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Newsletter for November 2012
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Article 8
The Most Merciful shows Mercy to those who have Mercy on Others
The Prophet (s) once kissed his grandson, Al-Hasan Ibn `Ali, while Al-Aqra Ibn Haabis was in his presence.
So Al-Aqra said to him: " You kiss your children. I swear by
Allah, I have ten children and I never kissed any one of them!"
The Prophet (s) replied: "He who doesnt show mercy (to others)
will not be shown mercy (by Allah)." Verily, mercy - in our
religion - encompasses this world and the hereafter, as well as
mankind, animals, birds, and the surrounding habitats.
Allah says: "And My mercy encompasses every thing."
Allah has described Himself with mercy and He has also described
His prophets and righteous servants with mercy also.
Allah has made his sending forth of the Prophet (s) as a mercy
to the universe. He says:
"And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy to the
worlds."
The word "worlds" (`aalameen) is general and thus includes the
world of the humans, the world of the jinn, the world of the
animals and the world of the birds, as well as the nations found
on land and the nations found on sea.
And indeed Allah has commanded that mercy be applied to every
thing and in every action. So even when you slaughter you
sacrificial animal, you show mercy to it by saying Bismillaah
and by sharpening your sword (so that it will be a quick and
painless death). The Prophet (s) said:
"Verily Allah has prescribed Ihsan (goodness) for everything. So
when you slaughter, then slaughter in a good manner, and when
you kill (in war), then kill in a good manner. And let each of
you sharpen his blade and let him spare the animal he slaughters
from suffering."
And Allah indeed forgave a prostitute from the Jews who showed
mercy to a dog that was dying from thirst. She filled her shoe
with water and then taking hold of the dogs mouth, she gave it
the water to drink. So Allah was pleased with her for what she
did and forgave her sins.
And once our Prophet (s) saw one of his companions grab the baby
of a lark, and it began screaming over the heads of the
Companions. So the Prohet(s) said: "Whosoever deprived this
(lark) of her offspring, please return her offspring to her!"
The more weak and poor a human being is, the more required we
are of showing mercy to him. And being gentle with him is what
is most incumbent. This is why our Lord has forbidden us from
oppressing the orphan. Allah says: "Therefore, treat not the
orphan with oppression. And do not repel the beggar."
The Prophet (s) said: "The person that looks after and supports
the widow and the needy one is
like the mujahid (one struggles) in the way of Allah." And he
(s) would affectionately touch the head of the orphan and say:
"I and the guardian of an orphan will be (together) like this in
Paradise and he gestured with his index and middle finger."
Indeed he (s) commanded us to take care of the children and the
women and the elders. Thus, in his last words to his Companions
and his nation, he said:
"The prayer and what your right hands possess." "Take good care
of the women (i.e.your wives)."
And he (s) said: "The best of you is the best to his wives. And
I am the best amongst you with my wives."
Mercy is something innate, which Allah has placed into the
hearts of (all) His creatures, even the lions - the most
dangerous of them are kind and merciful to their children. Allah
is more merciful to His creation than a mother is to her child.
That is why on the day that He created mercy, He created one
hundred parts to it. And He left ninety-nine parts with Him, by
which He will show mercy to His servants on the Day of Judgment,
and sent down one single part of mercy to earth, which humans
and animals share amongst themselves.
The Messenger of Allaah (s has condemned the person that is void
of any mercy and who does not attain a large amount of it. This
is why he (s) condemned the one who breaks family ties. He (s)
said:
"Kinship is connected to the Throne (`Arsh). It says: `Whoever
severs me, then break (away from) him. And whoever maintains me,
then keep connected to him."
And in one narration:
"Verily, the kinship will be connected to the Throne of the Most
Merciful on the Day of Judgment. It will say: `This is the place
for the one who sought refuge in You from the severing (of
family ties). So Allah will say to it: `Will it please you that
I connect those who maintained you and that I cut off those who
severed you? And it will say: `I will be pleased (with that), my
Lord."
And he (s) condemned the oppressive leaders who do not show
mercy to their people.
contributed by by Muhammad Musa Nasr - Translated By Ismaîl
Alarcon - Compiled, edited and adapted by Khalid Latif
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