Chapter: On Mercy (Rahmah)

باب فی الرحمۃ — رحمت کے بارے میں

بَابٌ فِي الرَّحْمَةِ — On Mercy

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

"And We have not sent you except as a mercy to all the worlds." (Al-Anbiya', 21:107)

The author explains that mercy (rahmah) is the supreme quality that Allah has placed in the nature of His Messenger (peace be upon him) and which He demands of all believers. Just as Allah spread His mercy upon all creation, the Prophet ﷺ embodied that mercy in every dimension of life.

عَنْ عَبْدِاللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: الرَّاحِمُونَ يَرْحَمُهُمُ الرَّحْمَنُ، ارْحَمُوا مَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاءِ

Narrated by 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'Those who show mercy will receive the mercy of the Most Merciful (Al-Rahman). Show mercy to those on the earth and He Who is in the heaven will show mercy to you.' (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمُ لَا يُرْحَمُ

Narrated by Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'He who does not show mercy will not receive mercy.' (Bukhari, Muslim — Agreed Upon)

The author elaborates on the dimensions of mercy: mercy toward parents, children, neighbours, animals, and all of creation. He notes that the Prophet ﷺ wept out of mercy for his community, and that even toward those who wronged him, his response was prayer for their guidance rather than retribution.

عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَيْنَمَا هُوَ يُسَيِّرُ الْمَسِيرَ فَإِذَا امْرَأَةٌ تَسْعَى فِي السَّبْيِ، فَإِذَا وَجَدَتْ صَبِيًّا فِي السَّبْيِ أَخَذَتْهُ فَأَلْصَقَتْهُ بِبَطْنِهَا فَأَرْضَعَتْهُ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: أَتَرَوْنَ هَذِهِ الْمَرْأَةَ طَارِحَةً وَلَدَهَا فِي النَّارِ؟ قُلْنَا: لَا، وَاللَّهُ لَا تَطْرَحُهُ. فَقَالَ اللَّهُ أَرْحَمُ بِعِبَادِهِ مِنْ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا

Narrated by 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (peace be upon him) passed a group of captives and saw a woman running among them. When she found an infant among the captives she took it, pressed it to her belly, and suckled it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Do you think this woman would throw her child into fire?' We said: 'No, by Allah, she would never throw him in.' He then said: 'Allah is more merciful to His servants than this woman is to her child.' (Agreed Upon — Bukhari and Muslim)