18/10/2012 02:00 Compassion - Islamic Network

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The Islamic Network - www.islaam.net
Thursday, 2 Dhu 'l -Hijjah 1433 AH / 18th October 2012 CE
Compassion
by 'Al Abd-ur-Rahmn al-Hudhaif
Dhul-Qadah 10, 1424 (January 2, 2004)
All praise is due to Allh, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allh be upon the Messenger, his household and
companions.
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allh as He should be feared. For it is by fearing Allh that high degrees are attained and calamities
are removed.
Dear Muslims! Know that the life of this world has foundations and concepts and noble meanings around which its
benefits revolve. Among these noble meanings is compassion. An ability to show compassion is a great quality given only
to those who are fortunate and denied to those who are unfortunate though it is rooted in the nature of all creatures. The
Messenger of Allh said,
Indeed, Allh created mercy in one hundred parts. And He sent only one part to the earth by which the
creatures show compassion to one another. It is out of this one part that you see a horse or a she-camel
raises her hoof off her young one lest she crushes it. Allh withholds the remaining ninety nine parts in
order to shower it on His slaves on the Day of Resurrection. (Al-Bukhr)
The Almighty Allh possesses the quality of compassion in a way that befits to His Majesty. Compassion is a perfect
quality in the creatures by which they deal with one another and by which the strong show mercy to the weak and benefit
him and ward off things that can harm him. Compassion is in the nature which Allh created but when that nature is
erased with sins, the compassion turns to cruelty.
Though compassion is an upright nature upon which Allh created His slaves, Islm also affirmed it and commanded the
Muslims to be compassionate. This is because; Islm is a religion of mercy and its teachings aim at achieving blessings,
justice, prosperity, truth, peace and servitude to Allh alone. It also aims at uprooting falsehood and all kinds of evils.
Allh tells His Messenger,
And We have sent you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) not
but as a mercy for the 'Alamn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
(Al-Anbiy 21:107)
The Messenger of Allh said,
Allh will show mercy to those who show mercy (to others). Show mercy to those who are in the earth,
He Who is in the Heaven will show mercy to you. (Ab Dwd and At-Tirmidh)
The Messenger of Allh also said,
He who does not show mercy to people, Allh will not show mercy to him. (Al-Bukhr and Muslim)
In another hadth, he said,
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The similitude of believers in regard to their mutual love, affection and fellow-feeling is that of one body;
when any limb of it aches, the whole body shares in the sleeplessness and fever.
Islm encourages showing mercy to the young, the old and the weak. The Prophet said,
He who does not respect the old nor show compassion to the young nor enjoin virtuous deeds nor
prohibit vices is not of us. (Ahmad and At-Tirmidh)
Aishah narrated that a Bedouin Arab came to Allhs Messenger and said,
You kiss your children? But we dont kiss ours.
Upon that, Allhs Messenger said,
What can I do for you since Allh has removed mercy from your heart? (Al-Bukhr and Muslim)
The Prophet also said,
Mercy is not removed except from the heart of a miserable one. (Ab Dwd and others)
The Messenger of Allh also said,
Allh is kind and He loves kindness and confers upon kindness which he does not confer upon severity
and does not confer upon anything else besides it (kindness).
The mercy of Islm even encompasses animals and other creatures. This is because it is the religion of compassion,
justice and peace, and it enjoins the Muslims to uphold the mercy in its most sublime meaning.
Abdullh bin Jafar narrated that the Messenger of Allh entered an orchard that belonged to a man among the Ansr.
While he was there, he saw a camel that groaned and wept when it saw him. The Messenger of Allh approached it and
wiped its ears and it became quiet. He then said,
Who is the owner of this camel?
A young man among the Ansr came and said,
It is for me O Messenger of Allh!
Upon this the Prophet said,
Cant you fear Allh regarding this animal with whose ownership Allh endowed you? It has complained
to me that you starve it and cause it hardship. (Ahmad and Ab Dwd)
Ab Masd narrated,
We were with the Messenger of Allh 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 Apostle of Allh 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:

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No one has the right to punish with fire except the Lord of fire. (Ab Dwd)
Ibn Masd narrated that Allh's Messenger (may peace be upon him) invoked curse upon one who made a live thing the
target (of marksmanship). (Muslim)
The Messenger of Allh also said,
Whoever kills a bird for fun, the bird will cry to Allh for help on the Day of Resurrection saying, O my
Lord, so-and-so killed me for fun and not for any benefit. (An-Nas and Ibn Hibbn)
Brethren in faith! It is a manifestation of Islms compassion that it commands its adherents not to wrong non-Muslims.
Hishm bin Hakm narrated that he passed by some people in Syria who had been detained for (not paying) the Jizyah.
Thereupon Hishm said:
I testify that I heard Allhs Messenger say,
Allh would punish those who torment people in this world (without any genuine reason).
He then entered upon the governor and narrated this hadth to him and the governor commanded that these people be set
free. (Muslim and others)
Fellow Muslims! How dire is the need of the mankind to this quality of Islm! How dire is their need to have the quality of
compassion that soothes the injuries of the distressed, enjoins good treatment of parents and relatives, consoles the
oppressed and orphans, protects the rights of others and prevents violation of the life and properties of Muslims and non-
Muslims alike. The compassion that Islm teaches also encourages doing righteous deeds and abstaining from unlawful
things. The mankind is in dire need of being compassionate especially in this age in which desires have prevailed and
many people are no longer referring to the Book of Allh and the Sunnah but depending on their own whims. Allh says,
O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allh and fear Him, and
speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good
deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allh
and His Messenger (peace be upon him), he has indeed achieved a
great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and will
be admitted to Paradise). (Al-Ahzb 33:70-71)
Dear Muslims! Fear Allh and be conscious of Him in all your deeds with a sure knowledge that He knows all that is
hidden and all that is open.
Brethren in faith! Compassion means being kind to oneself through carrying out all that Allh commands and refraining
from all that He forbids. It also entails being kind to the creatures by rendering them all kinds of useful services and
refraining from harming them. This will make one attain Allhs mercy and He will make him enter Paradise. Allh says,
And ordain for us good in this world, and in the Hereafter.
Certainly we have turned unto You." He said: (As to) My
Punishment I afflict therewith whom I will and My Mercy embraces
all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who are pious and
give Zakt; and those who believe in Our Ayt (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs and revelations, etc.); Those who follow the
Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e.
Muhammad (peace be upon him)) whom they find written with them
in the Taurt (Torah) and the Injl (Gospel) - he commands them for
Al-Ma'rf (i.e. Islmic Monotheism and all that Islm has ordained);
and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all
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and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all
kinds, and all that Islm has forbidden); he allows them as lawful
At-Taiyibt ((i.e. all good and lawful) as regards things, deeds,
beliefs, persons, foods), and prohibits them as unlawful Al-
Khab'ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds,
beliefs, persons, foods), he releases them from their heavy
burdens (of Allh's Covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that
were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad (peace
be upon him)) honour him, help him, and follow the light (the
Qur'n) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be
successful. (Al-Arf 7:156-157)
Dear Muslim brother! Let compassion be one of your characteristics, for life is not worth living without it and the first
beneficial of this quality in this world and the Hereafter is the person himself. The Messenger of Allh said,
The inhabitants of Paradise are three: One who wields authority and is just and fair, and the person who
is merciful and kind-hearted towards the poor and towards his relatives, and one who does not stretch his
hand in spite of having a large family to support. (Muslim)
Dear brother! Learn the knowledge of your religion so that you can worship Allh upon sure knowledge. Be
compassionate with the creatures by doing good to them and refraining from harming them, for Allh will ask you of His
rights and the rights of His creatures on a day,
whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, except him who brings
to Allh a clean heart.
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