The Mercy of Allah (God)

“Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you deny?”

Qur'an 55:13

Throughout life, people continually receive Allah's blessings: good health, sight, hearing, nourishment, clean air, children, wealth and countless others. Some use their God-given gifts of intelligence and reasoning to acknowledge these blessings, grasp the purpose of their existence, and thereby submit themselves to Allah.

Others do not appreciate the Mercy of Allah toward their own selves, even though He feeds and sustains them despite their disobedience toward Him. They are given mobility, enjoyment, freedom of thought and action, despite their outright denial of Him. Their very existence would not be, were it not for the Mercy of Allah.

“…if you were to try and count the favours of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

Qur'an 16:18

“It is He Who has sent down the Book (the Qur'an) to you (Muhammad) with truth, confirming what came before it. And He sent down the Tawrah and the Injeel.”

Qur'an 3:3

From the beginning of creation, man was not left to face the struggles of life alone. Due to God's Mercy, man received revelation through Prophets, who conveyed and taught it to their people to guide and protect them. The most perfect and merciful of revelations was the Qur'an and the last of the prophets was Muhammad (peace be upon him).

“And We (God) have not sent you (Muhammad) except as a mercy for mankind.”

Qur'an 21:107

Some of the Prophet's sayings which show his mercy, kindness and tolerance:

• "Kindness is not found in anything except that it adds to its beauty, and is not withdrawn from anything except that it makes it deficient."
• "The most perfect of believers in belief is the best of them in character."
• "He is not a perfect Muslim who eats his fill while his neighbour goes hungry."
• "Allah will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy to others."

The creation of human beings and all their faculties is a great mercy in itself. The fact that we can get out of bed, work, eat, play and sleep should make us grateful.

“And out of His Mercy He made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein and [by day] seek from His Bounty and [that] perhaps you will be grateful.”

Qur'an 28:73

“And of His signs is that He created for you, from yourselves, mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy.”

Qur'an 30:21

Another mercy is that He created us sinless and will not hold us to account until the age of maturity and decision making. This is in stark contrast to the "Original Sin" concept in Christianity.

“O My servants who have transgressed against their souls! Do not despair of the Mercy of God: for God forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Qur'an 39:53

Even animals are not exempt from Allah's Mercy. They have faculties of hearing and sight, are provided with sustenance and offspring, and are granted many other blessings. The Prophet (peace be upon him) described God's mercy sent to earth, "…His creatures are merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts up its hoof away from its baby animal, lest it should trample on it."

“Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.”

Qur'an 7:56

Due to God's Mercy, He has promised to forgive and pardon whoever follows the appropriate means: "And surely, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them." (Qur'an 20:82)

The people who receive more of Allah's Mercy are those who have acknowledged His blessings and favours; used them in a way which pleases God; spent their God-given wealth in charity and to look after the needy; employed their hands to care for orphans; utilised their gift of speech to speak good; and performed other honourable acts ordained by God.

“Allah will show mercy to those who show mercy to people. Show mercy to those who are on earth — the One Who is in Heaven will show mercy to you.”

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

• "Obey Allah and the Messenger that you may obtain mercy." (Qur'an 3:132)
• "And this is a blessed Book We have revealed; therefore follow it and protect yourself (against evil), that mercy may be shown to you." (Qur'an 6:155)
• "Keep up prayer and pay the compulsory charity (to the needy) and obey the Messenger, so that mercy may be shown to you." (Qur'an 24:56)
• "Our Lord! Make not our hearts to deviate after You have guided us aright, and grant us mercy from Yourself; surely You are The Bestower." (Qur'an 3:8)

Alongside Allah's attribute of Mercy is His attribute of Justice.

“Verily, for the Righteous, are Gardens of Delight, in the Presence of their Lord. Shall We then treat the People of Faith like those who do not believe? What is the matter with you? How do you judge?”

Qur'an 68:34-36

Allah is the Most-Merciful, however, He is also Swift in Reckoning. One cannot try to take advantage of His Mercy by constantly committing the same sins without sincere repentance or resolving never to return to the sin. "And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: 'Now I repent'…" (Qur'an 4:18)

Muslims are encouraged to have hope of reward for good deeds, while being concerned about sins they may perform. When they commit sins, they repent sincerely, and are hopeful of being forgiven: "Surely Allah is Most Gentle, Ever Compassionate to people." (Qur'an 22:65)