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العربية
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Mercy Kindness

Read published English translations and explanations on this topic. These are related source narrations; their wording and selection may differ from the Arabic site’s short selections. Every card identifies its own source.

Agreed uponAuthentic

Whoever does not show mercy to people, Allah Almighty does not show mercy to him

Narrator in the source: Jarīr ibn ‘Abdullah

Jarīr ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever does not show mercy to people, Allah Almighty does not show mercy to him."
Grade in the source
Authentic
Reported by
Agreed upon
Original Arabic wording
عن جرير بن عبد الله رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمِ النَّاسَ لَا يَرْحَمْهُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ».
Understand this hadith

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that Allah Almighty does not show him who does not show mercy to people mercy. Indeed, showing compassion to people is one of the greatest means of receiving Allah's mercy.

Lessons from the hadith
  • Mercy is required for all creatures. He singled out people due to His particular care for them.
  • Allah is the Most Merciful and He shows mercy to His merciful servants, for recompense is of the same type as one's deeds.
  • Being merciful to people includes bringing what is good to them, averting evil from them, and treating them kindly.
References (original Arabic)

صحيح البخاري (8/ 10) (6013). صحيح مسلم (4/ 1809) (2319). شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين (2/ 553). نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين (1/ 247). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 319).

Narrated by MuslimAuthentic

Verily, lenience is not found in anything but it adorns it, and it is not removed from anything but it makes it defective

Narrator in the source: ‘Ā’ishah, Mother of the Believers, reported saying:

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the Prophet's wife, reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Verily, lenience is not found in anything but it adorns it, and it is not removed from anything but it makes it defective."
Grade in the source
Authentic
Reported by
Narrated by Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها زوج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «إِنَّ الرِّفْقَ لَا يَكُونُ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلَّا زَانَهُ، وَلَا يُنْزَعُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا شَانَهُ».
Understand this hadith

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) points out that lenience, mildness, and deliberateness in speech and behavior add beauty and excellence to things, making it easier for a person to fulfill his needs. That lack of lenience makes things defective and unpleasant, which prevents a person from reaching his goal or reaching it with difficulty.

Lessons from the hadith
  • The Hadīth urges us to be lenient.
  • Lenience adorns people and leads to goodness in worldly and religious matters.
References (original Arabic)

صحيح مسلم (4/ 2004) (2594). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 683). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص414).

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