“SOCIETY OF MERCY”
Honorable Muslims!
One of the most precious blessings Allah the Almighty (swt) has bestowed upon His servants is the feeling of mercy. Mercy is a manifestation of our Lord’s (swt) name “al-Rahman”. Mercy is tenderness of the heart and softness of the soul. It is to be compassionate and conscientious.
The most prominent characteristic of our Prophet (saw), who was sent as mercy to the worlds, is his mercy and compassion.1 In this regard, our Prophet’s (saw) behavior is described in the Holy Qur’an as follows: “It is out of Allah’s mercy that you, o Prophet, have been lenient with them. Had you been cruel or hard-hearted, they would have certainly abandoned you…”2
Dear Believers!
The Messenger of Allah (saw) commanded spouses to be merciful and compassionate towards each other by saying, “The best of you is the one who treats his family the best.”3 He recommended treating the elderly in a good manner, who are opportunities for us to be prayed for and be blessed, by the glad tiding that “If a person honors an elder due to his age, Allah appoints for him one who will honor him at that age.”4
As all other living beings, animals had their share from the Messenger of Allah’s (saw) mercy and compassion as well. He (saw) said, “There is a reward for every good deed done to every living creature.”5 In Islamic civilization, which is based on the principles introduced to humanity by the Messenger of Mercy, animals are treated with compassion and mercy.
Dear Believers!
Today, when violence, anger, animosity and hatred invade the hearts, what falls upon us as members of the civilization of mercy is to once again embrace the messages of the Prophet of Mercy (saw). We should train our hearts in the Messenger of Allah’s (saw) school of knowledge and wisdom, who says, “I was only sent as mercy.”6
I would like to conclude this Friday’s khutbah with our Prophet’s (saw) following hadith: “The merciful are shown mercy by al-Rahman. Be merciful to what is on earth, and you will be shown mercy from Who is above the heavens.”7
[1] Tawbah, 9/128.
[2] Ali ‘Imran, 3/159.
[3] Tirmidhi, Manaqib, 63.
[4] Tirmidhi, Birr, 75.
[5] Bukhari, Musaqat, 9.
[6] Muslim, Birr, 24.
[7] Abu Dawud, Adab, 58.