MERCY IS EVERY HUMAN BIENGS NEED

MERCY IS EVERY HUMAN BIENGS NEED

HADEETH

Abdullah bin Umar bin A’as (ra) reports that the Prophet (saws) said: Those who have mercy will receive the mercy of the Most Merciful. Have mercy on those who are on earth, the One in heavens will have mercy on you.”(Tirmidhi)

Explanation: This is the message from the Prophet (saws) who was declared by Allah to be “Mercy to the entire world.” It is just appropriate that his Ummah chose that hadith to be the first for its study. There is no other call for mercy that is more universal or more inspiring. Have mercy on all the people. And do it because you yourself need the mercy of Allah. Be merciful to the other creations so the Creator will have mercy on you. Your mercy should see no bounds. It should reach all human beings. Another hadith in Bukhari and Muslim states: “Those who have no mercy on other human beings will not receive the mercy of Allah.” It is important to note that in this second hadith the word used is “nas”, that is people, not just believers.

And not just the human beings, But also animals. For “those on earth” include all living things. Once the Prophet (saws) told the story of a person who had fed water to a thirsty dog by climbing down in a well and bringing water in his shoe, and attained salvation for that act. When asked if there is any reward for nice treatment to the animals, he answered that there is reward in being kind to all vertebrates, a classification that practically only leaves out insects.

Sometimes people say that Islam has taught kindness to animals 1400 years ago while the modern civilization has learnt the lesson only now. Only the first part of this statement is true, since the modern civilization has not yet learnt the lesson. Its penchant for showbiz has resulted in many displays of kindness to animals but they only camouflage the unprecedented cruelty to them.

Consider the practice of vivisection, in which live animals are put through torture in the name of medical research. Live and conscious animals are burnt or cut up or tortured in all ways imaginable to see what will happen. The practice was invented by Western trends in civilization. It continues today.

When it comes to human beings, the modern civilization decidedly values them less than the animals. That is why there are more people concerned about saving the whales and exotic animals than have been concerned about the Muslims in Bosnia. That is why seemingly educated people can heedlessly present arguments that the dropping of nuclear bombs on civilians was a good thing. That is why the starving to death of nearly half a million people in Iraq, through economic sanctions, does not raise any serious objections in the “civilized” world.

Of course the modern civilization’s ruthlessness to other human beings, of different color, or religion, exceeds its cruelty to animals. It kills, maims, tortures, and starves to death, other human beings because they are “others.”

Can this civilization even imagine the outlook and mental makeup of a nation that for centuries has begun the study of the traditions of its Prophet, (saws) by recalling this message of universal mercy, kindness and love. These are among the most important defining words (not words only but qualities) for the collective personality of this Ummah, our Ummah. We begin every act in the name of Allah who is Most Beneficent and Merciful. We invite the entire world to the mercy of their Creator. We show mercy to all creation. And by doing all that we seek mercy of Allah.

But sadly, our attitude is confined only to speaking good words and not exemplifying them in action. This is the reason that the rewards promised to the doers in the Qur’an, ie true momins, will not come to us.

We also show our love for the Creator by being kind to His creation. That is the foundation of real mercy. Our mercy is not a public relations ploy or a propaganda tool. It is not driven by a love of headlines. Such motivations can only create a show of mercy. But the real mercy requires sincerity and a more solid foundation.

In a way mercy is an attribute of power. This power comes only when it is linked to inner strength of imaaan and amaal-e-saleha. A helpless, powerless person cannot have mercy on others; he can only ask for mercy.

Mufti Abdulqayyum
11/01/2011