The Moral of Mercy

Brothers and sisters, keep in mind that we discuss this moral so that we apply it practically in our lives. The moral we will talk about today is a truly precious one. However, unfortunately, most people miss it. Consequently, crimes spread, nuclear weapons were developed, and millions of people are being killed in a matter of seconds. Today's moral is mercy; a moral that has recently been replaced by cruelty among the vast majority of people. Getting to know what mercy is not enough. We all need to master practicing it. If you are merciful during your lifetime, you will be treated mercifully on the Day of Judgment.

Prophet Mohamed said, “He who shows no mercy to the people, Allah does not show mercy to him.
Hence, treat people mercifully, so that you deserve the mercy of Allah, which you are greatly in need of. Mercy grants you salvation on the Day of Judgment. To know if Allah will treat you mercifully on that day or not, ask yourself this question: “Am I truly merciful to others?” Observe at this point the connection between being merciful to people in this world and Allah being merciful to you on the Day of Judgment. I’d like to draw your attention to the fact that morals are part and parcel of worship!

Allah’s Mercy:

It is never amazing when a servant draws near his Lord. However, it is amazing enough when a Lord draws near his servant by showering His mercy upon him. Mercy is originally one of the traits of Allah. Hence, to learn to be merciful, one should first get to know how merciful Allah is.

1- Allah says what can be translated as, "Your Lord has prescribed for Himself (the) mercy…" (TMQ, 6:54). What do you feel when you read this ayah (verse) ? You feel safe and sound that "mercy" is one of the original attributes of Allah, while "anger" is just a temporary result of our sins.

2- Allah says to the Prophet what can be translated as, “So, in case they cry you lies, then say, ‘Your Lord is The Owner of embracing mercy, and His violence will not be turned back from the criminal people,’” (TMQ, 6:147). What does His mercy embrace? The answer to this question comes in the following ayah, “…My mercy has embraced everything…” (TMQ, 7:156).

3- Now let us look around and observe the various signs of Allah's mercy in the whole universe. A wonderful example of Allah’s mercy is the gradual succession of day and night. They do not switch all of a sudden, but do so gradually. Imagine if you are walking in bright daylight, and then suddenly, without a gradual sunset, you find yourself in extreme darkness! You will certainly suffer from major nervous system disturbances. Now, imagine the opposite; a sudden transition from night to bright daylight. It results in the same shock.

4- Another sign of Allah's mercy is rain. Allah says what can be translated as, “And He is The (One) Who keeps sending down the succoring (rain) even after they have become despondent, and He spreads His mercy; and He is The Ever-Patronizing, The Ever-Praiseworthy,” (TMQ, 42:28). Hence, rain is one of the methods by which Allah spreads His mercy on earth. Imagine what could happen if we were deprived from this sign of mercy, rainfall! In Surat Al-Waqi'ah, Allah says what can be translated as, “Have you then seen the water you drink? Is it you who have sent it down from the rainy clouds or are We, Ever We, The Senders down? If We had (so) decided, We would have made it bitter; so had you only thanked (Us)!” (TMQ, 56:68-70). What if rainwater was salty, not fresh? See how fresh water is one of the signs of His mercy and compassion.

5- Allah's mercy is also apparent in social relations. He implanted mercy in parents' hearts. Everywhere you find fathers and mothers showing mercy towards their children. Moreover, and amazingly enough, animals too show mercy towards their offspring. On the family level too, mercy shows up. You find yourself automatically showing love to your uncle, aunt...etc.

6- We can also consider marriage as another proof of Allah's mercy. He is the one who brings two distant hearts together. Allah says, “And of His signs is that He created for you, of yourselves, spouses, that you (may) find rest in them, and he has made between you amity and mercy. Surely in that are indeed signs for a people who meditate,” (TMQ, 30:21). Hence, families are founded on mercy. Unfortunately, spouses can deprive themselves from this mercy when they commit sins and disobey Allah's orders.

7- Moreover, Allah, the All-Merciful, does not punish us immediately for our sins. On the contrary, He gives us many chances to repent. Think about the whole course of your life; how many times you have sinned and He has been Merciful with you. In Surat Al-Kahf, Allah says what can be translated as, “And your Lord is The Ever-Forgiving, The Owner of mercy. If He should take them to task for what they have earned, He would (quickly) hasten for them the torment; no indeed, (but) they have an appointment, apart from which they will never find any safe retreat,” (TMQ, 18: 58).

8- Another important example of Allah's mercy is that He covers up your shortcomings and does not expose your sins to people. What if every time you commit a sin it is written on your house? What if sins had a bad odor that comes out of the sinner to scandalize him? If so, I bet no one will stand his friend's stench. Only Allah's mercy shields our sins from being publicized.

9- Sending us down to earth is also one of the signs of Allah's mercy. "It would have been better if we were sent directly to paradise", most of us might think. However, sending us down to earth is a sign of Allah's mercy. As a matter of fact, the human self never feels satisfied with what it attains easily. It quickly gets bored with it. On the other hand, it admires whatever is attained with difficulty. Consider the case of a father who strives all through his life to buy a car. Surely, he will be careful when driving it. Unlike the father is the son, who might indifferently smash it into pieces. "Why are you angry, dad? It is just a car!”, the boy will insensibly answer his father's anger. Certainly the boy does not know the value of such a car, since he had not strived to buy it.

10- One last sign of Allah's mercy is His being Merciful even to disbelievers. He bestows His blessings upon all humanity, even disbelievers. Though he owns the whole universe, He does not deprive disbelievers from air to breathe water to drink or food to eat. He is truly the All-Merciful.

All signs mentioned above not all it just examples.. we can not account Allah's mercy signs upon us
See how wonderful Allah's mercy is!

I wish all of you feel that meaning and start practice this moral between us from today onwards.
May Allah Bless all of you
Amen