his mercy with the disbelievers surprised and astonished people all over the world for it is a matter that most of them could not comprehend.

the disbelievers harmed and hurt him and allowed their mindless individuals to pelt him with stones, but when his permission was sought to destroy them, he said in reply: “no. rather i hope that allaah will let them beget children who will worship allaah alone, and will worship none beside him.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

they plotted to murder him, broke one of his incisors and wounded his face. they killed the most beloved person to him and mobilized armies to get rid of him. in spite of all such things, he pardoned and forgave them when allaah the almighty gave him dominion over them. this situation amazed especially one of the most prominent american historians, washington irving, who said, “the whole conduct of mahomet, on gaining possession of mecca, showed that it was a religious more than a military triumph. his heart, too, softened toward his native place, now that it was in his power; … and his inclinations were all toward forgiveness.” in fact, the mercy of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was not confined to overlooking their assaults and having much patience with all such attacks and harms; rather, his mercy went beyond that. he was keen on guiding them and saving them from the wrath and punishment of allaah the almighty. thus, he strained every nerve, exhausted himself, and left no stone unturned until his lord sympathized with him but also rebuked him mercifully, saying to him (what means):

• {perhaps, [o muhammad], you would kill yourself with grief that they will not be

believers.} [quran 26:3]

• {so do not let yourself perish over them in regret.} [quran 35:8]

furthermore, when he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was asked to invoke allaah the almighty to destroy the polytheists, he said: “i was not sent as a curse invoker, rather i was sent as a mercy.”

how far the callers to islam of today are from such mercy and compassion, and keenness on guiding people to the right path!

allaah the almighty and the most truthful says (what means): {so by mercy from allaah, [o muhammad], you were lenient with them. and if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.} [quran 3:159]

there is no doubt that the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is indeed a mercy to the worlds (mankind, jinn and all else that exists) regardless of their race and religion. how could he not be so when his lord the almighty describes him saying (what means): {and we have not sent you, [o muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.} [quran 21:107]

how could he not be so when he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said about the virtue of mercifulness: “the most merciful has mercy on those who are merciful. be merciful to those who are on earth so that the one who is in heaven will have mercy on you.” [at-tirmithi; al- albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

how could he not be so when he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said describing the people of paradise: “the people of paradise will be of three kinds: a just, charitable, successful ruler; a person who is merciful and kind-hearted towards his relatives and to every muslim, and a pious believer who refrains from asking people (for money) in spite of having a large family to support...” [muslim]


his mercy with his family was manifest in his concern to save them from the punishment of allaah the almighty and thus, he would advise and admonish them.

• it was narrated that umm salamah (the wife of the prophet), may allaah be pleased with her, said, “the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, woke up one night in a state of terror and said: ‘subhaanallaah (glory be to allaah), how many treasures allaah has sent down! how many afflictions have been sent down! who will go and awaken the ladies of these rooms (meaning his wives) so that they might pray?’ he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, added:

‘a well-dressed (soul) in this world may be naked in the hereafter.’” [al-bukhaari]

• he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would guide them to every variety of beneficial matter.

juwayriyyah bint al-haarith, wife of the prophet, may allah be pleased with her, said that the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, left her house one morning when he prayed fajr, and she was in her prayer-place, then he came back after the forenoon had come, and she was still sitting there. he said: “are you still as you were when i left you?” she said, “yes.” the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “after i left you, i said four words three times which, if they were weighed against all that you said today, they would outweigh it: subhaanallaah wa bi hamdih ‘adada khalqihi, wa ridha nafsihi, wazinata ‘arshihi, wa midaada kalimaatih (glory and praise be to allaah, as much as the number of his creation, as much as pleases him, as much as the weight of his throne and as much as the ink of his words).” [muslim]

the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, advised and instructed his wives and the women of the believers in many and varied ways, on different occasions and in different situations. he always urged them to do more righteous deeds and give charity and to obey their husbands in all that is lawful and permissible.

in doing so, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was carrying out the instructions and directions of the noble quran in which allaah the almighty says (what means):

• {and enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein.} [quran 20:132]

• {o you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey allaah in what he commands them but do what they are commanded.} [quran 66:6]

the mercy of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was also evident in helping them to do the household work. the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would serve and help them in different matters of the house such as stitching his own clothes and mending his own sandals despite his noble and esteemed status.

it was narrated that ‘aa’ishah, may allaah be pleased with her, was asked about what the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to do at home, she replied, "he would keep himself busy serving his family and when it was the time for prayer he would perform ablution and go out to pray." [al-bukhaari]

it was also narrated that ‘aa’ishah, may allaah be pleased with her, said, “he used to stitch his own clothes, mend his own sandals and do what men do in their houses.” [ahmad; al-albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

additionally, it was also narrated that ‘aa’ishah, may allaah be pleased with her, was asked about what the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would do in his house, and she said, “he was a human being like any other human being. he would search his garment for fleas, milk his goat, and serve himself.” [ahmad; al-albaani : saheeh (authentic)]


as for his mercy with his nation, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave the best example ever of showing mercy and kindness to all humans in the different aspects of life.

in worship, he was very keen on making worship easier for his nation and within their capacity.

he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would say to poeple: “do (good) deeds which are within your capacity as allaah never gets tired of giving rewards till you get tired of doing good deeds." [al-bukhaari and muslim]

additionally, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, repeatedly forbade al-wisaal (fasting continuously without breaking one's fast after sunset or eating before the following dawn). it was narrated that ‘aa’ishah, may allaah be pleased with her, said, “the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbade al-wisaal out of mercy to others. people said to him, ‘but you practice al-wisaal!’ he said: ‘i am not like you, for my lord gives me food and drink.’”

[al-bukhaari and muslim]

he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said many times that if he had not found it hard for his followers, he would have ordered them to do certain acts of worship. for example, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:

• “if i had not found it hard for my followers (or the people), i would have ordered them to clean their teeth with siwaak (tooth stick) for every prayer.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

• “had i not thought it hard for my followers, i would have ordered them to delay the ‘ishaa’ prayer to one third or the middle of the night.” [at-tirmithi and ibn maajah; al-albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

among the wonderful examples of his mercy and perfect compassion are that he repeatedly preferred his ummah (nation) to himself. that is to say he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would give up a good deed out of his mercy for them, even though he loved to do it, for fear that people might act on it and it might be deemed as compulsory for them. for example, it was narrated that ‘aa’ishah, may allaah be pleased with her, said, “the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would give up a good deed, even though he loved to do it, for fear that people might act on it and it might be made obligatory upon them.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

it was also narrated that the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:

• “when i stand for prayer, i intend to prolong it but on hearing the cries of a child, i lighten it, as i dislike to trouble the child's mother.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

• “had i not thought it hard for my followers, i would not have remained behind any sariyyah (army-unit) but i do not have a riding camel for myself or for them, and it is hard for me that my companions should remain behind me. no doubt i wish i could fight in the cause of allaah and be martyred and come to life again to be martyred and come to life once more.”

[al-bukhaari and muslim]

furthermore, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was very keen on making the worldly affairs easier for his nation out of his mercy for them. he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would implore allaah the almighty to have mercy upon them and would warn whomever allaah the almighty put in charge of any of the affairs of his nation not to treat them harshly. in this regard, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would supplicate to allaah, saying: “o allaah, whoever is put in charge of any of the affairs of my ummah and treats them harshly, treat him harshly, and whoever is put in charge of any of the affairs of my ummah and treats them kindly, treat him

kindly.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

his mercy with his nation in the hereafter is incomparable to any other mercy. on the day every other prophet will say, “myself! myself!” the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, will say:

“o my lord, my ummah! my ummah!” [al-bukhaari and muslim - part of the hadeeth of intercession]

the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, will not be pleased until his ummah has entered paradise.

the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, even preferred his ummah to himself in relation to his invocation that allaah the almighty will accept for him and kept it for his followers on the day of resurrection where there will be a dire need for such an invocation. the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “for every prophet there was an invocation with which he appealed to allaah, and his invocation was accepted (in his lifetime), but i kept my (special) invocation to intercede for my followers on the day of resurrection. every one of my ummaah who died worshipping allaah alone will have a share of it.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

there are many examples of the mercy and compassion of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with the members of his family and with children and the weak people in his ummah.

among these examples are:

it was narrated that anas, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “we went with the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to the blacksmith, abu sayf, and he was the husband of the wet nurse of ibraaheem (the son of the prophet). the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took ibraaheem and kissed him and smelled him. later, we entered abu sayf's house and at that time ibraaheem was breathing his final breaths, and the eyes of the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, startednshedding tears. ‘abd ar-rahmaan ibn ‘awf said, ‘o messenger of allaah, even you weep!’ he said: ‘o ibn ‘awf, this is mercy.’ then he wept more and said: ‘the eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our lord. o ibraaheem, indeed we are grieved by your death.’” [al- bukhaari and muslim]

this special kind of mercy and compassion were not for the children of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his grandsons only but rather it was for all the children of the muslims. it was narrated that asmaa’ bint ‘umays, the wife of ja‘far ibn abi taalib, may allaah be pleased with them, said, “the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came to our house and called upon the children of ja‘far. i saw him kissing the children of ja‘far and smelling them. then his eyes started shedding tears. i said, ‘is there any news about ja‘far?’ the prophet replied: ‘yes, he was martyred today.’ we all started to weep. then the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, came back and said: ‘make food for the family of ja’far, for there has come to them something that has absorbed them.’” [abu-daawood, at-tirmithi and ibn maajah; al-albaani: hasan]


has history ever known a servant praising his master in the way the servant of the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did?

anas, may allaah be pleased with him, said amazing yet truthful words about the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; he said: “i served the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for ten years and he never said to me “uff!” (a word of displeasure) or said to me for something:

why did you do such and such?” or, “why did you not do such and such?” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

a noteworthy point: anas served the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for ten years, not ten days or ten months. it is indeed a long period that must have included times of happiness, sadness, and anger and other such varied emotions of every human being. despite all such different moods, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, may my father and mother be sacrificed for him, never rebuked or blamed him for anything. rather, he would reward and treat him gently and kindly. in addition, he would fulfill his needs and the needs of his family and invoke allaah the almighty to do everything that is good for them.

it was narrated that anas, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “my mother said to the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ‘o messenger of allaah, please invoke allaah on behalf of your servant.’ he said: ‘o allaah, increase his wealth and children, and bestow your blessing on whatever you give him.’" [al-bukhaari and muslim]

it was narrated that ‘aa’ishah, may allaah be pleased with her, said, “the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, never beat a servant nor a woman. he never beat anyone with his hand except when he was fighting in the cause of allaah the almighty.” [al-bukhaari and muslim]

it was also narrated that ‘aa’ishah, may allaah be pleased with her, said, “whenever the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was given the choice of one of two matters, he would choose the easier of the two, as long as it did not involve sin, but if sin was involved, he would not approach it. the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, never took revenge (over anybody) for his own sake but (he did) only when the sacred ordinances of allaah the almighty were violated, in which case he would take revenge for the sake of allaah.” [al- bukhaari and muslim]

in fact, the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, paid very careful attention to servants. he would express interest in the personal affairs of his servants, help them whenever they needed help, visit them whenever they were sick, and ask them about their condition. it was not something accidental; rather, he would be truly concerned for them and followed up on their affairs. he did not wait for them to ask him for something; instead, he would give before anyone asked him. it was narrated that rabee‘ah ibn ka‘b, may allaah be pleased with him, the servant of the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked me one day: “ask me for something that i may give you.” so i asked the messenger of allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to give me some time so that i may think this over. he said: “take your time.” so i began to think thoughtfully about the matter and finally said: “this world is going to come to an end one day, so why should i not get something which will benefit me in the everlasting life of the hereafter? then i presented myself before him. so he asked me: “what do you wish for?” i said, “o messenger of allaah, please intercede for me with your lord the almighty to save me from the hell-fire. he asked me: “who has advised you thus?” “no by allaah, o messenger of allaah!” i said, “no one has advised me. i thought well about the matter and was guided to choose what is permanent and lasting against what is temporary and perishable.” then he said: “then help me (fulfill this wish) for you by performing many prostrations.” [ahmad and at-tabaraani; al- albaani: hasan]

the prophet's concern was not confined to his muslim servants only but to his non-muslim servants as well such as what he did with the jewish boy who was serving him. it was narrated that anas, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “a young jewish boy used to serve the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and he became sick. so the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, went to visit him. he sat near his head and asked him to embrace islam. the boy looked at his father, who was also sitting there; the latter said to him, ‘obey abul-qaasim (i.e., the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.’ the boy thus embraced islam. the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then came out saying: ‘praise be to allaah who saved him from the hell-fire.’" [al-bukhaari]

moreover, although the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, always had grave matters on his mind that required his full attention and time, but he would do his best to fulfill the needs of the weak and needy. it was narrated that ‘abdullaah ibn abi awfa, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “the prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not disdain walking with the widow and needy people and help them.” [an-nasaa’i; al-albaani: saheeh (authentic)]

it was narrated that anas, may allaah be pleased with him, said, “a woman who was partially deranged said, ‘o messenger of allaah, i want something from you. he said: ‘see on which side of the road you would like (to stand and talk) so that i may do what you need.’ he stood aside with her on the roadside until she got what she needed.” [muslim]

allaah the almighty, the most truthful says (what means) describing him: {and indeed, you are of a great moral character.} [quran 68:4]

these were just a few of the numerous pearls and a drop in the ocean of the incredible magnanimous manners of the finest man ever, muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. i hastened to collect them as a simple contribution in concise words so that we may get acquainted with some of the wonderful aspects of the life of the master of mankind who only loved what is true and right: muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.