The Prophet’s Kindness.

The Prophet’s quality of Mercy
The Prophets Kindnessand Mercy towards others

One of the Prophet’s ﷺ most prominent qualities was that of mercy. Especially referring to the Prophet’s ﷺ merciful character Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan:

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةًۭ لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ( سورة الأنبياء : لِّلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ١٠٧)

And we have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds [Soorat al-Ambly: 107]

In another verse of the Qur’aan, Allah ﷻ says;

فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ ( سورة آل عمران : ١٥٩)

So by mercy from Allah [O Muhammad], 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. [Soorat ‘Aall Imraan : 159]

All of the above verses bear testimony to the Prophet’s ﷺ quality of kindness and mercy towards others. It can be stated, without doubt, that people mainly accepted Islam because of the Prophet’s ﷺ character. Even the disbelievers could bear testimony to his mercy and kindness
Besides the Prophet’s ﷺ exemplary conduct he also propagated the acts of mercy and kindness towards others. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr al-‘Aas narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said,

الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمُ الرَّحْمَنِ ارْحَمُوا مَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ يَرْحَمُكُمْ مَن فِي السَّمَاءِ (الترمذي)

“The Compassionate One has mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on the earth. He who is in the heaven will show mercy to you.” [at-Tirmidhi]

“And if you had been rude in speech and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.”

The Prophet ﷺ was most forgiving and kind. ‘Aa’ishah narrates that once a group of people came to the Prophet ﷺ and cursed him, she in turn cursed them, the Prophet ﷺ then said to her:

( البخاري) إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَفِيقٌ يُحِبُّ الوَفْقَ فِي الْأَمْرِ كُلَّه…

“Surely Allah is Kind, He loves kindness in every matter.” [al-Bukhaar]

The Prophet ﷺ was always very careful and considerate in dealing with people. If people were harsh towards him, he would never retum their harshness, but would rather respond with kindness. Allah says:

لَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۭ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ( سورة التوبة : ١٢٨ )

There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you [i.e. your guidance] and to the believers (he) is kind and merciful. [Soorat at-Tawbah: 128]

The Prophet ﷺ was the best model of kindness and mercy towards people. It is therefore necessary to show the same type of kindness and mercy towards one another.
Muslims must show kindness and mercy towards others especially to one another. The Prophet ﷺ was merciful and kind towards the believers and in turn they were merciful and kind towards one another. In Soorat al-Fath Allah says,

مُّحَمَّدٌۭ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ مَعَهُۥٓ أَشِدَّآءُ عَلَى ٱلْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَآءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ( سورة الفتح : ٢٩ )

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves… [Scorat al-Fath: 29]

The Qur’aan describes the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions as being merciful and kind towards one another. It is important to study the life of the Prophet ﷺ and see how he treated people with kindness and mercy. In this way Muslims can improve their relationships with one another Allah says,

لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا ( سورة الأحزاب : ٢١ )

There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the last day and [who] remembers Allah often. Soorat al-Ahzab:21]

Learning from the lesson