lesson 52

Lesson 52

Mercy to Patience

Mercy:

Mercy is to be compassionate and tender-hearted towards others.

The Prophet (SAWS) was a model of mercy.

Modesty:

It is a kind of behavior which causes one to refrain from obscene words and deeds, as

well as preventing oneself from not fulfilling the rights of others.

Modesty is part of faith and both call to the good and ward off evil.

  A fair example is the Prophet (SAWS) who was more modest than the virgin in

her room

Modesty does not mean restraining oneself from speaking the truth, learning,

commanding the right and prohibiting the wrong.

Pardon

Pardon is to give up one's right in money and retaliation.

Allah gives good tidings and praises those who pardon their fellow men .

Patience

Patience is to make the self endure what it suffers from, and to tolerate misfortune with contentment and admission without

annoyance or complaint.

Patience can be in enduring affliction, doing pious deeds, and warding off sins.

Patience is found when the Muslim continuously remembers that Allah's

orders are effective, His judgment is just and His ordinance executable, whether

the bondman is patient or not.

Being patient during times of affliction expiates evil deeds.

A Muslim wards off sin and harm by practicing patience and forgiveness.

Patience includes keeping secrets.

Evidence from Qur’an and Sunnah

Mercy:

Allah says:

ا ﴿ و� ت�و�اص� و� ن�وا آم� ال�ذ�ين� م�ن� ك�ان� ث�م� * ل�ئ�ك� و�

أ� ة� م� ح� ر� ب�ال�م� ا و� ت�و�اص� و� ب�ر� ب�الص�ن�ة� ي�م� ال�م� اب� ح� ص�

﴾أ� : [18، 17البلد]

This means: “Then he became one of those who believed,

and recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also) recommended one another to pity and

compassion. They are those on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise).”

(Al-Balad: 17 - 18)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “The believers in their mutual kindness,

compassion and sympathy are like the body. If one of the organs is afflicted, the

whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever.” (Reported by Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“Allah bestows His Mercy on the merciful among His slaves.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said: “The Compassionate (i.e., Allah) has mercy

on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on the earth, He

Who is in the heaven (i.e. Allah) will show mercy to you.”

(Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“That who does not show mercy to others will not be shown mercy.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAWS) said:

“Mercy is taken away only from him who is miserable.”

(Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said: “A man was walking on his way when he

became awfully thirsty. He found a well and he got down into the well and drank from it. Then, he went away. Suddenly, he saw a dog panting out of thirst. The

man thought that the dog was extremely thirsty as he was. Therefore, he

descended into the well. He filled up his scuff with water and held it in his mouth. He climbed up and quenched the thirst of

the dog.

Allah held his action in high esteem and forgave him. The Companions (may

Allah be pleased with them) said: Shall we be rewarded for showing kindness to animals also? He said: A reward is given in connection with every living creature.”(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

he Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“A woman was punished because of a cat which she had jailed until it died and

hence she entered the Hell. She did not allow it to eat or drink as it was confined nor did she free it so that it might eat the

insects of the earth.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “I stand up to lead the prayer with the intention of prolonging it. Then, I hear the cry of an infant and I shorten the

prayer lest I should make it burdensome for his mother.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

Modesty:

Allah says:

م� ﴿ ار�ه� ب�ص�� أ م�ن� وا ي�غ�ض& ن�ين� ؤ�م� ل+ل�م� ق�ل

الله� إ�ن� م� ل�ه� ك�ى ز�أ� ذ�ل�ك� م� ه� وج� ر� ف� ظ�وا ف� ي�ح� و�

* ن�ات� ؤ�م� ل+ل�م� و�ق�ل ن�ع�ون� ي�ص� ا ب�م� ب�ير: خ�ن� ه� وج� ر� ف� ظ�ن� ف� ي�ح� و� ار�ه�ن� ب�ص�

� أ م�ن� ن� ي�غ�ض�ض�ا ن�ه� م� ر� ظ�ه� م�ا إ�ال� ن� ز�ين�ت�ه� ي�ب�د�ين�  ﴾و�ال�

: [31، 30النور]

This means: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal

sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and

protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.) and not to show off their

adornment except only that which is apparent (like palms of hands and faces, or

outer dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.).”

(An-Nur: 30 - 31)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said :“Faith has sixty odd or seventy odd

branches. The uppermost of all these is the Testimony of Faith: ‘La ilaha illa

Allah’ (there is no true god except Allah) while the least of them is the removal of

harmful objects from the road. And modesty is a branch of faith.”

(Reported by Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“Modesty does not bring anything except good.”

(Reported by Muslim)

“The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) was even more modest than a virgin behind her

veil.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“All my followers will be forgiven except those who display their wrong-doings in

the open.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) passed by a man of the Ansar who was admonishing his brother regarding modesty. The Messenger

of Allah (SAWS) said:“Leave him alone, for modesty is a part of

faith.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“Among the admonitions which have been survived after the previous prophets and

conveyed to people is: If you are not modest, you may do whatever you like.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) once said to his companions, “Be truly shy of Allah.” They said, “O Allah’s

Prophet! Surely, we are shy (of Allah); praise be to Allah. He (SAWS) said, “No not this. To be

truly shy of Allah you have to preserve the head and what it comprehends and the abdomen and

what it contains, and to remember death and decay. Whoever is willing (to gain) the Hereafter has to relinquish the adornment of the worldly life. He who does this is indeed truly shying of

Allah. (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

Pardon:

Allah says:

ا ﴿ ع�ف� م�ن� ف� ا ث�ل�ه� م+ ي+ئ�ة: س� Cي+ئ�ة س� اء� ز� و�ج�ل�ح� ص�

أ� و�الله� ع�ل�ى ه� ر� ج�

أ�   ﴾ف� : [ 40الشورى]

This means:

“The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whoever forgives and makes

reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah.”

(Ash-Shura: 40)

Allah says:

ع�ن� ﴿ ع�ر�ض�أ� و� ف� ب�ال�ع�ر� ر� م�

أ� و� و� ال�ع�ف� ذ� خ�ل�ين� اه� : ﴾ال�ج� [199األعراف]

This means:

“Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish (i.e. don't

punish them).”

(Al-A`raf: 199)

Allah says:

ا ﴿ و� ت�نس� و�ال� و�ى ل�لت�ق� ب� ر� ق�أ� وا ت�ع�ف� أ�ن و�

ب�ي�ن�ك�م� ل� ض� ﴾ال�ف� : [237البقرة]

This means:

“And to forego and give (her the full Mahr) is nearer to at-taqwa (piety, righteousness).

And do not forget liberality between yourselves.”

(Al-Baqarah: 237)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“Wealth does not decrease by giving charity. Allah augments the honor of that

who forgives, and that who behaves modestly Allah will exalt him in ranks.”

(Reported by Muslim)

`A’ishah (RA) narrated:“Whenever the Prophet (peace be upon him) was given a choice, he would choose the easier course as long as it was not a sin. Yet, if it was sinful, he would avoid it. Nor did he ever take

revenge over anybody for his own sake. However, when Allah's legal bindings were outraged, he would take revenge for Allah's

Sake.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy and Muslim)

The Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) used to supplicate Allah saying:

“O Allah! You are Most Forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me.”

(Reported by Ibn-Majah)

Patience:

Allah says:

وا ﴿ اب�ر� و�ص� وا ب�ر� اص� ن�وا آم� ال�ذ�ين� ا ي&ه�� أ ي�ا

اب�ط�وا ر� و�ون� ل�ح� ت�ف� ل�ع�ل�ك�م� الله� وا ات�ق� ﴾و�

: عمران] [200آل

This means: “You who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your

territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allah, so

that you may be successful.” (Al-`Imran: 200)

Allah says:

اب�ر�ين� ﴿ الص� ر� ب�ش+ صاب�ت�ه�م* و�أ� �ذ�ا إ ال�ذ�ين�

ال�وا ق� يب�ة: م&ص� * م� ع�ل�ي�ه� ل�ئ�ك� و�

أ� ع�ون� اج� ر� �ل�ي�ه� إ �ن�ا إ و� ل�ل�ه� �ن�ا إم� ه� ل�ئ�ك� و�

أ� و� ة: م� ح� و�ر� م� ب+ه� ر� م+ن ل�و�ات: ص�ت�د�ون� ه� ﴾ال�م�

   : [157 - 155البقرة   ]

This means:

“But give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall

return. They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.”

(Al-Baqarah: 155 - 157)

Allah says:

ب�غ�ي�ر� ﴿ ه�م ر� ج�أ� ون� اب�ر� الص� ي�و�ف�ى ا �ن�م� إ

Cاب ﴾ح�س�[10الزمر] :

This means:

“Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.”

(Az-Zumar: 10)

There are many other verses that urge people to be patient.

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said :“How excellent is the case of a faithful

servant! There is good for him in everything and this is not the case with

anyone except him. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and

that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and

that is better for him.”(Reported by Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“And endurance is a glow.”

(Reported by Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “He who refrains from begging, Allah safeguards him against want, and he who seeks sufficiency, Allah will keep him in a

state of sufficiency, and he who shows patience, Allah will grant him power to be patient, and none is blessed with an

endowment better and greater than patience.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Prophet (SAWS) was once asked, “Which people suffer most?“ He (SAWS) replied, “The most in their suffering among the people are the prophets, then the best,

then the (next) best.”

(Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

“Anyone whom Allah intends good for him is made to suffer from some affliction.”

(Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said: “Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, says: When I afflict my servant in his two dear

things (i.e., his eyes), and he endures patiently, I shall compensate him for

them with Paradise.” (Reported by al-Bukhariyy)

The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said :

“A Muslim male or female continues to remain under trial with respect to his life,

property, and offspring till he or she faces Allah, the Exalted, in a state in which all his or her sins have been

expiated.”

(Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said :“The greatness of reward is accompanied

by the greatness of distress. If Allah, the Exalted, loves people, He afflicts them

with trials. One who is content with that (trial), all the consent is for him, and one who is annoyed with it, all the wrath is

for him.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhiyy)