How Did Prophet Muhammad Show Mercy to His Ummah?

Hadeel Ahmed

20 Aug 2025

397

Allah, the Exalted, bestowed countless blessings upon this last Ummah unlike any other, as He chose it above the rest and made it a middle nation so that it may be witnesses over mankind on the Day of Judgment. He placed moderation in all its affairs, so its obligations are neither unbearable nor insignificant. He multiplied its rewards for deeds and morals many times over, lightened its burdens and hardships, and opened before it the doors of repentance and forgiveness. Indeed, no scale can weigh its attributes, nor any measure contain its merits. And all these blessings would not exist were it not for the greatest blessing which is the very source of them: the Messenger of Allah Muhammad peace be upon him.

Prophet’s Mercy and Tenderness Toward His Ummah

 

Although the Prophet (peace be upon him) was the reason for the existence of this world, elevated with Allah’s love, under whose authority all prophets and messengers were gathered, and whose mission abrogated all previous laws, scriptures, and books—he was to his Ummah like a tender mother to her infant, never placing him on the ground lest ants harm him, nor lifting him upon her head lest lice crawl upon him.

 

Prophet’s Unmatched Compassion for His Ummah

 

Indeed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) considered his Ummah with a compassion no prophet ever showed to his people. Allah Almighty pointed to this in the Qur’an when He 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.” (At-Tawbah 128)


Ibn Kathir explained that “grievous to him is what you suffer” means it pains him when hardship afflicts his Ummah. (1) Out of his immense love and tenderness, the Prophet (peace be upon him) feared for them from trials and was distressed by what befell them of hardships and punishments.

Were it not for this regard, we would not have reached such comfort and reassurance. Were it not for his noble, compassionate concern, we would not have advanced this far in life. Were it not for his merciful heart, we would not have been guided to this religion accepted by Allah. Were it not for his gentle touch, we would not have been preserved until the Hour is established.

Easing Burdens of the Ummah

 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) would seek every path before Allah Almighty to lift hardship from his Ummah. He never wished that even the smallest thorn be under their feet. This is evident in his hadith: “Were it not that it would be too difficult for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to use the Siwak at (the time of) every Salah.” (2) Likewise, he said: “Were it not for causing distress to my people, I would command them to postpone the night prayer till a third or a half of the night had passed.” (3). These and similar narrations point to his mercy and compassion for his Ummah.

His Stance with the People of Ta’if

 

Turning the pages of his noble Sirah, one finds countless examples of his mercy. Among the greatest was when the Angel of the Mountains sought his permission to crush the people of Ta’if—who had mocked, rejected, and harmed him, wounding his feet with stones and spilling his blood when he came to them as a messenger of Islam, having fled from Quraysh’s harm. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “No but I hope that Allah will let them beget children who will worship Allah Alone, and will worship None besides Him.” (4).

Mercy in Al-Isra’ wAl-Mi’raj

 

In the Year of Sorrow, weighed by the pain of losing his wife and his uncle, Allah commanded His Prophet (peace be upon him) to journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, and then ascend beyond the heavens as a solace.

Allah granted him the honor of divine communion and bestowed upon his Ummah the gift of fifty daily prayers. On his return, Musa (peace be upon him) advised him: “Your Ummah will not be able to bear that, go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce it.”

The Prophet ( peace be upon him) returned time after time, until they were reduced to five daily prayers. Though Musa (peace be upon him) urged further reduction, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “By Allah, I am too shy before my Lord.” Despite being capable of fifty prayers himself, he considered the weakness of his Ummah—this being one of the clearest signs of his love and mercy for them.

Prophet’s Secret Migration

 

When Quraysh’s oppression intensified against the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions, he permitted migration. Some migrated openly, like ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab, while the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated secretly.

One may ask: why would the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrate secretly though he was stronger and more steadfast than `Umar?

The answer lies in wisdom: to avoid imposing public migration as a binding law upon those who would come after him.

 

Prophet’s Supplication for His Ummah

 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) frequently prayed and sought forgiveness for his Ummah. ‘A’ishah narrated: when she once saw him in good spirits, she asked him to supplicate for her. He said: “O Allah, forgive A'ishah of her past sins and her future sins, the hidden of them and the apparent.” She laughed so much that her head fell into her lap. He peace be upon him said: “Does this supplication make you happy?” She replied: “Why would it not please me?” He said: “By Allah, I make this du'a for every single person in my ummah in every prayer.” (5). He would also weep while reciting the prayers of previous prophets for their nations, saying: “O Allah, my people, my people.”

Greatest Intercession on the Day of Judgment

 

On the Day of Reckoning, a scene more beautiful than any worldly sight will unfold, showing the Prophet’s peace be upon him utmost love and mercy. He will fall in prostration before Allah, imploring Him on behalf of his Ummah in particular and all nations in general. He peace be upon him said: “For every Prophet there is one invocation which is definitely fulfilled by Allah, and I wish, if Allah will, to keep my that (special) invocation as to be the intercession for my followers on the Day of Judgment.” (6).

How great is our fortune to belong to this final Ummah of the noble Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him —who guided us to the path of safety, happiness, guidance, and success.

A Call to Gratitude

 

So, O you who take pride in bearing his name—what do we offer him in return for all these sacrifices, the veins drained from his blessed body, the wounds and tears upon his noble cheeks? What have we prepared in hope of attaining his intercession? Then hasten! Strive and do not delay, for every deed done for his sake, however small, is with Allah an immense matter.

 

Read Also:

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1.      Tafsir Al-Qur’an Al-Karim by Ibn Kathir (920).

2.     Reported by Al-Bukhari, Book of Jumu`ah, Chapter: The Use of Siwak on Friday (887); and Muslim, Book of Purification, Chapter: The Siwak (252).

3.     Reported by At-Tirmidhi (167, his wording), An-Nasa’i (534) with similar wording, Ibn Majah (691) with slight variation, and Ahmad (7412) in a longer version.

4.     Sahih Al-Bukhari (3231).

5.     Reported by Al-Bazzar as cited in Kashf Al-Astar by Al-Haythami (2658), Ibn Hibban (7111) with slight variation, and al-Hakim (6748).

6.     Sahih Muslim (198).

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