The Compassion, Mercy and Clemency of the Prophet

27/03/2010| IslamWeb

It pleases Allah The Almighty when His servants show compassion and mercy towards others. The Prophet, , said: "The merciful enjoy the Mercy of Allah. Have mercy on those on earth so that Allah The Almighty will have mercy upon you." [Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi and Al-Albaani: Saheeh]

Believers, according to the Quran, are by default merciful towards each other and forceful against disbelievers, as indicated in the verse that reads (what means): {Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves.} [Quran 48:29]

 

The Prophet, , had the greatest share of such a virtue. His mercy, clemency and compassion were patently obvious in situations with everyone: the young, the old, his relatives, friends or others. He was tender to his children from their births until their deaths. Anas ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, , said: "A child was born to me tonight and I named him after my father Ibraheem (Abraham), may Allah exalt his mention.” Then the Prophet, , asked for the child, embraced him and said what Allah enabled him to say. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I saw the boy breathe his last in the presence of the Prophet . His eyes shed tears and he said: 'Ibraheem, our eyes shed tears and our hearts are filled with grief, but we do not say except what pleases Allah. O Ibraheem, we are grieved for you.’’" [Muslim]

 

The Prophet, , was also merciful and lenient with his grandchildren. It is narrated in Al-Bukhari and Muslim that he used to carry Umaamah, the daughter of his daughter Zaynab, may Allah be pleased with her, while he performed prayer - when he prostrated he would put her down, and when he stood up he would carry her.

 

When one of the daughters of the Prophet, , sent her dying child to him, he laid him on his lap and was full of grief for him. When the Prophet, , began to shed tears, Sa‘d, may Allah be pleased with him, asked, “What is this, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet, , replied:"It is mercy which Allah The Almighty put into His servants' hearts. Indeed, Allah The Almighty has mercy on His merciful servants." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 

The mercy of the Prophet, , was manifested in his shortening of congregational prayers due to hearing a child crying. Abu Qataadah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated on the authority of the Prophet, , that he said: "I start the prayer intending to lengthen it, but as soon as I hear a crying child, I hasten so that I would not trouble his praying mother." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 

The mercy of the Prophet, , was also demonstrated when he would carry small children and be patient and tolerant with them, even when they did displeasing things. He, thereby, educated the Muslims with great lessons in this important regard. The Mother of the Believers, ‘Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that a child was brought to the Prophet, , who proceeded to urinate over his clothes. The Prophet, , calmly called for water, and simply poured it over the urine. [Al-Bukhari]

 

In their dealings with the Prophet, , the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, experienced his mercy. Maalik ibn Al-Huwayrith, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated, "A group of men from my tribe and I came to the Prophet and stayed there for twenty nights. He was merciful and clement, and when he felt that we longed for our wives and families, he said: ‘Go back and educate them and perform prayers. When the time of prayer is due, let one of you make Athaan and the eldest of you lead you in prayer.’ “[Al-Bukhari]

 

These were but a few of the great virtues of the Prophet, , which should serve as a model for Muslims to follow. May Allah, The Almighty, guide us to the Straight Path.