Mercy is one of the greatest virtues we need among us today. With all the evil and harm people are causing each other, we need to advocate for such an ethical value so we can sustain our humanity and be recipients of the mercy of God.

Allah (ﷻ) introduced Himself to us in the opening chapter of His Holy Book, Surat Al-Fatiha as (الرحمن الرحيم) {The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful}.

Scholars have said the name (الرحمن) {The Most Gracious} is an attribute used only for God Almighty, and it is the only name of God paired with the Divine Name, Allah. Allah (ﷻ) said: {Say, call upon Allah or call upon the Most Gracious, whichever [name] you call – to Him belong the best names} [Al-Isra’ 111]. Scholars also said that the name (الرحيم) {The Most Merciful} is God’s name for mercy, specifically for believers. God Almighty says: {And He is to the believers Most Merciful} [Al-Ahzab 43].

And when God praised His Prophet (ﷺ), He described him as a mercy to the worlds. Allah (ﷻ) said: {And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds} [Al-Anbiya’ 107]. Scholars have said: “It means God has not sent the prophet (ﷺ) for any reason other than to show His vast mercy.” That is why he (ﷺ) described himself by saying: “I am only a mercy bestowed upon me.”[1]

Rahmah or mercy fosters harmony and love among people. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The people of Jannah will be of three kinds: A just successful ruler, a man who shows mercy to his relatives, and a pious believer who has a large family and refrains from begging.”[2]

Rahmah or mercy among each other brings down Mercy from God. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful, Blessed and Exalted. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you.”[3]

Rahmah or mercy brings the community together in times of hardships. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.”[4]

Adorn yourself with God’s morals. Imam Al-Ghazali said: “The perfection and happiness of a servant lies in adorning himself with God’s morals and embracing the meanings of His attributes and names to the extent possible.” In other words, act on the reflection of the names and attributes of God, and in this way you are embracing His names (ﷻ).

One of the ways to demonstrate such attributes is to act in mercy and Rahmah with people. The prophet (ﷺ) said: “When God completed the creation, He wrote the following which is with Him above His Throne, ‘My mercy has taken precedence over my anger.’”[5]

In every situation where you feel annoyed, hurt, or angry, let the virtue of mercy precede anger, for you will thereby gain people, not lose them. At Uhud, when the companions disobeyed the Prophet’s command not to leave the mountain of the archers and they lost the battle, the prophet (ﷺ) had every right to become angry and punish them. But God revealed the following verse: {So it is part of mercy from Allah that you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]} [Al Imran 159].

Mercy should be towards the general public.

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “You will not truly believe until you show mercy to one another.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah! We are all merciful.” He said: “It is not the mercy of one of you toward his companion, but rather it is the mercy of the general public.”[6]

By Imam Kifah Mustapha