His Mercy with the Disbelievers

his mercy with the disbelievers surprised and astonished people all over the world for it is a matter that most of them could not comprehend.

the disbelievers harmed and hurt him and allowed their mindless individuals to pelt him with stones, but when his permission was sought to destroy them, he said in reply: “no. rather i hope that allaah will let them beget children who will worship allaah alone, and will worship none beside him.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

they plotted to murder him, broke one of his incisors and wounded his face. they killed the most beloved person to him and mobilized armies to get rid of him. in spite of all such things, he pardoned and forgave them when allaah the almighty gave him dominion over them. this situation amazed especially one of the most prominent american historians, washington irving, who said, “the whole conduct of mahomet, on gaining possession of mecca, showed that it was a religious more than a military triumph. his heart, too, softened toward his native place, now that it was in his power; … and his inclinations were all toward forgiveness.” in fact, the mercy of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was not confined to overlooking their assaults and having much patience with all such attacks and harms; rather, his mercy went beyond that. he was keen on guiding them and saving them from the wrath and punishment of allaah the almighty. thus, he strained every nerve, exhausted himself, and left no stone unturned until his lord sympathized with him but also rebuked him mercifully, saying to him (what means):

• {perhaps, [o muhammad], you would kill yourself with grief that they will not be

believers.} [quran 26:3]

• {so do not let yourself perish over them in regret.} [quran 35:8]

furthermore, when he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was asked to invoke allaah the almighty to destroy the polytheists, he said: “i was not sent as a curse invoker, rather i was sent as a mercy.”

how far the callers to islam of today are from such mercy and compassion, and keenness on guiding people to the right path!

allaah the almighty and the most truthful says (what means): {so by mercy from allaah, [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.} [quran 3:159]

there is no doubt that the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is indeed a mercy to the worlds (mankind, jinn and all else that exists) regardless of their race and religion. how could he not be so when his lord the almighty describes him saying (what means): {and we have not sent you, [o muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.} [quran 21:107]

how could he not be so when he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said about the virtue of mercifulness: “the most merciful has mercy on those who are merciful. be merciful to those who are on earth so that the one who is in heaven will have mercy on you.” [at-tirmithi; al- albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

how could he not be so when he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said describing the people of paradise: “the people of paradise will be of three kinds: a just, charitable, successful ruler; a person who is merciful and kind-hearted towards his relatives and to every muslim, and a pious believer who refrains from asking people (for money) in spite of having a large family to support...” [muslim]