What kind of person is this who is filled with mercy even for those who differ with him in faith and declare war against him openly and secretly? What human greatness is it that made him almost perish out of compassion for his invitees, as Allah says about him: “Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow.” (Al-Kahf: 6) And his Lord's truthful words about him: “And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Al-Anbiya: 107) Allah also said: “So by mercy from Allah, [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. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].” (Aal-Imran: 159)
As humans, we understand and realize that a person loves and shows kindness to his own. But for someone to love those who do not share his faith, and he is sent with a message from the Lord of the worlds, to have compassion and mercy for them, to exert effort and grieve over their rejection, that can only come from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
The Prophet’s Mercy Towards Non-Muslims
Firstly, it should be noted that there are personal qualities of the Prophet, peace be upon him, which naturally qualified him for Allah’s choice as the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, such as mercy, honesty, trustworthiness, and modesty. There are other qualities that Allah endowed him with to bear His message, including the incident of the chest opening performed by Gabriel during his childhood to remove the Shaitan’s share from him.
The Prophet’s qualities greatly contributed to spreading Islam, but the ultimate credit goes to Allah’s grace and the unique attributes He bestowed upon him.
Mercy was a fundamental principle in the life of the Prophet, peace be upon him. He said, “Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari) Likewise, he showed kindness and served people, saying, “If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari) His mercy even extended to animals.
As for his mercy towards non-Muslims, we can mention the following:
- Praying for Them, Not Against Them: Despite the abuse and harm directed at him and his companions, the Prophet was keen to pray for the non-Muslims. The Jews in Medina would intentionally sneeze in his presence hoping he would say “may Allah have mercy on you” to them. On the day of Thaqif, despite severe harm, he stood with mercy, praying for them.
`Aisha narrated: That she asked the Prophet (ﷺ), “Have you encountered a day harder than the day of the battle) of Uhud?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, “Your tribes have troubled me a lot, and the worse trouble was the trouble on the day of 'Aqaba when I presented myself to Ibn `Abd-Yalail bin `Abd-Kulal and he did not respond to my demand. So I departed, overwhelmed with excessive sorrow, and proceeded on, and could not relax till I found myself at Qarnath-Tha-alib where I lifted my head towards the sky to see a cloud shading me unexpectedly. I looked up and saw Gabriel in it. He called me saying, God, the Honoured and Glorious, has heard what thy people have said to thee, and how they have reacted to thy call. And He has sent to thee the angel in charge of the mountains so that thou mayest order him what thou wishest (him to do) with regard to them. The angel in charge of the mountains (then) called out to me, greeted me and said: Muhammad, God has listened to what thy people have said to thee. I am the angel in charge of the mountains, and thy Lord has sent me to thee so that thou mayest order me what thou wishest. If thou wishest that I should bring together the two mountains that stand opposite to each other at the extremities of Mecca to crush them in between, (I would do that). But the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) said to him: I rather hope that God will produce from their descendants such persons as will worship Allah, the One, and will not ascribe partners to Him.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
- Mercy Towards Non-Muslim Women and Children: The Prophet established rules for dealing with the elderly, women, and children during peace and war, which were unprecedented in humanitarian laws. Buraidah ibn Al-Husayb Al-Aslami said: “Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) dispatched a commander of an army he would exhort him personally; that he should have Taqwa of Allah, and regarding those of the Muslims who are with him; that he should be good to them. He would say: 'Fight in the Name of Allah and in Allah's curse. Fight those who disbelieve in Allah and fight, do not be treacherous, nor mutilate, nor kill a child.'” (Reported by Muslim)
- Visiting Their Sick and Persisting in Calling Them to Islam: The Prophet's compassion was such that he visited the sick among the Jews and felt sorry for those who were heading towards Hellfire, urging them to embrace Islam out of mercy for them.
Anas told that when a young Jew who was a servant of the Prophet became ill the Prophet went to visit him and, sitting down by his head, said to him, “Accept Islam.” He looked at his father who was beside him, and he said, “Obey Abul Qasim.” So he accepted Islam, and the Prophet went out saying, “Praise be to God who has saved him from hell.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
- Justice Towards Them: The Prophet never let the disbelievers prevent him from being just and fair. He instructed Muslims to treat them fairly and not harm them unless in retribution for harm done. God’s Messenger said, “If anyone wrongs a man with whom a covenant has been made, or curtails any right of his, or imposes on him more than he can bear, or takes anything from him without his ready agreement, I shall be his adversary on the day of resurrection.” (Reported by Abu Dawood)
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims, shall not smell the smell of Paradise though its smell is perceived from a distance of forty years.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari).
- Forgiving Them When Able: Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) sent some cavalry towards Najd and they brought a man from the tribe of Banu Hanifa who was called Thumama bin Uthal. They fastened him to one of the pillars of the Mosque. The Prophet went to him and said, “What have you got, O Thumama?” He replied, “I have got a good thought, O Muhammad! If you should kill me, you would kill a person who has already killed somebody, and if you should set me free, you would do a favor to one who is grateful, and if you want property, then ask me whatever wealth you want.” He was left till the next day when the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, “What have you got, Thumama?” He said, “What I told you, i.e. if you set me free, you would do a favor to one who is grateful.” The Prophet (ﷺ) left him till the day after, when he said, “What have you got, O Thumama?” He said, “I have got what I told you.” On that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Release Thumama.” So he (i.e. Thumama) went to a garden of date-palm trees near to the Mosque, took a bath and then entered the Mosque and said, “I testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and also testify that Muhammad is His Apostle! By Allah, O Muhammad! There was no face on the surface of the earth most disliked by me than yours, but now your face has become the most beloved face to me. By Allah, there was no religion most disliked by me than yours, but now it is the most beloved religion to me. By Allah, there was no town most disliked by me than your town, but now it is the most beloved town to me. Your cavalry arrested me (at the time) when I was intending to perform the `Umra. And now what do you think?” The Prophet (ﷺ) gave him good tidings (congratulated him) and ordered him to perform the `Umra. So when he came to Mecca, someone said to him, “You have become a Sabian?” Thumama replied, “No! By Allah, I have embraced Islam with Muhammad, Apostle of Allah. No, by Allah! Not a single grain of wheat will come to you from Yamamah unless the Prophet gives his permission.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Read the Article in Arabic
