Prophet Mohammad: A Mercy For All Creation

Mercy or grace corresponds to a sentiment through which one entity extends profound love, compassion, kindness, and generosity to another. This virtue has the power to elevate entities from the grip of death to the embrace of life, from the shadows of darkness to the illumination of light, and from the turbulence of restlessness to the serenity of peace. Allah has endowed all living beings with this Divine passion of mercy. Hence, even animals express love towards their offspring, and diligently endeavor to protect them from predators.

Of all creatures, Allah bestowed humans with the greatest capacity for mercy. And among humans He sent His beloved Prophet as the most merciful. The mercy of Prophet Mohammad transcends all boundaries of time and space, encompassing friend and foe, and extending its benevolence to all beings, whether human or animal. In the Holy Quran, Allah says:

وَ مَاۤ  اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ اِلَّا رَحۡمَۃً  لِّلۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۷﴾‏

Meaning: And (O Esteemed Messenger,) We have not sent you but as a mercy for all the worlds. (21:107)

The Prophet’s mercy encompasses both the worlds

All Prophets and Messengers of Allah embodied mercy, yet their benevolence was confined to specific communities, regions, and eras. But the Holy Prophet’s mercy and compassion encompasses every era, every community, all realms, the entirety of the cosmos, and all creations to the extent that it is widened to this world and the world hereafter. His benevolence extended equally to both friends and enemies, and his mercy for animals mirrored his kindness towards humanity. Every aspect of his esteemed morals reveals mercy and grace.  

Being the epitome of mercy, Prophet Mohammad is a source of solace and compassion. He keenly felt the sorrows and pains of every believer and non-believer alike. He wished and strived for the betterment of all so that everyone could be led towards righteousness.

Oppression of disbelievers and Holy Prophet’s Mercy

Abu Hurairah narrates that polytheists inflicted severe sufferings on the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), pelting him with stones to the extent that his sacred body bled. Witnessing this distressing state, the Companions pleaded:

“O Messenger of Allah! Invoke curse upon these polytheists who have caused you such torment.”

In response, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I will not invoke against them for I have not been sent as the supplicant of curse. Instead, I have been sent as a mercy.” (Muslim 6613)

Is Prophet Mohammad a mercy for all creation?

The Holy Prophet has been sent as a mercy not only for Prophets, Messengers, and the angels, but also for both the spiritual and the worldly realms. His mercy extends to the heavens and the earth, encompassing jinns and humans, believers and disbelievers, as well as animals, plants, and inanimate objects. In essence, the beloved Prophet is a source of mercy for all that exists in the created universe.

How is the Holy Prophet a mercy for Disbelievers?

Abdullah ibn Abbas narrates: 
The presence of the Holy Prophet is a mercy, both for the believers and disbelievers. For the believer, he is a mercy in this world as well as the world hereafter. As for those who have not embraced faith, the Holy Prophet is a mercy in this world, as through him, the worldly punishment for them has been delayed, and the severe earthly punishments, the distortion of forms, and uprooting from the foundations have been averted.

Prophet Mohammad used to worry so much for the salvation of humanity from Allah’s punishment that Allah revealed to him:

فَلَعَلَّکَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفۡسَکَ عَلٰۤی اٰثَارِہِمۡ  اِنۡ لَّمۡ  یُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِہٰذَا  الۡحَدِیۡثِ  اَسَفًا ﴿۶﴾‏

Meaning: (O Venerable Beloved!) Will you put your (dear) life at stake with the traumatic grief for them if they do not put faith in this Word (of Allah)? (18:6)

This verse not only expresses Allah’s love for His Prophet but also stands as an unparalleled illustration of Holy Prophet’s endless compassion and mercy towards humanity. Allah says:

فَلَا تَذۡہَبۡ نَفۡسُکَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ حَسَرٰتٍ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلِیۡمٌۢ  بِمَا یَصۡنَعُوۡنَ ﴿۸﴾‏

Meaning: (O Life of the universe!) Let not your soul waste away in grief for them. Surely, Allah is Best Aware of whatever they do. (35:8)

Despite facing hostility, engaging in battles, enduring injuries to his sacred body, facing conspiracies, and even being expelled from his homeland, the Holy Prophet remained concerned and grieved for those who didn’t accept guidance. The consequence of disbelievers in the form of torment of hell was continually afflicting him. Therefore, Allah told His beloved not to burden himself with the outcome of these disbelievers. His only duty is to convey the guidance. Whether they accept it or not is their responsibility.

Despite facing hostility, engaging in battles, enduring injuries to his sacred body, facing conspiracies, and even being expelled from his homeland, the Holy Prophet remained concerned and grieved for those who didn’t accept guidance. The consequence of disbelievers in the form of torment of hell was continually afflicting him. Therefore, Allah told His beloved not to burden himself with the outcome of these disbelievers. His only duty is to convey the guidance. Whether they accept it or not is their responsibility.

Mercy for the Umma

The mercy of the Holy Prophet for his umma is beyond what words can express. He is so compassionate and merciful towards his umma that Allah addresses the umma in the Quran: 

لَقَدۡ جَآءَکُمۡ رَسُوۡلٌ مِّنۡ اَنۡفُسِکُمۡ عَزِیۡزٌ عَلَیۡہِ مَا عَنِتُّمۡ حَرِیۡصٌ عَلَیۡکُمۡ بِالۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ رَءُوۡفٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۲۸﴾‏

Meaning: Surely, a (Glorious) Messenger from amongst yourselves has come to you. Your suffering and distress (becomes) grievously heavy on him (blessings and peace be upon him). (O mankind,) he is ardently desirous of your (betterment and guidance. And) he is most (deeply) clement and merciful to the believers. (9:128)

Prophet Mohammad spent his nights in prostration before Allah, seeking forgiveness for the umma. Despite being the bearer of glad tidings about paradise to people and undoubtedly aware of his esteemed status in paradise and Allah’s court, upon hearing the news of the blazing fires of hell, he wept profusely out of mercy and compassion for the umma.

Holy Prophet expresses his compassion for his umma as:

My example is like that of a person who kindled a fire, and when that fire illuminated its surroundings, moths and insects began to fall into it. He is trying to prevent them from falling into the fire, but they are plunging into it despite his efforts. This is your example and mine. I am there to hold you back from fire and to save you from it, trying to prevent you from going to hell, yet you persist in not believing my words and continue to march towards hell. (Muslim 5957)

Prophet Mohammad’s presence averts the punishment

Allah sent Prophet Mohammad as an embodiment of mercy and compassion for the entire humanity and all creations. The grandeur of the Holy Prophet is that due to his presence Allah did not descend torment upon disbelievers and polytheists. He says in the Quran:

وَ مَا کَانَ اللّٰہُ  لِیُعَذِّبَہُمۡ  وَ اَنۡتَ فِیۡہِمۡ ؕ وَ مَا کَانَ اللّٰہُ مُعَذِّبَہُمۡ وَ ہُمۡ یَسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡنَ ﴿۳۳﴾‏

Meaning: And (in truth, the matter is that) it is not Allah’s Glory to torment them, whilst you (O Venerable Beloved) are also (present) amongst them. Nor would Allah torment them whilst they are engaged in supplicating Him for forgiveness. (8:33)

The disbelievers and polytheists had crossed every limit in disobeying the Holy Prophet. When past ummas denied their Prophets, Allah descended torments upon them. However, He spared the deniers of Holy Prophet due to his blessed presence among them.

Bearer of glad tidings and warner – qualities of the Holy Prophet encompassing mercy

Allah says in the Holy Quran: 

وَ مَاۤ  اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ  اِلَّا کَآفَّۃً  لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِیۡرًا وَّ نَذِیۡرًا وَّ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا  یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۲۸﴾‏

Meaning: And, (O Esteemed Prophet,) We have not sent you but as a Bearer of the glad tidings and as a Warner to the entire mankind, but most people do not know. (34:28)

The titles “bearer of good news and a warner” are attributes of Prophet Mohammad and highlight his qualities of mercy. While delivering good news is an act of mercy, issuing warning is also a form of mercy. This is because some people, upon hearing good news, may not incline towards righteousness. Their hearts may not soften unless someone makes them aware of the sense of fearing Allah and the alarming consequences. Thus, they may accept guidance out of fear of Allah and dread of Hell. Allah says in sura al-Ahzab:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّبِیُّ  اِنَّاۤ  اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ شَاہِدًا وَّ مُبَشِّرًا وَّ  نَذِیۡرًا ﴿ۙ۴۵﴾‏

Meaning: O (Esteemed) Prophet! Surely, We have sent you as a Witness (to the truth and the creation), a Bearer of glad tidings (of the beauty of the Hereafter) and a Warner (of the torment in the Hereafter). (35:45)

Intercession of Prophet Mohammad

One day, the Holy Prophet was distressed and in tears. Angel Gabriel came and said, “O Prophet! Allah has inquired why you are so troubled, grieved, and sorrowful?” The Prophet said, “I am concerned about the fate of my umma on the day of judgment.” Then Allah revealed the following verse:

وَ  لَسَوۡفَ یُعۡطِیۡکَ رَبُّکَ فَتَرۡضٰی ؕ﴿۵﴾‏

Meaning: And soon your Lord shall bestow upon you (so much) that you will be well-pleased. (93:5) In this verse, Allah assures His beloved Prophet, urging him not to be disheartened but to be happy and content. Because on the doomsday, He will please him in the matters of his umma. Allah promises to accept His beloved’s intercession with such profound abundance that, in a moment of sublime fulfillment, the Prophet himself will declare, “O Lord, now I am truly pleased.”

Every Prophet is given one invocation that will not be rejected

Abu Hurairah reports that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

For every Prophet there is one (special invocation (that will not be rejected) with which he appeals (to Allah), and I want to keep such an invocation for interceding for my umma in the hereafter. (Bukhari 6304)

Prophet Noah made this supplication when, after preaching for 950 years, neither his nation nor his descendants abandoned disbelief. So, he prayed, “O Almighty! Destroy them utterly, for I have witnessed that even among their offspring, no believer shall emerge.” As a result of this supplication, a great flood engulfed the earth, annihilating entire communities of the disbelievers.

In different eras, the Prophets continued to pray, resulting in the punishment of disbelievers and the salvation of believers. For instance, when Prophet Moses struck the Nile, it split open, and he safely led his people to the shore, while Pharaoh and his army drowned in the same river.

The esteemed glory of the Prophet of mercy, the Holy Prophet, is evident in the fact that, unlike other Prophets, he did not pray against his people even when faced with extreme hostility. As, when the Prophet was standing in the valley of Taif, enduring the maltreatment of the people, Angel Gabriel appeared and said, “O Messenger of Allah! Allah has sent me. If you command, I can bring the two mountains together, crushing these people in between, or I can lift this entire town so high and then descend it in such a way that no generation will be left until the doomsday.” 
However, even in that moment, Prophet Mohammad did not invoke a curse upon them. Instead, he eloquently expressed, “I have been sent as a mercy.” (Muslim 6613)

Prophet Mohammad is the bestower of mercy even after his physical demise

Anas ibn Malik relates that the Messenger of Allah said, “My life is a blessing for you (he repeated it three times). And even in my passing, there lies goodness for you (he repeated this three times as well). Then, when the people remained silent, Umar ibn Khattab asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, may my parents be sacrificed for you! How can your demise be considered a source of goodness?’ Prophet Mohammad replied, ‘My life is a blessing upon you, for it is during this time that I receive Divine revelations from Allah, conveying to you the difference between what is permissible and what is forbidden. Similarly, my death is an avenue of goodness for you, as each Thursday, your deeds will be presented to me. If they are good, I will praise and thank Allah for them. If otherwise, I will implore Allah’s forgiveness for you.'” (Daylami)

Holy Prophet is the most merciful

There has not been born another human whose compassion and mercy remained at their peak despite the circumstances. He exhibited such control over his emotions that even in the utmost intensity of sorrow and anger, his mercy extended to all of humanity. Without a doubt, the elevated rank of being the most merciful is attained by only one sacred individual who is the master of the worlds, our beloved Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him).

مصطفیؐ جانِ رحمت پہ لاکھوں سلام
شمعِ   بزم  ہدایت  پہ  لاکھوں  سلام

Explanation: Countless salutations upon the Prophet who is the embodiment of mercy and a guiding light.

Allah is the Lord of the worlds and Prophet Mohammad is the mercy to the worlds

When Allah speaks of His mercy, compassion, and provision of the necessities of life for all creations, He refers to Himself as the ‘Lord of the worlds’ and calls the Prophet as the ‘mercy to the worlds.’ This is because Allah is the Sustainer of all worlds and Prophet Mohammad is a source of mercy and compassion for all the worlds and all creation.

The mercy of the Prophet is not limited to humans. It extends to everything that exists in the universe, the trees, the oceans and lands, the plants, the inanimate objects. The mercy of the Prophet reaches every human and every creation in this universe and will continue to reach till the final day. 

سلام اس پر کہ جس نے بے کسوں کی  دستگیری  کی
سلام  اس  پر  کہ  جس  نے  بادشاہی  میں  فقیری  کی
سلام  اس  پر  کہ  اسرارِ  محبت  جس  نے   سکھلائے
سلام  اس  پر  کہ جس  نے زخم  کھا کر پھول  برسائے
سلام اس پر کہ جس نے خوں کے پیاسوں کو قبائیں دیں
سلام اس  پر کہ  جس نے  گالیاں  سن  کر  دعائیں  دیں

Salaam Uss Par ke Jiss Ne Be Kason ki Dastagiri Ki
Salaam Uss Par ke Jiss Ne Badshahi Mein Faqeeri Ki
Salaam Uss Par ke Jiss Ne Asraar-e-Mohabbat Sikhlae
Salaam Uss Par ke Jiss Ne Zakham Kha Kar Phool Barsai
Salaam Uss Par ke Jiss Ne Khoon ke Piason ko Qubain Dein
Salaam Uss Par ke Jiss Ne Gaalian Sunn ka Duain Dein

Explanation: Salutations to the one (peace be upon him) who embraced the helpless, and who found humility in kingship. Salutations to the one who taught the secrets of love, and who, having endured wounds, made flowers bloom. Salutations to the one who provided solace to those thirsty for blood, and who, upon hearing insults, responded with prayers.

A few examples of the Prophet’s mercy

Mercy towards children

The love and compassion of the Holy Prophet were not constrained to elders and youth; rather, his blessed presence was a source of mercy for children as well. He had an immense affection for children. When he migrated from Mecca to Madina, many little children gathered to see him. Young girls expressed the joy of his arrival by singing songs.

Abdullah ibn Shaddad recounts from his father:

Once the Holy Prophet brought one of his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali, or Husayn ibn Ali, along with him at a prayer. As he led the prayer, Prophet Mohammad performed a prolonged prostration. Shaddad narrates that when I raised my head, I saw a child riding on the back of the Prophet Mohammad, and he was still in prostration. I returned to prostration. Upon completion of prayer, the Companions inquired, “O Messenger of Allah! You performed an extended prostration during the prayer, and we began to suspect that some important matter had arisen or that you were receiving revelation.” Prophet Mohammad said, “It was not so. Instead, my son was riding on my back, and I did not want to cut short the prostration before fulfilling his need.” (Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal 28199)

Mercy towards animals

The Prophet emphasized good treatment even towards animals and stressed on fearing Allah concerning speechless animals, saying:

Fear Allah in regard to voiceless animals, treat them with kindness, and provide for them in the best manner possible. (Abu Dawud 2548)

Once, Prophet Mohammad visited the garden of an Ansar Companion. There was a camel in the garden that, upon seeing the Prophet, began to groan, and tears filled its eyes. The Prophet approached, gently stroked its neck and hump, and the camel stopped groaning. The Prophet inquired about the owner of the camel. A young Ansar man came forward and said, “O Messenger of Allah! This is my camel.” The Prophet said, “Are you not afraid of Allah Who has made you the owner of this animal? The camel is complaining to me that you keep it hungry and load it heavily.” (Abu Dawud 2549)

If someone picked up a bird’s baby, the Messenger of Allah would become restless upon seeing its distress and would immediately make the person return the baby to its nest.

Not only that, but also when it came to slaughtering animals, he emphasized being gentle at the time of slaughter. He advised not to sharpen the knife in front of the animal and to slaughter with the sharpest knife to minimize the pain.

During travel, the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized that people should provide opportunities for animals to graze. He prohibited overloading animals and discouraged the use of harsh words when referring to animals. Therefore, he said:

Do not curse the rooster because it wakes you up for prayer. (Abu Dawud 5101)

Prophet Mohammad is a role model

Words cannot encompass the compassion and mercy of our beloved Prophet. His life is a role model and an example for us to follow through our words as well as actions. He had the authority to say one word of commandment for the destruction of tyrants, but he set an example for us and for the world by showing mercy and compassion towards human beings and creations. Following him is synonymous with pleasing him and in pleasing him, one finds favour with Allah.

May Allah give us the courage and passion to adorn ourselves with his qualities and attributes and to love him ardently. Ameen

Questions:

Is Prophet Mohammad a mercy for all creation?

The Holy Prophet has been sent as a mercy not only for Prophets, Messengers, and the angels, but also for both the spiritual and the worldly realms. His mercy extends to the heavens and the earth, encompassing jinns and humans, believers and disbelievers, as well as animals, plants, and inanimate objects. In essence, the beloved Prophet is a source of mercy for all that exists in the created universe.

Why is Mohammad (pbuh) known as Mercy to the world?

Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) earned the title “mercy to the world” due to his unparalleled kindness and compassion towards all creation. Allah sent him as a mercy for all realms, the entirety of the cosmos, and all creations to the extent that it is widened to this world and the world hereafter. He grieved and shed tears for the betterment of even for those who oppressed him. His benevolence extended equally to both friends and enemies, and his mercy for animals mirrored his kindness towards humanity. Even in the face of adversaries, he demonstrated mercy. Chosen by Allah for the guidance of humanity and well-being of the creation, he became a beacon for the harmony of existence.