When we forgive we spread kindness. "And for the one who spreads his kindness, Allah will spread His mercy over him on the day of Judgement" (Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H).
DO KINDNESS AND MERCY MEAN THE SAME?
In the dictionary, mercy is a synonym for kindness. A synonym is a word with a similar meaning. Even though they are synonyms we may still use the words in different senses.
Why do we talk about God’s mercy and for humans kindness?
Usually when we talk about human mercy we think of when we could kill another but we decide not to do it – that is mercy. Thus mercifulness is when another has done a clear wrong to us but we decide to be merciful (extreme kindness) and pardon them. Forgiveness is also a synomym of mercy. Thus we can be kind or merciful when we forgive. Gentleness is also a synonym of mercy.
FORGIVING THE UNFORGIVABLE
Mercy is compassion and forgivenss shown for something that perhaps is unforgivable by ordinary standards but we are prepared for the sake of the relationship or for some other reason to overlook or pardon.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KINDNESS AND MERCY
When we open the door for another we are being kind because it is a nice thing to do – in this situation we are not being merciful.
GOD’S MERCY
When dealing with God, we talk about God’s mercy because we have sinned, we have done wrong. God exercises his mercy in this situation. Yes we do talk about man’s mercy but we usually talk about kindness because for most human interactions we need kindness, and kindness means niceness, courtesy and being generous of spirit.
It is kind to exercise mercy but for most ordinary events – humans only need to be kind. However, for a very serious act or transgression then the human needs to think of mercy – which is the most extreme type of kindness, forgivenss and compassion.
ISLAMIC MERCY
If we repent of sin and stop the act then Allah will be merciful. Mercy (forgiveness) prevails over wrath (anger). Thus the meaning of God’s mercy is more about forgiveness (which includes kindness).
MERCY REWARD
Reward for kindness and compassion was also assured by Prophet Muhammad: “The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and He Who is in heaven will show mercy unto you” (As-Suyuti).
A Prophet’s Mercy
Prophet Muhammad was sent as mercy to all creations with no exception. This means that Islam was founded upon mercy.
GENTLENESS
The Prophet was also most gentle in guiding people, and whenever they used to harm him he always asked Allah to pardon them for their ignorance and cruelty.
COMPASSIONATE COMPANIONS
The followers (known as Sahabas) of the Prophet Muhammad were expected to he compassionate. Compassion is a synonym of mercy. An example of mercy was Abu Bakr As-Siddiq who dedicated his wealth for buying slaves from their brutal masters and then he set them free for the sake of Allah.
THE CONCEPT OF MERCY
When clarifying the right concept of mercy to his Companions, the Prophet said that it is not by one’s kindness to family and friends, but it is by showing mercy and compassion to the general public whether you know them or not.
MERCY TOWARDS CHILDREN
When a man once saw the Prophet kissing his grandson, he said, “I have ten children but I have never kissed any one of them.” The Prophet replied: “He who does not show mercy, no mercy would be shown to him” (Al-Bukhari).
ENCOURAGING KINDNESS
The Prophet encouraged kindness by saying that a person is rewarded by good deeds for each hair he strokes on an orphan’s head.
WAR, PEACE AND DISBELIEVERS
Mercy in Islam also extends to enemies, in times of war and peace. Prophet Muhammad used to urge his Companions to maintain family ties with relatives who were disbelievers by calling on them and giving them gifts.
MEN WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE
Allah commands Muslims to grant refuge to enemies if they should ask for it, and forbids anyone to harm them. This is stated in the Qur’an, where Allah says: If one amongst the pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him, so that he may hear the word of Allah; and then escort him to where he can be secure. That is because they are men without knowledge. (At-Tawbah 9:6).
RESPECT IS ALSO A KINDNESS OR MERCY
The Prophet forbade his Companions to harm the elderly, injured, women, children, and people in places of worship. Also, destroying fields was forbidden. Defacing the corpses of enemies was strictly banned and giving them rapid burial was commanded out of respect.
The Prophet’s orders regarding captives were strictly obeyed by his Companions. In one of the stories about a battle related to us by a captive, he says that he was staying with a Muslim family after being captured. Whenever they had their meals, they used to give him preference by offering him bread while they would eat only dates.
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) victoriously entered Makkah after defeating the Quraish, he approached them and asked, “How do you expect me to treat you?” They replied, “You are a noble brother and the son of a noble brother! We expect nothing but goodness from you.” Then the Prophet announced, “I speak to you in the same words as Yusuf (the Prophet Joseph) spoke unto his brothers: o reproach on you this day, God will forgive you, He is the Most Merciful of the Merciful. (Yusuf 12:92). Go, for verily you are free.”
On this day, when tolerance and forgiveness were least expected, the Prophet set an example of mercy and forgiveness by releasing all the captives without ransom, and forgiving them for the persecution and brutal torture of the Muslims, which was continuous during the first 13 years of conveying the message of Islam.
KINDNESS TO ANIMALS
When the Prophet saw a donkey with a branded face, he said, “Have you not heard that I have cursed anyone who brands an animal on its face or who hits it on its face?” (Muslim).
The Prophet once said that a woman was sent to Hell because of a cat that she imprisoned, neither feeding it nor setting it free to hunt for its own food. On the other hand, the Prophet said, a man went to Paradise for giving water to a dog in the desert that was panting out of thirst.
The Prophet forbade that knives should be sharpened in front of animals before slaughtering. In addition, the slaughtering of an animal before another was prohibited. This is clear in one of the Prophetic sayings: “God calls for mercy in everything, so be merciful when you kill and when you slaughter: sharpen your blade to relieve its pain” (Al-Bukhari).
One of the Companions related this incident: When they were traveling with the Prophet, they found a bird with its young ones, so they took them from their mother. The bird came and started flapping its wings, so the Prophet asked, “Who has distressed this bird by taking its young? Return them to it at once” (Al-Bukhari).
Animal welfare was affirmed by the Prophet when he said that anyone who took a living thing as a target is cursed. Forcing animals to fight till one gores the other was also strictly banned, for animals have feelings and this would be definite torture for them.
MERCY STARTS WITH GOD
Mercy starts with God and is bestowed by Him to every living creature. Humans show each other mercy, to live harmoniously with one another, and in turn, by showing this mercy, they themselves are shown even more mercy from Allah.
Source of some of the text: http://www.naveedmalik.com/thetruthoflife/others_mercy.htm
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