[24:20] GOD
showers you with His grace and mercy.
GOD is Most Kind towards the believers,
Most Merciful.
One of the many qualities that God
assigns to believers is kindness.
Believers are commanded to be stern with
the disbelievers and the idol
worshipers, but kind with the believers.
Examples of both prophet Mohammad and
prophet Abraham are set for us in the
Quran in this regard. Kindness is a
trait that usually does not come easily
as human beings are naturally selfish
and ruthless. A kind person is one who
is considerate of other people, shows
compassion, and is willing to help
others when needed. True believers make
the effort to show acts of kindness
towards other believers.
Qualities of the
Believers
[48:29] Muhammad - the messenger of
GOD - and those with him are harsh
and stern against the disbelievers,
but kind and compassionate amongst
themselves. You see them bowing
and prostrating, as they seek GOD's
blessings and approval. Their marks are
on their faces, because of prostrating.
This is the same example as
in the Torah. Their example
in the Gospel is like plants that grow
taller and stronger, and please the
farmers. He thus enrages the
disbelievers. GOD promises those among
them who believe, and lead a righteous
life, forgiveness and a great
recompense.
Abraham: An Example
[60:4]
A good example has been
set for you by Abraham and those
with him. They
said to their people, "We
disown you and the idols that you
worship besides GOD. We denounce
you, and you will see nothing from
us except animosity and hatred until
you believe in GOD ALONE."*
However, a mistake was commited by
Abraham when he said to his father,
"I will pray for your forgiveness,**
but I possess no power to protect
you from GOD." "Our Lord, we trust
in You, and submit to You; to You is
the final destiny.
[9:114] The only reason Abraham
asked forgiveness for his father was
that he had promised him to do so. But
as soon as he realized that he was an
enemy of GOD, he disowned him.
Abraham was extremely kind,
clement.
[11:75] Indeed, Abraham was
clement, extremely kind, and
obedient.
The Messenger's
Kindness
[3:159] It was mercy from GOD
that you became compassionate
towards them. Had you been harsh
and mean-hearted, they would have
abandoned you. Therefore, you shall
pardon them and ask forgiveness for
them, and consult them. Once you
make a decision, carry out your
plan, and trust in GOD. GOD loves
those who trust in Him.*
[90:17] And being one of those
who believe, and exhorting one
another to be steadfast, and
exhorting one another to be kind.
Deterioration of
Religion
[57:27] Subsequent to them, we sent our
messengers. We sent Jesus the son of
Mary, and we gave him the Injeel
(Gospel), and we placed in the
hearts of his followers kindness
and mercy. But they invented
hermitism which we never decreed for
them. All we asked them to do was to
uphold the commandments approved by GOD.
But they did not uphold the message as
they should have. Consequently, we gave
those who believed among them their
recompense, while many of them were
wicked.
[52:25] They will
meet each other and reminisce among
themselves.
[52:26] They will say, "We used
to be kind and humble among our people.
[ 5:54 ] O you who believe, if you
revert from your religion, then GOD will
substitute in your place people whom He
loves and who love Him. They will
be kind with the believers, stern with
the disbelievers, and will
strive in the cause of GOD without fear
of any blame. Such is GOD's blessing; He
bestows it upon whomever He wills. GOD
is Bounteous, Omniscient.
How to Spread God's
Message
[16:125] You shall invite
to the path of your Lord with wisdom and
kind enlightenment, and debate
with them in the best possible manner.
Your Lord knows best who has strayed
from His path, and He knows best who are
the guided ones.
Certain commandments from God help pave
the way towards kindness. For example,
God commands us to give to charity, and
philanthropy is an act of kindness when
done sincerely. The manner in which we
give and deal with the poor and the
beggars is taught in the Quran, and it
only enhances our kindness. We are also
commanded to treat our parents with
respect and honor, and to regard the
relatives, the orphans, and the poor. We
are advised to support the believers who
immigrate in the cause of God. Saying
“Peace” when greeting others and making
room when being asked to move are ways
of being courteous towards others. It is
prohibited for us to mock people, and we
are told to walk the earth gently and be
humble. All of these are ways to be
considerate and compassionate towards
others. These verses are shown below:
[2:262] Those who spend their money in
the cause of GOD, then do not
follow their charity with insult or harm,
will receive their recompense from their
Lord; they have nothing to fear, nor
will they grieve.
[2:263] Kind words and
compassion are better than a
charity that is followed by insult. GOD
is Rich, Clement.
[93:10] Nor shall you
reprimand the beggar.
[ 17:23 ] Your Lord has decreed that
you shall not worship except Him, and
your parents shall be
honored. As long as one or
both of them live, you shall never say
to them, "Uff" (the slightest gesture of
annoyance), nor shall you shout at them;
you shall treat them amicably.
[ 17:24 ] And lower for them
the wings of humility, and kindness,
and say, "My Lord, have mercy on
them, for they have raised me from
infancy."
The Commandments
[2:83] We made a covenant with the
Children of Israel: "You shall not
worship except GOD. You shall
honor your parents and regard the
relatives, the orphans, and the poor.
You shall treat the people amicably.
You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat)
and give the obligatory charity (Zakat)."
But you turned away, except a few of
you, and you became averse.
[24:22] Those among you who
are blessed with resources and
wealth shall be charitable towards
their relatives, the poor, and those
who have immigrated for the sake of
GOD. They shall treat
them with kindness and tolerance;
do you not love to attain
GOD's forgiveness? GOD is
Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[4:5] Do not give immature
orphans the properties that
GOD has entrusted with you as
guardians. You shall provide
for them therefrom, and clothe them,
and treat them kindly.
[4:8] During distribution of the
inheritances, if relatives,
orphans, and needy persons
are present, you shall give
them therefrom, and treat them
kindly.
You Shall Be Courteous
[4:86] When greeted with a
greeting, you shall respond with
a better greeting or at least an equal
one. GOD reckons all things.
[6:54] When those who believe in our
revelations come to you, you
shall say, "Salamun `Alaykum
(Peace be upon you). Your Lord has
decreed that mercy is His attribute.
Thus, anyone among you who commits a
transgression out of ignorance, and
repents thereafter and reforms, then He
is Forgiving, Most Merciful."
[58:11] O you who believe,
if you are told, "Please make room," you
shall make room for each other to sit.
GOD will then make room for
you. If you are asked to get
up and move, get up and move.
GOD raises those among you who believe,
and those who acquire knowledge to
higher ranks. GOD is fully Cognizant of
everything you do.
Believers Set the
Example
[49:11] O you who believe,
no people shall ridicule other people,
for they may be better than they.
Nor shall any women ridicule
other women, for they may
be better than they. Nor
shall you mock one another,
or make fun of your names.
Evil indeed is the reversion to
wickedness after attaining faith. Anyone
who does not repent after this, these
are the transgressors.
[ 17:37 ] You shall not walk
proudly on earth - you
cannot bore through the earth, nor can
you be as tall as the mountains.
Strongly upholding all of
God's commands, teachings, and ethics in
the Quran is the highest and most
inclusive level of our kindness. It is
the ultimate kindness that would save
and redeem our souls..
[91:7] The soul
and Him who created it.
[91:8] Then
showed it what is evil and what is good.
[91:9]
Successful is one who redeems it.
[91:10]
Failing is one who neglects it.
[7:174]
We thus explain the revelations, to
enable the people to redeem themselves.*
