Mercy of Prophet Muhammad
The Mercy of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Divine Testimony
Allah Almighty said:
“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.”
Allah Almighty said:
“So it is part of the mercy of God that you are gentle with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from around you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon God. Indeed, God loves those who rely [upon Him].”
The Prophet’s Own Testimony
The Prophet ﷺ said about himself:
“I am only a mercy sent to Him.”
Narrated by Ibn Saad in Al-Tabaqat, and Al-Hakam in Al-Nawadir on the authority of Abu Salih, without a chain of transmission, and Al-Hakim on the authority of Abu Hurairah said according to their conditions and Al-Dhahabi approved it.
He ﷺ said:
“I was sent as a mercy and not as a punishment.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari
Examples of His Mercy ﷺ
1. His Mercy Towards Children
Anas رضي الله عنه said:
“I have never seen anyone more merciful towards children than the Prophet ﷺ.”
Narrated by the four
On his authority: The Prophet ﷺ took his son Ibrahim and kissed him and smelled him.
Narrated by Al-Bukhari
His tears for children: His eyes were overflowing with tears because of their death. Once, Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah asked him:
- Question: “O Messenger of God, what is this?”
- Response: “This is a mercy that God has placed in the hearts of His servants, and God is only merciful to those of His servants who are merciful.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari
2. His Mercy Towards Females
The Prophet’s Analogy: The Messenger ﷺ likened women to glass, indicating:
- Their purity
- Their softness and delicacy
- Their weakness and lack of endurance
- Their need for kindness
Hadiths on Daughters
1. Supporting Two Daughters
Anas رضي الله عنه narrated:
“Whoever supports two girls until they reach maturity, he and I will come on the Day of Resurrection,” and he joined his fingers.
Narrated by Muslim
2. Treating Daughters Well
He ﷺ said:
“Whoever is afflicted with daughters and treats them well, they will be a shield for him from the Fire.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim
3. Supporting Poor Daughters
He ﷺ said:
“The best charity is your support of your poor daughter who was rejected by her husband, and she has no one but you.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Ibn Majah
His Love for His Daughter Fatimah
It was narrated that when his daughter Fatimah would come to him:
- He would stand up for her
- Take her hand
- Seat her in the place where he used to sit
Narrated by Abu Dawud
Consideration for Mothers
He ﷺ said:
“I enter into prayer and I want to prolong it, but I hear a baby crying, so I cut my prayer short because I know of the intensity of his mother’s distress at his crying.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim
3. His Mercy Towards Animals
Planting and Feeding Creation
He ﷺ said:
“There is no Muslim who plants a plant and a person or an animal eats from it except that it will be considered a charity for him.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari
The Story of the Thirsty Dog
The Prophet ﷺ said:
A man was walking along a road and became extremely thirsty. He found a well, went down into it and drank. When he came out, he saw a dog panting and eating dirt because of thirst.
The man said: “This dog has become as thirsty as I was.”
So he went down into the well, filled his shoe, held it in his mouth and gave the dog water to drink. Allah thanked him for that and forgave him.
They asked: “O Messenger of Allah, are there any rewards for us in treating animals?”
He replied: “There is a reward for every living creature with a moist liver.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari
4. His Mercy Towards the Weak in General
Orphans
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I and the one who sponsors an orphan will be in Paradise like this,” and he gestured with his index and middle fingers.
Narrated by Al-Bukhari
Widows and the Poor
He ﷺ said:
“The one who strives for the widow and the poor is like the one who fights in the way of God or like the one who fasts during the day and prays at night.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari
Warning Against Oppressing the Weak
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
“O God, I make the rights of the two weak ones, the orphan and the woman, hardship.”
Narrated by Ahmad with a good chain of transmission
Meaning: I make hardship (sin) inflict hardship on the one who neglects their rights, warning against that and strongly forbidding it.
The Weak as Source of Victory
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Seek out the weak for me, for you are victorious and provided for through your weak ones.”
Narrated by Abu Dawud and Ahmad, with sound chain of transmission. Al-Bukhari narrated something similar.
5. His Mercy Towards Servants and Slaves
Educating and Freeing Female Slaves
He ﷺ said:
“Whoever has a female slave and educates her, then frees her and marries her, will have two rewards.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim
Treating Slaves as Brothers
Abu Dharr رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“They are your brothers. Allah has placed them under your control, so feed them from what you eat, and clothe them from what you wear, and do not burden them with what they cannot bear. If you burden them, then help them.”
Narrated by Muslim
Sharing Food with Servants
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
“If a servant of yours prepares his food and then brings it to him, and his heat and smoke have left him, then let him sit with him and eat. If the food is little, let him put a morsel or two in his hand.”
Narrated by Muslim
Prohibition of Beating Slaves
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever slaps or beats his slave, his expiation is to free him.”
Narrated by Muslim
The Story of Abu Mas’ud
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to Abu Mas’ud, when he saw him beating his slave:
“Know, Abu Mas’ud, that Allah has more power over you than you have over this boy.”
So he stopped beating him and freed him so that Allah would not touch him with punishment as a result of this action.
Narrated by Muslim
Final Testament
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
- Ordered that slaves be treated like sons
- Recommended – while on his deathbed – that slaves be treated well
6. His Mercy Towards Enemies in War and Peace
The Incident at Al-Hudaybiyyah
The Messenger of God ﷺ was praying the dawn prayer with the Muslims in Al-Hudaybiyyah, when seventy or eighty men from Al-Tan’im came down wanting to kill the Muslims.
Result: They were captured, and the Messenger of God ﷺ freed them without compensation or punishment.
Narrated by Al-Bukhari
Multiple Acts of Mercy Towards Enemies
He ﷺ:
- Accepted the ransom of the prisoners of Badr
- Pardoned the Quraysh and the people of Mecca on the day of the conquest of Mecca
- Released the prisoners of Hunayn
- Pardoned Ghawrath bin Al-Harith despite his attempt to kill the Messenger of God ﷺ
Ghawrath’s Testimony: After being pardoned, Ghawrath came to his people and said:
“I have come to you from the best of people.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari
Respect for Jewish Funeral
Jabir رضي الله عنه narrated:
A funeral procession passed by us, so the Prophet ﷺ stood up for it, and we stood up.
We said: “It is the funeral of a Jew.”
The Messenger of God ﷺ said:
“When you see a funeral procession, stand up.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim
Muslim added: Death is a frightening thing.
In the two Sahihs, on the authority of Sahl bin Hunaif: The Messenger of God ﷺ said:
“Is it not a soul?”
Rules of Warfare
Prohibition of Killing Non-Combatants:
The Prophet ﷺ forbade the killing of:
- Women
- Children
- Hired workers
- As long as they were not participating in fighting the Muslims
Instructions to Military Expeditions:
Whenever the Prophet ﷺ sent out an expedition or an army, he would advise them:
“Do not commit fraud, do not commit treachery, do not mutilate, and do not kill a child.”
Narrated by Muslim
Visiting His Jewish Servant
The Prophet ﷺ had a Jewish servant. Whenever he was sick, he would visit him.
One Visit:
- He visited him once and offered him Islam while his father was present
- The father said to him: “Obey Abu al-Qasim”
- So he converted to Islam
The Messenger ﷺ said:
“Praise be to God who saved him from the Fire.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari
7. His Mercy Towards His Nation
Divine Testimony
God Almighty said:
“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.”
The Story of His Supplication and Tears
Abdullah bin Amr narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ recited the words of God Almighty about Abraham:
“My Lord, indeed they have led astray many among the people. So whoever follows me - indeed he is of me. And whoever disobeys me - indeed You are Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
And the words of Jesus عليه السلام:
“If You should punish them - indeed they are Your servants; and if You forgive them - indeed You are the Almighty, the Wise.”
Then:
- He raised his hands and said: “O God, my nation”
- And he cried
Allah’s Response:
God Almighty said:
“O Gabriel, go to Muhammad, and your Lord knows best, and ask him what makes you cry?”
Gabriel عليه السلام came to him and asked him. The Messenger of God ﷺ told him what he had said (and He knows best).
Then God said:
“O Gabriel, go to Muhammad and say, ‘We will please you with regard to your nation and will not displease you.’”
Narrated by Muslim in his book “Iman”
Saving His Supplication for Intercession
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Messenger of God ﷺ said:
“Every prophet has a supplication that is answered. So every prophet hastened his supplication, and I have saved my supplication as intercession for my nation on the Day of Resurrection. It will be granted, God willing, to whoever dies from my nation without associating anything with God.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Al-Tirmidhi and Ahmad
Seventy Thousand Plus More
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I have been given seventy thousand from my nation who will enter Paradise without being held accountable. Their faces are like the moon on the night of the full moon, their hearts like the heart of one man. So I asked my Lord, the Mighty and Sublime, for more, and He increased me with each one by seventy thousand.”
Narrated by Ahmad and Abu Ya’la
Consideration in Prayer
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When one of you leads the people in prayer, let him be brief, for among them are the young and the old, the weak and the sick and the disabled. And if he prays by himself, he may prolong it as he wishes.”
Narrated by Malik and the group
Summary
The mercy of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ extended to:
- Children - showing unprecedented tenderness and care
- Women - protecting, honoring, and treating them with gentleness
- Animals - recognizing their rights and feelings
- The Weak - orphans, widows, the poor, servants, and slaves
- Enemies - even in war, showing forgiveness and compassion
- His Nation - saving his greatest supplication for their intercession
- All Creation - sent as a mercy to the worlds
As Allah testified:
“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.”
Compiled from authentic hadith collections including Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and others.
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