Kindness and Compassion
Why is mercy so central to Islamic character?
Discover how the Prophet's teaching connects receiving mercy with showing it, why gentleness is loved by God, and how compassion extends to children, strangers and every living creature.
Why it matters
Kindness is easy to admire and harder to practise when we are tired, busy, or dealing with someone difficult. Islamic teaching places compassion at the centre of faith, not at its edges.
The Qur'an describes the Prophet's mission as 'a mercy to the worlds' (21:107). This lesson explores what that means for the people who follow him.
The teaching
Mercy received, mercy shown
The Prophet taught: 'He who is not merciful to others, will not be treated mercifully' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6013). Another narration puts it positively: 'The merciful are shown mercy by Ar-Rahman. Be merciful on the earth, and you will be shown mercy from Who is above the heavens' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1924, graded hasan by Darussalam).
Mercy here is not only a feeling. It is a way of acting: noticing suffering and responding to it.
Tenderness is not weakness
When the Prophet kissed his grandson al-Hasan, a man remarked that he had ten children and had never kissed any of them. The Prophet replied: 'Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully' (Sahih al-Bukhari 5997).
In a culture that sometimes saw tenderness as unmanly, the Prophet modelled open affection, especially towards children.
Gentleness in all things
The Prophet told his wife 'A'isha: 'verily Allah is kind and He loves kindness and confers upon kindness which he does not confer upon severity' (Sahih Muslim 2593).
The Qur'an says of the Prophet himself: 'by mercy from Allah, you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you' (3:159). Gentleness is presented as the reason people were drawn to him.
A community bound by compassion
The Prophet compared believers in their mutual mercy and kindness to one body: when one part is unwell, the whole body shares the fever and sleeplessness (Sahih al-Bukhari 6011). The Qur'an describes the righteous as those who 'advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion' (90:17).
Compassion, in this teaching, also extends to animals: the lesson on stewardship tells of a man forgiven for giving water to a thirsty dog.
From the Qur'an
Each passage shows the Arabic text, an attributed English translation, and our explanatory note, kept visually separate.
Arabic text
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَٰكَ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةٗ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ107
Translation · Saheeh International
107And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
The Prophet's mission is described as mercy for all the worlds, not only for one group.
Arabic text
فَبِمَا رَحۡمَةٖ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمۡۖ وَلَوۡ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلۡقَلۡبِ لَٱنفَضُّواْ مِنۡ حَوۡلِكَۖ فَٱعۡفُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ وَشَاوِرۡهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمۡتَ فَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلِينَ159
Translation · Saheeh International
159So 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]
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
Gentleness, forgiveness and consultation are presented as the qualities that drew people to the Prophet.
Arabic text
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡمَرۡحَمَةِ17
Translation · Saheeh International
17And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
Encouraging one another to compassion is part of the 'steep path' of righteousness described in this surah.
From the hadith
Hadith are reports of the Prophet Muhammad's words and actions. Each one below shows its collection, reference number and grading, with the authority that graded it.
Narrated Jarir bin `Abdullah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who is not merciful to others, will not be treated mercifully.
Why it matters here
Mercy shown and mercy received are linked.
Source, grading and translation details
- Collection
- Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6013 (Book 78, Hadith 44)
- Numbering
- Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd al-Baqi numbering, as used on sunnah.com
- Grade
- Sahih: Included in Sahih al-Bukhari, a collection accepted as authentic (sahih) by Sunni hadith scholarship
- Translation
- Muhammad Muhsin Khan (English translation as published on sunnah.com)
- Checked
- sunnah.com English dataset (offline copy in the `hadith` npm package v1.3.0): wording, number, in-book reference and grade, on 2026-10-09
Abdullah bin 'Amr narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:
"The merciful are shown mercy by Ar-Rahman. Be merciful on the earth, and you will be shown mercy from Who is above the heavens. The womb is named after Ar-Rahman, so whoever connects it, Allah connects him, and whoever severs it, Allah severs him."
Why it matters here
Be merciful to those on earth, and you will be shown mercy.
Source, grading and translation details
- Collection
- Jami` at-Tirmidhi, no. 1924 (Book 27, Hadith 30)
- Numbering
- Ahmad Shakir / 'Abd al-Baqi numbering, as used on sunnah.com
- Grade
- Hasan: Darussalam
- Translation
- Darussalam English edition, as published on sunnah.com
- Checked
- sunnah.com English dataset (offline copy in the `hadith` npm package v1.3.0): wording, number, in-book reference and grade, on 2026-10-09
- Editorial note
- 'The womb' (ar-rahim) refers to ties of kinship; the word shares its root with ar-Rahman, the Most Merciful.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) kissed Al-Hasan bin `Ali while Al-Aqra' bin H`Abis at-Tamim was sitting beside him. Al-Aqra said, "I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them," Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) cast a look at him and said, "Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully."
Why it matters here
The Prophet's open affection for children.
Source, grading and translation details
- Collection
- Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 5997 (Book 78, Hadith 28)
- Numbering
- Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd al-Baqi numbering, as used on sunnah.com
- Grade
- Sahih: Included in Sahih al-Bukhari, a collection accepted as authentic (sahih) by Sunni hadith scholarship
- Translation
- Muhammad Muhsin Khan (English translation as published on sunnah.com)
- Checked
- sunnah.com English dataset (offline copy in the `hadith` npm package v1.3.0): wording, number, in-book reference and grade, on 2026-10-09
'A'isha, the wife of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:
'A'isha, verily Allah is kind and He loves kindness and confers upon kindness which he does not confer upon severity and does not confer upon anything else besides it (kindness).
Why it matters here
God loves gentleness and gives through it what harshness cannot achieve.
Source, grading and translation details
- Collection
- Sahih Muslim, no. 2593 (Book 45, Hadith 99)
- Numbering
- Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd al-Baqi numbering, as used on sunnah.com
- Grade
- Sahih: Included in Sahih Muslim, a collection accepted as authentic (sahih) by Sunni hadith scholarship
- Translation
- Abdul Hamid Siddiqui (English translation as published on sunnah.com)
- Checked
- sunnah.com English dataset (offline copy in the `hadith` npm package v1.3.0): wording, number, in-book reference and grade, on 2026-10-09
Narrated An-Nu`man bin Bashir:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it."
Why it matters here
Believers are like one body in their compassion for one another.
Source, grading and translation details
- Collection
- Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 6011 (Book 78, Hadith 42)
- Numbering
- Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd al-Baqi numbering, as used on sunnah.com
- Grade
- Sahih: Included in Sahih al-Bukhari, a collection accepted as authentic (sahih) by Sunni hadith scholarship
- Translation
- Muhammad Muhsin Khan (English translation as published on sunnah.com)
- Checked
- sunnah.com English dataset (offline copy in the `hadith` npm package v1.3.0): wording, number, in-book reference and grade, on 2026-10-09
Context and key terms
Arabic terms in this lesson (3)
Rahmah
رحمة
Mercy; compassion
Compassion that seeks the good of others. Two names of God at the opening of the Qur'an, ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim, come from the same root.
Ihsan
إحسان
Excellence; doing good beautifully
Going beyond the minimum: doing things well, with care and kindness, as though conscious that God sees you.
Hilm
حلم
Forbearance; calm self-control
The ability to stay composed and gentle when provoked, choosing a measured response over an angry one.
Rahmah and the womb
In Arabic, rahmah (mercy) shares its root with rahim (womb). Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1924 draws on this connection: the womb is 'named after Ar-Rahman', and keeping ties of kinship is linked to God's mercy.
Compassion and firmness
Compassion does not mean approving of wrongdoing or never saying no. The Prophet could be firm when justice required it. Islamic teaching asks that even firmness be delivered without cruelty.
Everyday example
Illustrative story (fictional)
The comment section
Tariq runs a small community page online. When a newcomer posted a clumsy question about Islam, several members replied sarcastically.
Tariq deleted nothing, but replied warmly, answered the question, and posted a gentle reminder of the hadith on gentleness. The newcomer thanked him privately and later became one of the page's most helpful members.
Gentleness often achieves what harshness never can, online and offline.
Activity
Scenario challenge
The struggling classmate
A classmate keeps asking you for help with coursework. You are busy and suspect they are not trying very hard. Today they ask again, looking stressed.
What would you do?
Knowledge check
Answer each question to see an explanation. You can retry as many times as you like; nothing is graded.
Reflection
Try it in practice
The gentle response
- 1Before replying to a message that irritates you, rewrite your reply once to make it gentler.
- 2Offer one unprompted kindness each day this week.
- 3Notice one creature or person who is struggling, and respond.
This is also available as an optional daily practice: Help someone.
Sources and further reading
Primary sources cited
- Qur'an 21:107 (Surah Al-Anbya). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Qur'an 3:159 (Surah Ali 'Imran). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Qur'an 90:17 (Surah Al-Balad). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6013, graded Sahih (Sahih collection). Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
- Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1924, graded Hasan (Darussalam). Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5997, graded Sahih (Sahih collection). Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
- Sahih Muslim 2593, graded Sahih (Sahih collection). Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6011, graded Sahih (Sahih collection). Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
Further reading
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Good Manners (Adab) (opens in a new tab) · Sunnah.com
Many hadith on mercy and kindness.
- Qur'an 3:159 in context (opens in a new tab) · Quran.com
The verse on the Prophet's gentleness.
This lesson is educational and is not a fatwa (religious ruling). For personal religious questions, please consult a qualified scholar you trust. How we source and review lessons.
Report an error or ask for clarification (opens GitHub in a new tab)Finished this lesson?
Mark it as complete to track your progress on this device.