Prophet Muhammad ﷺ – the Manifestation of Mercy
While his character has been described in detail by scholars such as Imam al-Tirmidhi and Qadi Iyad, I will focus on the mercy of the Prophet ﷺ and how we can embody and apply it in our own lives. The reason I’ve chosen the attribute of mercy is because it sums up the mission of our beloved prophet ﷺ who was mercy for all of creation.
روى الحاكم في المستدرك، عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ:
«إنما أنا رحمة مهداة».
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“I am only a gifted mercy.” (al-Hakim)
In the Quran
In the Quran, Allah describes His own mercy and the mercy He sends through His messengers. For instance, Allah says that He sent the messengers as a mercy from your Lord. So the messengers are a reflection of Allah’s mercy, and they embody it in their actions.
Indeed, We were to send [the Messengers]. As a mercy from your Lord. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (Surah al-Dukhan, 44:5–6)
In another well-known verse, Allah says that the Prophet ﷺ was sent as a mercy to all the worlds, not just humanity, but all of creation. And in another ayah, Allah says: “By the mercy of Allah, you were lenient with them.” This verse is very close to my heart. It gives us a glimpse into the inward reality of the Prophet ﷺ. We see his actions, but we cannot see his heart. Yet here, Allah is telling us what was in his heart: he was lenient, gentle, and merciful with his companions and with everyone around him, whether human, animal, or even the environment. He ﷺ was overflowing with mercy, distributing it in abundance.
Allah says, “If you had been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you.” This shows that his heart was soft, his actions gentle, and his words kind. That’s what made him so special ﷺ.
- Surah Al-Anbiya
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ
And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. (21:107)
- Surah Aal ‘Imran
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّۭا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنْفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely upon Him. (3:159)
- Surah At-Tawbah
لَقَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌۭ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you, and to the believers is kind and merciful. (9:128)
- Surah Ash-Shu‘ara
لَعَلَّكَ بَٰخِعٌۭ نَّفْسَكَ أَلَّا يَكُونُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ
Perhaps you would kill yourself [in grief] that they will not be believers. (26:3)
- Surah Al-Kahf
فَلَعَلَّكَ بَٰخِعٌۭ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا
Then perhaps you would kill yourself over them out of sorrow, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow. (18:6)
In the ayah, in which Allah says: “There has certainly come to you a messenger from among yourselves”, it shows us the great favour that the Prophet ﷺ was one of us. He was human, he understood and felt our emotions our concerns and our mentality. That alone is a huge blessing.
The soft heart
When Allah says: “Grievous to him is what you suffer” it is a window into his heart, something only Allah can show us. No one has access to the heart except Allah. And here, He is showing us the best heart He ever created, in the best human He ever created: Muhammad ﷺ, the master of humanity.
Allah is showing us that the Prophet ﷺ would feel pain when others suffered. His mercy was genuine, not a mask. A mask is something people wear during events, like elections, pretending to care about people’s issues. But once the event is over, they disappear. That’s fake. But the Prophet’s mercy ﷺ was very real. He never claimed it himself, Allah revealed it to us.
When he saw people suffering, he suffered. This is something very deep. True love can put you in this position. When you love someone deeply, their pain becomes your pain, and their joy becomes your joy.
I came across a great teacher recently (may Allah bless him), he still delivers talks despite having a sensitive throat. Sometimes he coughs while speaking, and it’s a heavy cough. He said he receives letters and comments from students, some he knows, many he’s never met, from all over the world. And they all say the same thing: “When you cough, we feel pain in our hearts.” He said, “Look at this. This is true love. I’ve never seen many of them, but I love them for Allah’s sake, and they love me for Allah’s sake. So, when I’m in pain, they’re in pain.”
I shared this story to reflect the meaning of the ayah: when you are in pain, the Prophet ﷺ is in pain. And similarly, when the Prophet ﷺ is in pain, the companions were in pain out of mutual love. Some might ask, “Is this real?” He’s 3,000 miles away, coughing, and you feel pain in your heart? Yes, you do experience this when you have true love.
Consolation
In many verses, Allah mentions the Prophet’s pain. For example, Allah says: “Do not harm yourself because they did not believe.” “Do not kill yourself over them because they did not listen.” He genuinely wanted them to believe, to save themselves from punishment, to be the best in their actions and beliefs. But many refused, and he was in pain. Allah consoled him in many verses of consolation, saying: “Calm down, don’t harm yourself because they did not believe,” and so on.
Thus Allah is telling us: he is in pain when you suffer. He is concerned for you. Towards the believers, he is kind and merciful. And these are, by the way, two of Allah’s names: Al-Ra’uf and Al-Rahim.
Al-Ra’uf is Allah. Al-Rahim is Allah. Allah described His Messenger ﷺ with these two attributes, kindness and mercy, because he is so special, the best of creation ﷺ. His mercy is a true reflection of the genuine feeling in his heart. Some people can fake it, but Allah is telling us here that this is real mercy, not a pretence.
Ease
We see the reflection of this mercy because he was sent as a mercy to humanity and to all beings around him ﷺ. He would constantly advise his companions: make things easy for people, do not make things difficult. Spread good news, not bad news. Encourage people towards Islam, do not drive them away. This was out of his mercy. He repeated this on many occasions, reminding them that this religion is easy. The core of this deen is ease, yusr in Arabic.
In the Quran, Allah says: “Allah wants ease for you.” And He sent Muhammad ﷺ to reflect this ease and mercy. The mercy we speak of is, first and foremost, a reflection of Allah’s mercy. The Prophet ﷺ was chosen and perfected by Allah to be a role model for all of us until the Day of Judgement.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, the religion is ease. No one overburdens himself in the religion except that it will overcome him. So be moderate, seek closeness, and receive glad tidings. And make use of the morning, the evening, and part of the night.” (Bukhari)
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Make things easy and do not make them difficult. Give glad tidings and do not drive people away.” (Bukhari & Muslim)
When the Prophet ﷺ told his companions to make things easy, it didn’t mean breaking all boundaries. Definitely not. It meant making things easy within the boundaries. Some people misinterpret this, either deliberately or out of ignorance. Allah knows what’s in their hearts. You see people doing all sorts of wrong and when questioned, they say, “Religion is easy. Don’t make it difficult. Don’t put up barriers.” But religion has limits. You can’t use the concept of ease to justify breaking those limits. We need to be clear on that.
Children
There are many hadith that show his mercy. For example, he said:
“He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our young and respect to our elders.” (Tirmdhi)
Again, this confirms that mercy is something to be practised, not just a concept. He ﷺ gave us direction on how to apply mercy, from the youngest to the oldest.
We see his mercy ﷺ with his grandchildren, Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn. He would play with them like a camel, they would ride on his back and he would say, “The best camel is your camel, and the best riders are you.” (Tabarani). He would sing and play with them ﷺ.
Once, a Bedouin came to the mosque and saw the Prophet ﷺ kissing Al-Hasan. The man said, “Do you kiss your children?” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “Yes. What can I do if Allah has removed mercy from your heart?” The man said, “I have ten children and I’ve never kissed any of them.” So the Prophet ﷺ responded, “What can I do if you have no mercy in your heart?” (Bukhari and Muslim). This shows that mercy can be expressed in a kind word, a kiss, or gentle actions with your children.
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ used to carry his granddaughter, Umamah bint Zaynab, during prayer. And when he bowed, he would place her gently on the floor in front of him. When he stood again, he would pick her up. (Abu Dawoud). This is mercy.
Another occasion, reported by Bukhari and Muslim, while leading prayer in the mosque, he ﷺ heard a baby crying. He shortened his recitation because of the stress the mother was likely feeling. Out of mercy, he did not prolong the salah and leave the baby crying. He said afterwards, “I did not want to make things difficult for my ummah.” He explained why he shortened the recitation to teach others what to do in similar situations.
Contrast this with one of our imams today. People were praying in a park – elders, youngsters, babies, everyone. The crowd was huge. Yet, he delivered the khutbah for one hour and twenty minutes. That’s not right.
The Prophet ﷺ never prolonged his khutbahs unnecessarily, mindful of elders, mothers, and children who could not sit for long. This was part of his mercy, considering people’s situations and not burdening them. Five to fifteen minutes was enough.
Once, as reported in Bukhari, a baby was brought to him in the mosque, as was common for people seeking his blessing or duʿaʾ. He placed the baby on his lap, and the baby urinated on him. Calmly, he asked for water and sprinkled it over his garment without a frown, or sign of anger. Imagine if someone else were in his place; there might have been shouting or scolding. But his mercy was in action.
When he received news that his grandchild had passed away, he attended the funeral and wept. Seeing his tears, Saʿd ibn ʿUbadah asked, “What is this, O Messenger of Allah?” as if surprised that a man would cry. The Prophet ﷺ replied, “This is mercy from Allah in the hearts of His servants. Allah is merciful only to those who show mercy.” (Bukhari). In doing so, he corrected the misconception that men should never cry. Crying with dignity does not diminish manhood; it reflects compassion in the heart.
Women
His mercy towards women was constant. Many times, even in his final moments, he repeated, “Be kind to women.” This was because women in that society had suffered injustice – in inheritance, marriage, divorce, and daily dealings. He likened them to delicate glass, urging care and gentleness.
He said:
“Whoever takes care of daughters and treats them well, they will be a shield for him from the Fire.” (Bukhari)
He commanded:
“Treat women kindly, for they are like captives under your care. You have no right over them beyond this, unless they commit clear indecency.” (Tirmidhi)
In practice, he showed gentleness with his family:
He knelt by his camel, allowing Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her) to step on his knee to mount. (Bukhari)
He would rise to welcome his daughter Fatimah, kiss her hand, and seat her in his place. (Abu Dawoud and Tirmidhi)
Orphans, servants and the vulnerable
For orphans, he ﷺ promised, “The one who cares for an orphan will be with me in Paradise like this,” and he joined his index and middle fingers. (Tirmidhi). He urged justice, kindness, and protection for them, warning against oppression or unfair treatment.
He reminded the people that servants are their brothers, saying:
“Feed them from what you eat, clothe them as you clothe yourself, and do not burden them beyond their capacity. If you must, then help them.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
He also showed mercy to the weak in the community, such as servants. He ﷺ said,
“Your servants are your brothers. Allah has placed them under your care. Feed them from what you eat, clothe them as you clothe yourself, and do not burden them beyond their capacity. If you do, then help them.” (Bukhari)
He even instructed that if a servant brings you food, let them share in it, for they prepared it for you saying:
“If a servant brings your food, invite him to eat, or give him some of it, for he endured its preparation and heat.” (Muslim and Ibn Majah)
“The one who strives to support a widow or a poor person is like one who fights in the cause of Allah, or one who fasts by day and prays by night.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
He declared:
“Seek out the weak, for you are given provision and victory through the weak among you.” (Abu Dawoud)
Daily life
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ exhibited mercy not only in grand gestures but in the quiet, every day moments of his life. One such instance was with a young Jewish boy who used to serve him. When the boy fell gravely ill, the Prophet ﷺ went to visit him, sat by his head, and gently invited him to embrace Islam. The boy looked to his father for guidance, who said, “Obey Abu al-Qasim.” The boy accepted Islam and passed away shortly thereafter. The Prophet ﷺ left his home saying:
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي أَنْقَذَهُ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ
“All praise is for Allah who saved him through me from the Fire.” (Bukhari)
This moment reveals the Prophet’s ﷺ deep concern for the soul of every individual, extending mercy even in the final breaths of life. His da‘wah was never forceful, but always tender and sincere.
Another striking example is the incident of the Bedouin who urinated in the mosque. The companions, shocked by the act, rushed to stop him. But the Prophet ﷺ intervened with calm and wisdom, saying:
دَعُوهُ، وَصُبُّوا عَلَى بَوْلِهِ سَجْلًا مِنْ مَاءٍ، فَإِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُمْ مُيَسِّرِينَ، وَلَمْ تُبْعَثُوا مُعَسِّرِينَ
“Leave him. Pour water over it. You have been sent to make things easy, not to make them difficult.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
His response was both practical and merciful, reminding his followers that their mission was to ease burdens, not to intensify them.
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) served him for ten years as a young boy, recalled:
مَا قَالَ لِي أُفٍّ قَطُّ، وَلَا قَالَ لِي لِشَيْءٍ فَعَلْتُهُ: لِمَ فَعَلْتَهُ؟ وَلَا لِشَيْءٍ لَمْ أَفْعَلْهُ: أَلَا فَعَلْتَ كَذَا
“He never said to me ‘uff’ (a word of annoyance), nor did he ever say ‘Why did you do that?’ or ‘Why didn’t you do that?’” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Such restraint and gentleness in speech, especially with those in service, reflect a character his mercy and patience.
Even in matters of food, the Prophet ﷺ showed kindness. He would never eat alone, always inviting others to share whatever was available, even if it was just dates or a small bowl of milk. This habit was not about abundance, but about inclusion and generosity.
Elders
Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our young and respect to our elders.” (Tirmidhi)
Animals
Even animals were recipients of his mercy. Once, in a garden, a camel approached him crying. He ﷺ asked its owner to fear Allah and treat it well, explaining that it complained of hunger and being overworked.
“Fear Allah regarding these animals which Allah has placed in your care, for it has complained to me that you starve and overwork it.” (Abu Dawud and Ahmad)
By Allah’s will, the Prophet ﷺ understood the camel’s distress, one of his miracles, and instructed the owner to feed it and not overburden it.
Once, he noticed a bird visibly distressed because someone had taken its chicks. He asked:
مَنْ فَجَعَ هَذِهِ بِوَلَدِهَا؟ رُدُّوا وَلَدَهَا إِلَيْهَا
“Who has distressed this bird by taking its chicks? Return them to her.” (Sunan Abi Dawud)
He also said:
“Allah has prescribed excellence in all things. If you kill, do so well. If you slaughter, do so well. Let each of you sharpen his blade and spare suffering to the animal.” (Muslim)
The Weeping Trunk
Another remarkable event from the life of the Prophet ﷺ took place in Madinah. In the early days, he used to stand on the trunk of a date-palm tree to deliver his khutbah to the congregation. One day, a carpenter came to him and said, “O Messenger of Allah, shall I make a minbar (pulpit) for you?” The Prophet ﷺ agreed, and the carpenter built and installed it in the mosque.
When the Prophet ﷺ stood on the new minbar for the first time, leaving the tree trunk, the companions suddenly heard a loud weeping sound coming from the trunk. The Prophet ﷺ interrupted his khutbah, descended from the minbar, and embraced the trunk. Only then did it stop crying. He said, “If I had not embraced it, you would have heard its crying until the Day of Judgment.” (Ahmad). Out of his mercy, he comforted even an inanimate object. Later, he instructed the companions to bury the trunk, and to this day in his mosque there is a marked pillar known as “the crying pillar,” indicating where it was buried.
Enemies
His mercy extended even to his enemies. One beautiful example, recorded in Sahih Muslim, is the story of Thumāmah ibn Uthāl. Thumāmah, a non-Muslim at the time, was captured during one of the battles and brought to the mosque, where he was tied to a pillar for three days. Each day, the Prophet ﷺ would ask him, “What do you have to say, O Thumāmah?” He would reply, “If you release me, I will be grateful. If you punish me, I deserve it. And if you want ransom, I can give you whatever you ask,” for he was from a wealthy tribe.
On the third day, the Prophet ﷺ said to his companions, “Release him.” Thumāmah left, went to a nearby place, performed ghusl (ritual washing), and returned to the mosque. Sitting before the Prophet ﷺ, he declared his shahādah, saying, “By Allah, O Muhammad, there was no face on earth more hated to me than yours, but now it is the most beloved. I wanted to say this from the first day, but I did not want people to think I accepted Islam just to be freed. I wanted to do it because I truly believe.”
The Prophet ﷺ, in his wisdom and mercy, had left Thumāmah in the mosque so he could witness the Muslims’ prayer, hear the Qur’an, observe their manners, and feel the tranquility that descended upon them. This softened his heart until he could not resist the truth and embraced Islam sincerely.
Leadership
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ demonstrated mercy not only in personal interactions but also in moments of immense power and influence. One of the most striking examples is the Conquest of Makkah. After enduring years of persecution, exile, and warfare, he entered the city not with vengeance, but with humility, his head bowed low upon his camel. Facing those who had once sought to destroy him, he declared:
ٱذْهَبُوا فَأَنْتُمُ ٱلطُّلَقَاءُ
“Go, for you are free.” (Ibn Hisham)
This act of forgiveness, extended to his former enemies, reshaped the moral landscape of leadership. It was not triumph through domination, but through mercy and reconciliation.
His vision for the Ummah was equally infused with compassion. He once described his relationship with his followers in a vivid metaphor:
إِنَّ مَثَلِي وَمَثَلَ أُمَّتِي كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ أَوْقَدَ نَارًا، فَجَعَلَتِ الدَّوَابُّ وَالْفَرَاشُ يَقَعْنَ فِيهَا، وَأَنَا آخِذٌ بِحُجَزِكُمْ، وَأَنْتُمْ تَفَلَّتُونَ مِنْ يَدِي
“My example and the example of my Ummah is like a man who kindled a fire; moths and insects begin to fall into it, and I am holding you back from it, but you are slipping from my hand.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
This shows the Prophet’s ﷺ tireless effort to protect his people from harm, even when they resisted. True mercy, in his example, is not passive; it is active, persistent, and deeply caring.
In leadership, the prophetic standard is clear: lead with compassion, not harshness. He said:
اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ وَلِيَ مِنْ أَمْرِ أُمَّتِي شَيْئًا فَشَقَّ عَلَيْهِمْ فَاشْقُقْ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَنْ وَلِيَ مِنْ أَمْرِ أُمَّتِي شَيْئًا فَرَفَقَ بِهِمْ فَارْفُقْ بِهِ
“O Allah, whoever takes charge over the affairs of my Ummah and is harsh with them, be harsh with him; and whoever is gentle with them, be gentle with him.” (Muslim)
This principle urges those in positions of authority to embody mercy in every decision and interaction.
How can we embody this mercy ourselves?
The reason I shared and refreshed these events with you, many of which you already know, is to remind us that mercy is not just a story we admire, but a quality we must live.
The prophetic model of mercy is not confined to history, it offers guidance for our lives today. In family life, we are reminded to be patient and gentle with our children, just as the Prophet ﷺ was with Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), never scolding or expressing annoyance over a decade of service.
In our communities, we are called to show respect and dignity to all people, even those who oppose us. The Prophet’s ﷺ response to the Quraysh, who had oppressed him and his followers for a decade, including their inflicting them with a siege, was graciously forgiven.
Spiritually, we are encouraged to pray for the guidance of others, not against them. The Prophet ﷺ never cursed his enemies, but instead asked Allah to guide them, knowing that mercy could transform hearts.
1. Mercy begins in the heart
A pure heart, connected to Allah ﷻ is the source of true mercy. If you don’t have it, you can’t give it. As in the story of the Bedouin who said, “I have ten children and I have never kissed any of them,” the Prophet ﷺ replied, “What can I do for you if Allah has removed mercy from your heart?” Genuine mercy flows naturally from a pure heart; fake mercy is easily detected. People can sense when kindness is real and when it is just for show.
When the heart is pure and connected to Allah, mercy will appear in our words, our actions, and our dealings. And when we show mercy to others, Allah increases His mercy upon us, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah is merciful to those who are merciful to others.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
2. Mercy can be learned
It is possible to cultivate mercy. We do this by learning more about the life of the Prophet ﷺ and striving to emulate his example. The more we know, the more we can act upon that knowledge – respecting elders, being gentle with children, protecting the vulnerable, caring for orphans, honouring women, and showing kindness to all of creation.
Keep this list in mind, so that when you encounter any of these groups, you remember: I must be extra careful, for my Prophet ﷺ commanded mercy towards them.
3. Make mercy part of your duʿa
The Prophet ﷺ would make duʿaʾ for his Ummah, even in sujud: “My Lord, my Ummah… my Ummah…” until Jibril came to reassure him that Allah would not forsake his Ummah. (Muslim). His mercy was not limited to his family or companions, it extended to every believer until the Day of Judgment.
4. Live mercy in daily life
In our speech, our plans, our business, our treatment of animals, our respect for human rights, and our care for the weak, mercy should be visible. By doing so, we revive the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, earn reward from Allah, and make our own lives and communities better.
It is important to note that mercy is not just sentimentality or unchecked emotion that overrides justice, it is to express love and kindness while upholding all rights and justice with wisdom and compassion.
If we can carry even a fraction of the mercy of the Messenger ﷺ into our own conduct, we will not only honour his legacy but also draw closer to the mercy of Allah ﷻ in this world and the next.
We should send as much salawat (darood) on the Prophet as possible. In addition to the usual salawat ibrahimi we send in our salah, there is the beautiful salawat, which is connected to the praise of Allah in the well known dua:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِكَ، وَرِضَا نَفْسِكَ، وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِكَ، وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِكَ.
O Allah, send mercy, peace, and blessings upon our master Muhammad and his family, equal to the number of Your creation, equal to Your own good pleasure, equal to the weight of Your Throne, and equal to the ink of Your words.
Allāhumma ṣalli wa sallim wa bārik ʿalā Sayyidinā Muḥammadin wa ālihi ʿadada khalqika, wa riḍā nafsika, wa zinata ʿarshika, wa midāda kalimātika.
Based on the talk delivered by Shaykh Haytham Tamim on 2nd September 2025, 10th Rabbi al Awwal.