95
‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: “A group of Jews went to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). As they entered, they said: ‘As-sām (death) be upon you.’ I grasped it and said: ‘May As-sām and curse be upon you!’
Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Take it easy, O ‘Ā’ishah! Indeed, Allah loves kindness in all affairs.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, have you not heard what they said?’
He said: ‘I have replied: And upon you.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri - this is his wording - and Muslim]
He used to pardon wrongdoing so much
as if he did not see any evil from people.
It is Allah Almighty, the Kind, Who endowed the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) with such great kindness. Our Lord removes grief and distress, cures the sick, restores freedom to captives, returns the absent, and consoles the broken-hearted.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said: “Indeed, Allah is Kind and loves kindness.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Our Lord, Exalted be He, is Kind in His decrees, predestination, and actions.
He is Kind in His commands, rulings, religion, and Shariah.
Out of His kindness and wisdom in His actions, He created all creatures in a gradual manner, even though He is Able to create them all at once in one instant.
Our Lord is Kind in His Shariah and in His commands and prohibitions. He does not charge His servants with things beyond their capacity, nor does He impose difficult obligations on them; rather, He gives them dispensations, out of kindness and mercy towards them. Also, He did not prescribe the duties on them all at once. Rather, He prescribed them gradually from one condition to another, so that people could get familiar with and accustomed to these obligations.
Out of His kindness, He gives respite to sinners and does not hasten to punish them so that they can repent and return to Him.
Another aspect of Allah’s kindness is that He facilitates all means to goodness, most notably making it easy to memorize and understand His Book. {We have certainly made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember; is there anyone to take heed?} [Surat al-Qamar: 17]
He is the Kind and He loves His kind servants,
and He gives them security on account of their kindness.
He who knows that Allah is Kind will grow in love, exaltation, and gratitude towards Him. Allah Almighty loves His names and those who adopt them, except those names He dislikes for His servants to assume. He is Merciful and loves those who are merciful; Generous and loves those who are generous; and Kind and loves those who are kind.
The most worthy among people of this trait are the prophets, led by Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). His treatment of people was full of kindness. He would never get angry for personal reasons or feel troubled due to people’s human weaknesses and defects. Moreover, he would not keep for himself anything of the worldly vanities. Rather, he would give all what he possessed, lovingly. His forbearance, benevolence, compassion, and affection encompassed people. No one associated with him except that his heart became full of love for him, due to his kindness and generosity.
One day a Bedouin urinated in a corner of the mosque. Having seen him, the Companions rushed to him while expressing their disapproval at his act. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not interrupt him. Leave him.”
When the Bedouin was over, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) called him and said: “It is not appropriate to use mosques for urinating or filth. Indeed, they are built for the remembrance of Allah Almighty, prayer, and the recitation of the Qur’an.” [Narrated by Muslim]
Indeed, Allah Almighty is Kind and loves those who are kind. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said: “Allah is Kind and loves kindness. He gives for kindness what He does not give for harshness.” [Narrated by Muslim]
The most worthy of this trait among people, after the prophets, are kings and rulers, and the callers to Allah from the preachers and scholars, as well as parents. People have enough grief and concerns and they are in need for someone to console them, not someone who treats them harshly. They need mercy, compassion, care, cheerfulness, and affection.
People are in greater need for kindness than for receiving something along with harsh treatment. Those who are more entitled to your kindness are yourself, your parents, your spouse, your children, your subjects, and your co-workers and friends.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said: “Whoever is given his share of kindness has been given his share of goodness in this world and in the Hereafter. Upholding kinship ties, good manners, and good neighborliness maintain houses and prolong lifespans.” [Narrated by Ahmad; Sahīh (authentic)]
In another Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said: “When Allah wills good for a household, He gives them kindness.” [Narrated by Ahmad; Sahīh (authentic)]
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “Verily, kindness does not exist in anything but it adorns it, and it is not removed from anything except that it makes it defective.” [Narrated by Muslim]
Hence, the most hateful among people are those who are rough and harsh. Allah Almighty says: {...If you had been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from you...} [Surat Ᾱl ‘Imrān: 159] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “Whoever is deprived of kindness is deprived of goodness.” [Narrated by Muslim]
O Allah, we implore You by Your name “Ar-Rafīq” to show kindness to us and facilitate for us all ways of goodness.