in poverty
- To join (in relations) with those who (try) to cut me off
- To give to those who deprive me
- To forgive those who do wrong to me
- My silence should be thoughtful
- My speech should be the remembrance (of Allah)
- My vision should be to learn (from events) (Reported by Razeen)
The Teacher of Mercy : The Prophet – peace be upon him - taught his followers to be merciful always. His message was the message of love and kindness, care and compassion. He taught that all human beings are one family and they should treat each other with dignity, honor and equality. There should be no discrimination on the basis of race, color and nationality. The Prophet –peace be upon him- emphasized that we should be merciful to all people; but we must begin mercy from our homes: merciful to our parents, spouses, children, and other kith and kin.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمْ الرَّحْمَنُ ارْحَمُوا مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ الرَّحِمُ شُجْنَةٌ مِنْ الرَّحْمَنِ فَمَنْ وَصَلَهَا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ قَطَعَهَا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ (الترمذي 1847)
Abdullah ibn Umar says that the Prophet –peace be upon him- said, “Those who are merciful, the Most Merciful will have mercy upon them. Have mercy upon those who are on earth, the One in Heaven will have mercy upon you. The ‘rahm’( womb) is from al-Rahman ( The Merciful). Whoever will keep it connected Allah will connect with him and whoever will cut its ties Allah will cut him away from Him. (al-Tirmidhi 1847)
The Prophet gave special emphasis on bonding between family members. They should take care of each other. Good families make the society good. Love and mercy spread in the society through the good bonds between the family members. The Prophet –peace be upon him- told people that the way to Jannah is through love and kindness:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ حَتَّى تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَا تُؤْمِنُوا حَتَّى تَحَابُّوا أَوَلَا أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ إِذَا فَعَلْتُمُوهُ تَحَابَبْتُمْ أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ بَيْنَكُمْ (مسلم 81)
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet –peace be upon him- said, “You will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love each other. Should I tell you about something if you do, you will love each other. Spread Salam among you.”
(Muslim, Hadith no. 81)
The Prophet emphasized that faith and love are interconnected. Love of Allah and love of other human beings are basic teachings of Islam.
عَنْ أَنَسٍ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ (البخاري 12)
Anas said that the Prophet –peace be upon him- said, “None of you will believe until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (al-Bukhari 12)
This is the most merciful principle for the social life. If we start treating others the way we like ourselves to be treated, the society will indeed become the society of mercy and love.
عَنْ حُذَيْفَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا تَكُونُوا إِمَّعَةً تَقُولُونَ إِنْ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسُ أَحْسَنَّا وَإِنْ ظَلَمُوا ظَلَمْنَا وَلَكِنْ وَطِّنُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ إِنْ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسُ أَنْ تُحْسِنُوا وَإِنْ أَسَاءُوا فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا (الترمذي 1930)
Hudhaifah says that the Prophet –peace be upon him- said, “Do not become characterless people (Iffy people) that you say, ‘If people do good we shall do good and if they do wrong we shall do wrong.’ Nay, but you settle yourselves. If people do good, you should do good to them and if they do bad, you do not do wrong to them. (al-Tirmidhi 1930)
The answer to evil is not evil, but one should remain firm on the right path under all circumstances. This is the way to success, peace and mercy in the world.
( Khutbah at ISOC – Rabi’ul Awwal 5, 1431/ February 19, 2010)
