His Manners and Ethics: The Prophet’s Mercy (Peace Be upon Him)

Prophet Muhammad (Peace upon Him) was merciful to the people, the kind of mercy that strong people offer not the mercy of the weak or the helpless. He was merciful because He believed in mercy, as it was instilled in Him, it was his nature to be merciful.[1] The Lord said about the mercy of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be upon Him) to all the creation "And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds." (Al-Anbaya’: 107) He said about His mercy towards believers in specific: “There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.” (At-Tawbah: 128)

First: His Mercy to the Weak:

Including children, old women, the sick and the servants:

The Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, encouraged the Muslims to be merciful to the weak, it is narrated from Abu Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, said: "When you lead people in the prayer, make it short, because there are among them some people who are weak, ill and old. But when you pray on your own, make it as long as you wish." (Narrated by Malik and the Jama’ah for Ibn Majah, but he narrated it from Othman ibn al-Ass, with some difference in terms.)

The Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, was merciful and kind with children, the books on Sirah (the biography of the Prophet, PBUH) include plenty of situations showing the mercy of the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, with children and his love, kindness and respect to them. Some of these situations are:

A- His treatment to his two grandchildren, Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein: the Prophet, Peace be upon Him, used to play with them and express his kindness and love to them. These are some examples showing the kindness of the best of grandparents. [2]

* Abdullah ibn Shaddad, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated from his father that he said: "The Messenger of Allah (Peace Be upon Him) came out to us for one of the nighttime prayers, and he was carrying Hasan or Husain. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came forward and put him down, then he said the Takbir and started to pray. He prostrated during his prayer, and made the prostration lengthy." My father said: "I raised my head and saw the child on the back of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) while he was prostrating so I went back to my prostration. When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) finished praying, the people said: 'O Messenger of Allah, you prostrated during the prayer for so long that we thought that something had happened or that you were receiving a revelation.' He said: 'No such thing happened. But my son was riding on my back and I did not like to disturb him until he had enough.'

* Abdullah ibn Buraidah narrated from his father: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was delivering a Khutbah to us when Al-Hasan and Al-Husain (Peace Be upon Them) came, wearing red shirts, walking and falling down. So the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) descended from the Minbar and carried them, and placed them in front of him. Then he said: "Allah spoke the Truth: Indeed, your wealth and your children are a trial (64:15). I looked at these two children walking and falling down, and I could not bear patiently anymore until I interrupted my talk and picked them up."

* Al-Bukhari narrated that Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: Allah’s Messenger kissed al-Hassan bin Ali while al-Aqra’ bin Habis al-Tamimi was sitting beside him. Al-Aqra' said: "I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them," Allah’s Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) looked at him and said: "Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully."

Aisha narrated a bedouin came to the Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) and said, "You (people) kiss the boys! We don't kiss them." The Prophet said, "I cannot put mercy in your heart after Allah has taken it away from it."

* Abu Huraira reported that Hasan ibn 'Ali took one of the dates of the sadaqa (charity) and put it in his mouth, whereupon the Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) said: "Leave it, leave it, throw it; don't you know that we do not eat the sadaqa (i.e. eat from charity)?"

B- His compassion with children: An example is like what happened with Anas ibn Malik’s younger brother who was called “Aba Umair”.

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah's Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) had the best of character among mankind. I had a brother who was called Abu 'Umair. I think he was weaned. When Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) came to our house he saw him, and said: "O Aba ‘Umair! What did the Nughair (a kind of bird) do?" [3] He said: He used to play with it. One day, the Prophet (PBUH) saw Umair crying. The Prophet (PBUH) asked him: "Why are you crying Omair?" Omair said: "An-Nughair died, O Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet (PBUH) sat down with him for an hour, talking and playing." Some companions were passing by, they saw the Prophet (PBUH) sitting with Omair. The Prophet looked at them and said: “An-Nughair died, so I wanted to play with Omair." (Narrated by Bukhari)

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that Allah’s Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) said: "The best house among the Muslims is a house in which there is an orphan who is treated well, and the worst house among the Muslims is a house in which there is an orphan who is treated badly." (Narrated by ibn Magah)

From Abdullah ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) it was narrated: Allah’s Messenger (Peace Be upon Him said): Whoever raises three orphans, is like the one who spends his nights in prayer and fasts during the day, and goes out morning and evening drawing his sword in the cause of Allah. In Paradise, he and I will be brothers like these two sisters, 'and he held up his forefinger and middle finger together.' (Narrated by ibn Majah)

Abu Huraira reported: A man came to the Messenger of Allah, Peace Be upon Him, and he complained about the hardness of his heart. The Messenger of Allah said, "If you want to soften your heart, then feed the poor and pat the head of the orphan." (Narrated by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak)

It was narrated by Abi Umamah that the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, said; "Whoever wipes over an orphan's head for the sake of Allah, he will be rewarded for every hair he touched good deeds. Whoever has an orphan and treats him or her kindly, I and he will be in the Paradise like that (Then he combined his two fingers).” (Narrated by Ahmed)

C- The mercy of the Prophet (PBUH) when the boy cried during Salah: The Prophet (PBUH) shortened the Salah to make it easier for the child and his mother. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: I never prayed behind any Imam a prayer lighter and more perfect than that behind the Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) and he used to cut short the prayer whenever he heard the cries of a child lest he should put the child's mother to trial. (Narrated by Bukhari) [4]

D- His Kindness to young children… The Prophet (PBUH) used to take children to prayer and pat their cheeks with kindness, to encourage them. Jabir Ibn Samura reported: I prayed along with Allah's Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) the first prayer. He then went to his family and I also went along with him when he met some children (on the way). He began to pat the cheeks of each one of them. He also patted my cheek and I experienced coolness or a fragrance of his hand as if it had been brought out from the scent bag of a perfumer. [5]

E- The Prophet used to give children gifts… Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that when the people saw the first fruit (of the season or of plantation) they brought it to Allah's Apostle (Peace Be upon Him). When he received it he said: "O Allah, bless us in our fruits; and bless us in our city; and bless us in our sa's and bless us in our mudd…".He would then call to him the youngest child and give him these fruits!!! 

F- How the Prophet carried his Grandchildren while praying… This was authenticated in al-Sahihain, al-Bukhari and Muslim, that Qatadah narrated that Allah’s Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) used to pray carrying His granddaughter Omamah, the daughter his daughter Zainab, and Abi al-Ass ibn al-Rabea. When the Prophet was standing while praying, He used to carry her, and when He was prostrating, He would put her down, and when He finished praying, He would carry her once again.

G- How the Prophet Respected Children and Forbade Lying to them… The young children used to attend His educational sessions. One of the young boys was once sitting to the right of the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, and on the left there were some elders. When the Prophet went to bring some beverage, He drank, then He said to the boy: "May I give them first" (i.e. before the boy, as it was his turn). The boy said: 'No, Messenger of Allah, I would not give the share you are handing me to anyone else.' So, the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, handed him his share. [6]

Abdullah ibn Amer, May Allah be pleased with him, said: "My mother called me, while Allah’s Messenger, Peace Be upon Him, was sitting at our house. She said: 'Come, I will give you something.' Allah's Messenger, Peace Be upon Him, said: 'What do you want to give him?' She said: 'I will give him some dates.' He said to her: 'If you were not planning to give him anything, it would have been written (in your registry of deeds) a lie.'"

Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "A slave-girl of Madinah would take hold of the hand of the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, and take him wherever she desired." (Narrated by Bukhari)

Anas, May Allah be pleased with him, said: "The Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, used to greet the young children if He passed by them." (Narrated by Bukhari, the hadith wording is the same in Bukhari and Muslim)

H- His advice to people to be good to their daughters/women: Female infanticide was practiced by some Arabs in the pre-Islamic era, then Islam prohibited this practice in the Qur’an and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad strengthens this as mentioned in the prophetic sayings. Allah’s Messenger, Peace Be upon Him, said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever has three daughters and he is patient with them, he gives them food and drink, and he clothes them, then they will be his shield from the Hellfire on the Day of Resurrection." [7]

In another hadith, the Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) said: "Whoever has three daughters and he cares for them, he is merciful to them, and he clothes them, then Paradise is certainly required for him." It was said, "O Messenger of Allah, what if he has only two?" The Prophet said, "Even two." Some people thought that if they had said to him one, the Prophet would have said even one.

Ibn Abbas said: Allah's Messenger, Peace Be upon Him, said: "Whosoever has a daughter and does not bury her alive, insult her, or favor his son over her, Allah will admit him into Paradise." (Musnad Ahmed)

F- The Mercy of Allah's Messenger, Peace Be upon Him, towards His Servant "Anas ibn Malik", may Allah be pleased with him. He used to call him "O Son" Or "Unais" a nickname to show kindness. Anas said: "I served the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, for ten years. By Allah, He never said to me “Uf” (a minor harsh word denoting impatience) and never said to me about a thing which I had done why I did that, or about a thing I had left as to why I had not done that.'" [8]

Anas reported: "Allah's Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) had the best disposition amongst people. He sent me on an errand one day, and I said: By Allah, I would not go. I had, however, this idea in my mind that I would do as Allah's Apostle (Peace Be upon Him) had commanded me to do. I went out until I happened to come across children who had been playing in the street. In the meanwhile, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) came there and he caught me by the back of my neck from behind me. As I looked towards him I found him smiling and he said: Unais, did you go where I commanded you to go? I said: Allah's Messenger, yes, I am going.

His Mercy and Love towards al-Ansar

The Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) saw the women and children (of the Ansar) coming forward. (The sub-narrator said, "I think that Anas said, 'They were returning from a wedding party.") The Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) stood up and said thrice, "By Allah! You are from the most beloved people to me." (Narrated by al-Bukhari)

His Mercy towards Women:

The Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) advised men to treat women well, and He raised women’s status from being weak with no rights, to having a great status and position in Islam. The Prophet appreciated women, and He loved His wives so much, they were honored and respected by Him.

Allah's Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) was on a journey and he had a black slave called Anjasha, and he was driving the camels (very fast, and there were women riding on those camels). Allah's Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) said, "Waihaka (May Allah be merciful to you), O Anjasha! Drive slowly (the camels) with the glass vessels (women)!" (Narrated by al-Bukhari) [9]

The Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) said: "…And I advise you to take care of the women, for they are created from a rib and the most crooked portion of the rib is its upper part; if you try to straighten it, it will break, and if you leave it, it will remain crooked, so I urge you to take care of women."

The last words of the Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) when He was approaching death: "The prayer, and those whom your hands possess." And he kept on saying it until his tongue could no longer utter any words. [10]

Abu Huraira reported that a person came to Allah's Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) and said: Who among the people is most deserving of a fine treatment from my hand? He said: Your mother. He again said: Then who (is the next one)? He said: Again it is your mother (who deserves the best treatment from you). He said: Then who (is the next one)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Again, it is your mother. He (again) said: Then who? Thereupon he said: Then it is your father. In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Qutalba, there is no mention of the word "the people".

Abu Ya’laa narrated that Abu Hurirah said: Allah’s Messenger, Peace Be upon Him, said: “I will be the first one to open the gate of paradise, but a woman will come rushing to enter with me. I will say to her: What is the matter with you, and who are you? And she will say: I am a woman who devoted my life to caring for my orphaned children.”

The Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, never refrained from walking with a widow or poor person and tending to their needs. He said about them: "The one who looks after a widow or a poor person is like a Mujahid (warrior) who fights for Allah's Cause, or like him who performs prayers all the night and fasts all the day." (Narrated by Abu Hurirah, al-Bukhari)

Looking after the widow or the poor person is helping them in terms of expenses, the widow is the one who has no husband, whether she got married or not, linguistically it also means the one who is separated from her husband. Ibn Qutaybayah said: She was called “Armalah” in Arabic from the word Irmal, which means poverty and lack of sustenance due to losing the husband. A man would be “Armal” if his wealth/sustenance is gone. The poor is the one who has nothing or has few things.

It was narrated from Abu hurirah that the Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) said, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not hurt (trouble) his neighbor. And I advise you to take care of women, for they are created from a rib and the most crooked portion of the rib is its upper part; if you try to straighten it, it will break, and if you leave it, it will remain crooked, so I urge you to take care of women." (Narrated by al-Bukhari) So, one of the foundations of belief in Allah and the Last Day is not to harm your neighbor with anything whether by saying, cursing or doing anything that would harm him like putting something in front of his house, inciting your children to harm his children or annoy him in his sleep etc. A Muslim should be kind to his neighbors the best way, he should be lenient with them. What is meant by “neighbor” is not only the one who has a wall separating between him and you, the scholars said those considered neighbors can be up to 40 houses around, from every side. If the neighbor is your relative as well, then he has two rights, the right of kinship and the right of neighborship. Allah’s Messenger said: “Jibril kept recommending treating neighbors with kindness until I thought he would assign a share of inheritance”. Even if the neighbor is Jewish, he also has the right of neighborship. Allah’s Messenger used to have a Jewish neighbor, this neighbor harmed him a lot and one day, the Prophet did not find the traces of harm that this neighbor used to left, the Prophet found out he was ill, so he visited him… This was a reason for the Jewish neighbor to embrace Islam.

After this explanation of the importance of the neighbor’s right, the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, linked with it the right of women and advised men to be kind to them, this is to show the importance of preserving women’s rights because a woman is the mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, daughter and granddaughter. Women are created from a crooked rib, and she is the same as the rib, i.e. not straight. So, the man has to leave her as she is, without trying to straightening her or changing her, in terms of the lawful things. The man has to accept the woman as she is and treat her well to kindly to create atmosphere of love and affinity. The man has to be patient with the woman and let her be herself. The man cannot live without a woman to be with, and seek her help in life. So, enjoying the company of a woman cannot happen without being patient with them.

Anas Ibn Malik narrated that once the Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) was on one of his journeys, and the driver of the camels started chanting (to let the camels go fast). [11] The Prophet (PBUH) said to him, “(Take care) Drive slowly with the glass vessels, O Anjashah! Waihaka (May Allah be Merciful to you).” [12] (Narrated by al-Bukhari)

Sa’ad ibn Abi Waqas narrated that once `Umar asked the leave to see Allah's Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) in whose company there were some Quraishi women who were talking to him and asking him for more financial support raising their voices. When `Umar asked permission to enter the women got up (quickly) hurrying to screen themselves. When Allah's Messenger (Peace Be upon Him) admitted `Umar, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was smiling, `Umar asked, "O Allah's Messenger (PBUH)! May Allah keep you in happiness always." Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said, "I am astonished at these women who were with me. As soon as they heard your voice, they hastened to screen themselves." `Umar said, "O Allah's Apostle! You have more right to be feared by them." Then he addressed (those women) saying, "O enemies of your own souls! Do you fear me and not Allah's Messenger (PBUH)?" They replied. "Yes, for you are harsher and fiercer man as compared with Allah's Messenger (PBUH)." On that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said (to `Umar), "By Him in Whose Hands my life is, whenever Satan sees you taking a path, he follows a path other than yours." (Al-Bukhari)

 ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) never hit anything with his hand neither a servant nor a woman but of course, he did fight in the Cause of Allah. He never took revenge upon anyone for the wrong done to him, but of course, he exacted retribution for the sake of Allah in case the Injunctions of Allah about unlawful acts were violated.

‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “‘Aishah, be lenient for when Allah wills good for the people of a household, He shows them the door of leniency (kindness).”

In another narration He (PBUH) said: “When Allah wills good for the people of a household, He introduces leniency among them.” (Narrated by Ahmed and al-Mundhi)

Abu Hurirah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: I heard Allah’s Messenger, Peace be upon Him, saying: “The women of the Quraish are good amongst the womenfolk. They ride camels and show affection to their children and zealously guard the wealth of their husbands.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari)

‘Aishah may Allah be pleased with her said: A poor woman came to me carrying her two daughters. I gave her three date-fruits. She gave a date to each of them and then she took up one date-fruit and brought that to her mouth to eat, but her daughters asked her that also. She then divided between them the date-fruit that she intended to eat. This (kind) treatment of her impressed me and I mentioned that to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who said, 'Verily, Allah has assured Jannah for her, because of (this act) of her," or said, "Allah (SWT) has rescued her from Hell- Fire". (Narrated by Muslim)

‘Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: A lady along with her two daughters came to me asking me (for some alms), but she found nothing with me except one date which I gave to her and she divided it between her two daughters, and then she got up and went away. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) came in and I informed him about this story. He said, "Whoever is in charge of (put to test by) these daughters and treats them generously, then they will act as a shield for him from the (Hell) Fire." (Narrated by al-Bukhari)

Narrated Omar ibn al-khattab narrated that some Sabi (i.e. war prisoners, children and woman only) were brought before the Prophet (ﷺ) and behold, a woman amongst them was milking her breasts to feed and whenever she found a child amongst the captives, she took it over her chest and nursed it (she had lost her child but later she found him) the Prophet said to us, "Do you think that this lady can throw her son in the fire?" We replied, "No, if she has the power not to throw it (in the fire)." The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "Allah is more merciful to His slaves than this lady to her son." (Narrated by al-Bukhari)

As for what some of the western activists said about Prophet Muhammad, we will mention what Madame Beron, the head of women’s rights in Paris, said about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): Muhammad was not an enemy to women as expressed by some people here – i.e. Europeans – who misunderstood the laws he presented, we have to visualize the time during which he lived, in order to know his reforms…” [13]

His mercy, Peace Be upon Him, to animals, some examples:

* His story with the camel which the Prophet, PBUH, saw when He entered an orchard owned by one of the Ansar.

Abdullah ibn Ja’far, may Allah be pleased with them, said: “Allah’s Messenger, PBUH, rode His mule and let me ride behind Him. When the Messenger wanted to relieve himself, He most liked to conceal himself behind a hillock or a stand of date-palm trees. He entered the garden of a man from the Ansar, where there was his camel. [14] When He saw the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, the camel wept tenderly producing yearning sound and its eyes flowed. The Prophet (PBUH) came to it and wiped the temple of its head. So it kept silence. He then said “Who is the master of this camel?” A young man from the Ansar came and said “This is mine”. The Prophet, PBUH, said: “Do not you fear Allah about this animal which Allah has given in your possession. It has complained to me that you keep it hungry and load it heavily which fatigues it. [15]” Then, Allah’s Messenger, Peace Be upon Him, went behind a wall to relieve himself, then He made wudu’ and came back with drops of water falling from his beard on His chest. The, he confided to me something secret which I would not disclose to anybody. We (the people who were listening to Abdullah ibn Ja’afar) asked him to tell what the Prophet, PBUH, told him. He said: “I will not disclose what Allah’s Messenger, confided me with, till I meet Allah (die)” (Narrated by Abdu Dawoud, Imam ahmed and Shakir said: A Sahih Hadith)

**

We were with the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be upon Him) during a journey. He went to ease himself. We saw a bird with her two young ones and we captured her young ones. The bird came and began to spread its wings. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came and said: Who grieved this for its young ones? Return its young ones to it. He also saw an ant village that we had burnt. He asked: Who has burnt this? We replied: We. He said: It is not proper to punish with fire except the Lord of fire. (Narrated by Ahmed) Ahmed Shakir said: Its narration is authentic…

* His Advice to be Kind to all Animals:

Narrated ibn Omar: The Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) said, "A woman entered the (Hell) Fire because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth. " (Al-Bukhari)

In another narration: “A woman was punished because she had kept a cat tied until it died, and (as a punishment of this offence) she was thrown into the Hellfire. She had not provided it with food, or drink, and had not freed her so that she could eat the insects of the earth.”

Allah’s Messenger commanded people to be careful while slaughtering animals, and do it in the best way. When the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, saw a man who threw a goat on its side [to slaughter it] and then started sharpening his knife, He said: “Do you want to kill it twice? Why did you not sharpen the knife before throwing it on the ground?” (Al-Haakim, al-Tabarani, He said authentic following the condition of al-Bukhari)

On the authority of Abu Ya’la Shaddad bin Aws (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be upon Him) said: Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan (proficiency, perfection) in all things. So if you kill then kill well; and if you slaughter, then slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.” [Muslim]

Allah’s Messenger warned against taking any animal or a soul as a target, i.e. a target to kill. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from al-Dhahak from ibn Abbas as saying: Allah’s Messenger forbade killing anything in which there is a soul except when it is harmful.”

It says in another hadeeth which was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not use anything in which there is a soul as a target.” (Narrated by Muslim, 1957)

It was narrated that Hisham bin Zaid said; "Ans and I entered upon Al-Hakam - that it, Ibn Ayyb - and there were some people shooting at a chicken in the house of the governor. He said: 'The Messenger of Allah forbade using animals as targets;'.. (Narrated by al-Bukhari)

Mu'awiya ibn Qurra reported that his father said, "A man said, 'Messenger of Allah, I was going to slaughter a sheep and then I felt sorry for it (or 'sorry for the sheep I was going to slaughter').' He said twice, 'Since you showed mercy to the sheep, Allah will show mercy to you.'"

The Prophet used to order Muslims to be kind and careful even while slaughtering animals, it was narrated that Shadad bin Aws said:

"I heard two things from the Messenger of Allah He said 'Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has decreed proficiency in all things, so when you kill, kill well, and when you slaughter, slaughter well. Let one of you sharpen his blade and spear suffering to the animal he slaughter."" (Sahih)

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr that the Messenger of Allah said: "There is no person who kills a small bird or anything larger for no just reason, but Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, will ask him about it." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah, what does just reason;' mean?" Her said: "That you slaughter it and eat it, and do not cut off its head and throw it aside." (Narrated by an-Nasa’i)

Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be upon Him, prohibited exhausting animals by letting them stand or taking them as seats for extended periods of time, without a necessity. He saw some people riding their animals without moving, so He (PBUH) said: “Keep them safe and sound when riding them and when leaving them, do not use them as chairs for your side talks in the streets and markets. A ridden animal might be better than its rider and might remember and mention Allah more than its rider does." (Ahmad and Abu Yali)

The Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, forbade killing frogs, as is reported in the hadeeth of ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Uthmaan, who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade the killing of frogs. He said: “Do not kill frogs for its croaking is tasbeeh (praising the Lord) and do not kill bats as when Baytul Maqdis was destroyed He said: O Lord, give me power over the sea so that I drown them.” (Narrated by al-Bayhaqai, with a Sahih narratin)

Narrated Abu Yahya from Mujahid from Ibn 'Abbas who said: "Allah’s Messenger prohibited instigating fights between beasts." Narrated by Abu Dawoud. Instigating between animals and pushing them to fight each other like camels, bulls, roosters etc. The reason for forbidding animal wrestling is that it causes them pain and it is just mere entertainment without a purpose. If we look at what happens nowadays like bulls wrestling which is a kind of sport to instigate bulls to fight each other till they become uncontrollable, and hence they get killed, we should ask ourselves where are the animal care societies when it comes to ending this inhuman sport?!

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: "While a man was walking on his way he became extremely thirsty. He found a well, he went down into it to drink water. Upon leaving it, he saw a dog which was panting out of thirst. His tongue was lolling out and he was eating moist earth from extreme thirst. The man thought to himself: 'This dog is extremely thirsty as I was.' So he descended into the well, filled up his leather sock with water, and holding it in his teeth, climbed up and quenched the thirst of the dog. Allah appreciated his action and forgave his sins". The Companions asked: "Shall we be rewarded for showing kindness to the animals also?" He (PBUH) said, "A reward is given in connection with every living creature". (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim) 

His Mercy towards the Sick:

Allah's Messenger used to come near the sick person, sit near his head and ask him about his condition saying "How you feel?"

It was mentioned that the Prophet used to ask the sick person about what he craves for saying "Do you crave for something?" If he wanted something that would not harm him, the Prophet, PBUH, used to order them to get that thing for him.

He used to treat with a Ruqya saying: "O the Lord of the people! Remove the trouble, the cure is in Your Hands, and there is none except You who can remove it (the disease)."

He also made dua for Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqas saying: O Allah! Cure Sa'ad. O Allah! Cure Sa'ad. O Allah! Cure Sa'ad." (Muslim)

Whenever the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, visited an ailing person, he would say, "La ba'sa, tahurun in sha' Allah [No harm, (it will be a) purification (from sins), if Allah wills]." [16]

His Mercy towards Servants

His mercy included the servants and simple people. Allah's Messenger, Peace Be upon Him, said: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Three kinds of people will have a double reward…and a man who possesses a slave-girl and teaches her manners, educates her well, and frees her and then marries her."

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Abu Dhar, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that Allah' Messenger (PBUH) said about servants...."they are your brothers. Allah has placed them under your authority. He who has his brother under him, should feed him from whatever he eats, and dress him with whatever he wears, and do not burden them (assign burdensome task to them) beyond their capacity; and if you burden them then help them." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Abu Hurirah reported Allah's Messenger as saying: "When the slave of anyone amongst you prepares food for him and he serves him after having sat close to (and undergoing the hardship of) heat and smoke, he should make him (the slave) sit along with him and make him eat (along with him), and if the food seems to run short, then he should spare some portion for him (from his own share) - (another narrator) Dawud said:" i. e. a morsel or two". (Narrated by Muslim)

Allah's Messenger, Peace Be upon Him, also said: "He who slaps his slave or beats him, the expiation for it is that he should set him free." (Narrated by Muslim)

Allah's Messenger, PBUH, said to Abu Mas'ud when He saw him beating a slave he owns: "Bear in mind, Abu Mas'ud; verily Allah has more dominance upon you than you have upon your slave." Abu Mas'ud stopped beating him and sat him free so that to avoid Allah's punishment due to this deed. (Narrated by Muslim)

Allah's Messenger commanded people to treat slaves like they treat their children, He advised them – while He was on his deathbed – to treat slaves kindly. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that a young Jewish boy who was in the service of the Prophet (PBUH) fell ill. The Prophet (PBUH) went to visit him. He sat down by his head and said to him, "Embrace Islam." The little boy looked at his father who was sitting beside him. He said: "Obey Abul-Qasim (i.e., the Messenger of Allah (PBUH))." So he embraced Islam and the Prophet (PBUH) stepped out saying, "Praise be to Allah Who has saved him from Hell-fire." (Narrated by Bukhari) [17]

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Second: The Prophet's Mercy towards His Ummah

The Beloved Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be upon Him, was the most merciful Prophet towards His Ummah, He was kind and merciful as it has been said by Almighty Allah: "There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful." (At-Tawbah: 128)

Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:

The Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) recited the Words of Allah, the Exalted, and the Glorious, about Ibrahim (Peace Be upon Him) who said: " My Lord, indeed they have led astray many among the people. So whoever follows me - then he is of me; and whoever disobeys me - indeed, You are [yet] Forgiving and Merciful." (14:36) and those of 'Isa (Jesus) (Peace Be upon Him) who said: "If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; but if You forgive them - indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise." (5:118) Then He (PBUH) raised up his hands and said, "O Allah! My Ummah, my Ummah," and wept; Allah, the Exalted, said: "O Jibril (Gabriel)! Go to Muhammad and ask him: 'What makes you weep?" So Jibril came to him and asked him (the reason of his weeping) and the Messenger of Allah informed him what he had said (though Allah knew it well). Upon this Allah said: "Jibril, go to Muhammad and say: 'Verily, We will please you with regard to your Ummah and will never displease you". (Narrated by Muslim)

Abu Huraira said:

The Prophet of Allah (Peace Be upon Him) said: There is for every apostle a prayer which is granted, but every prophet showed haste in his prayer. I have, however, reserved my prayer for the intercession of my Ummah on the Day of Resurrection, and it would be granted, if Allah so willed, in case of everyone amongst my Ummah provided he dies without associating anything with Allah." (Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and Ahmad)

It was narrated from Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari that the Messenger of Allah (Peace Be upon Him) said: “I was given the choice between being admitted to Paradise, and I chose intercession, because it is more general and more sufficient. Do you think it is for the pious? No, it is for the impure sinners.” (Narrated by Ibn Majah, Ahamad from Omar and At-Tabarani from Omar)

Abu Bark al-Sidiq narrated that the Prophet, Peace Be upon Him, said: "I was given (a blessing) that seventy of my Mummah shall enter Paradise without being brought to account, their faces are (shining) like the moon on a full-moon night, their hearts will be as if one heart. I asked my Lord, Praise be to Him, for more. He increased them, for each of them there will be seventy thousand others (entering Paradise)." Narrated by Ahmad and Abu Ya'la.

One of the greatest manifestations of the Prophet's compassion and mercy, Peace Be upon Him, towards His Ummah, His position amid the afflictions on the Day of Judgment, on a day the children become white-haired, He will be granted the great intercession, as mentioned in the long hadith by Anas ibn Malik: "…I would go and ask the permission of my Lord and it would be granted to me. I would then stand before Him and would extol Him with praises which I am not able to do now, but with which Allah would inspire me, then I would fall in prostration and it would be said to me: O Muhammad, raise thy head, and say and it would be listened to; ask and it would be granted, intercede and it would be accepted. I shall say: My Lord, my people, my people It would be said: Go, and bring forth from it (Hell) him who has in his heart faith equal to the weight of a wheat grain or a barley seed. I would go and do that; then I would return to my Lord and extol Him with those praises (taught to me by Allah), then I would fall in prostration. It would be said to me: O Muhammad, raise your head, and say and it would be heard; ask and it would be granted; intercede and intercession would be accepted. So I would say: My people, my people. It would be said to me: Go and take out from it (Hell) him who has in his heart faith equal to the weight of a mustard seed. I would go and do that." (Narrated by Muslim)

These bright images tell us about the compassion and mercy of Allah's Messenger, Peace Be upon Him, towards His Ummah. He (PBUH) said: "A person lit fire and when the atmosphere was aglow, moths and insects began to fall into the fire, but I am there to hold them back, but they are plunging into it despite my efforts, and he further added: That is your example and mine. I am there to hold you back from fire and to save you from it, but you are plunging into it despite my efforts."

Indeed, the Prophet told the truth, for how many times He was met with abuse and harm from Qureish, they beat and cussed Him, and they forced Him out of Makkah, the most beloved city for Him, and yet He kept calling them to Islam, and forgiving their transgressor and being kind to them and due to that Almighty Allah saved, through the Prophet, a lot of them from the Hellfire." [18]

Allah's Messenger, was very concerned for His people, and He was very sorry when they insist on their disbelief. Almighty Allah says: "Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful.” (At-Tawbah: 128)

The Messenger of Allah was afraid that they would die in disbelief, and His mercy and compassion is culminated in His call to them and insistence to save them from the Hellfire, despite their abuse and mockery. Ibn Abbas narrated that when the verse: "And warn, [O Muhammad], your closest kindred." (Ash-Shu'ara: 214) was revealed, the Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) ascended the Safa (mountain) and started calling, "O Bani Fihr! O Bani `Adi!" addressing various tribes of Quraish till they were assembled. Those who could not come themselves, sent their messengers to see what was there. Abu Lahab and other people from Quraish came and the Prophet (PBUH) then said, "Suppose I told you that there is an (enemy) cavalry in the valley intending to attack you, would you believe me?" They said, "Yes, for we have not found you telling anything other than the truth." He then said, "I am a warner to you in face of a terrific punishment." Abu Lahab said (to the Prophet) "May your hands perish all this day. Is it for this purpose you have gathered us?" Then it was revealed: "Perish the hands of Abu Lahab (one of the Prophet's uncles), and perish he! His wealth and his children will not profit him...." (111.1-5)

Another situation that shows the Prophet's mercy is what Orwah ibn az-Zubair narrated from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that she asked Allah's Messenger, Peace Be upon Him: 'Have you encountered a day harder than the day of the battle) of Uhud?" The Prophet (PBUH) replied, "Your tribes have troubled me a lot, and the worse trouble was the trouble on the day of 'Aqaba when I presented myself to Ibn `Abd-Yalail bin `Abd-Kulal and he did not respond to my demand. So I departed, overwhelmed with excessive sorrow, and proceeded on, and could not relax till I found myself at Qarnath-Tha-alib where I lifted my head towards the sky to see a cloud shading me unexpectedly. I looked up and saw Gabriel in it. He called me saying, 'Allah has heard your people's saying to you, and what they have replied back to you, Allah has sent the Angel of the Mountains to you so that you may order him to do whatever you wish to these people.' The Angel of the Mountains called and greeted me, and then said, "O Muhammad! Order what you wish. If you like, I will let Al-Akh-Shabain (i.e. two mountains) fall on them." The Prophet (PBUH) said, "No but I hope that Allah will let them beget children who will worship Allah Alone, and will worship None besides Him."

[7] Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 3669

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani