‘ “Some Bedouins came to see the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: ‘Do you kiss your children?’ He, sallal- laahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: “Yes.” Thereupon they said: ‘By Allah, we never do.’ At this, the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “What can I say if mercy has been lifted from your hearts?”1