44- Allah has mercy on the merciful

44- Allah has mercy on the merciful

The First Khutbah
All praise is due to Allah whose mercy encompasses everything. I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, the uniquely One who has no partners in His one-ness. The One who says: "Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy." And I testify that our Sayyid, our Prophet, Sayyiduna Muhammad, is the slave of Allah and His Messenger, sent as a mercy unto all the worlds, as Allah says: And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. So, O Allah, send Your peace and blessings upon him and upon whomsoever follows him in guidance until the Last Day.

To Continue: I advise you, O slaves of Allah and myself, with the Taqwa of Allah, for Allah says:
وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
And fear Allah that you may receive mercy. [Qur'an: 49:10]

O Believers, connected to this Mercy:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said:
جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الرَّحْمَةَ مِائَةَ جُزْءٍ، فَأَمْسَكَ عِنْدَهُ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ جُزْءًا، وَأَنْزَلَ فِي الْأَرْضِ جُزْءًا وَاحِدًا، فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ الْجُزْءِ يَتَرَاحَمُ الْخَلْقُ، حَتَّى تَرْفَعَ الْفَرَسُ حَافِرَهَا عَنْ وَلَدِهَا؛ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُ
Allah has divided Mercy into one hundred parts. He kept ninety-nine parts with Him and sent down one part to the earth. So, it is from this one single part that creation is merciful to each other, such that even the mare lifts up its hoofs away from its foal (baby horse), lest it should trample on it. [Bukhari and Muslim]

Allah is the Most-Merciful of the merciful. This attribute of mercy is one by which the believer has been characterized. It is this mercy by which the believers show filial piety to their parents, show love and affection to their children, and demonstrate love and companionship with their spouses.

This is the mercy by which bonds are built and strengthened with relatives, by which friendship is valued, by which guests and neighbors are honored, by which orphans are cared for, by which the elderly are served, by which those who have special needs are looked after.  

This is the mercy by which charity and aid is given to whomsoever is in need. Ultimately, it is this mercy which in its compassion, gentleness and care encompasses all of creation. All of this mercy was encompassed in our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

He was a living representative of the perfect embodiment of such mercy, sent as a gifted mercy, the Prophet of Mercy, so we can try and emulate him in this mercy, each of us to the degree we are able to.

As an example of this mercy, when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw a camel groaning and in pain, he was moved in his compassion for the camel and acting from the mercy he embodied, he placed his blessed hand and wiped the camel's head. It immediately stopped crying at the touch of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

O Allah, what would we do for such a blessed touch to comfort us in our times of pain? The Prophet then turned to the owner of the camel, wherein every owner of any animal and anyone who has responsibility for any living being should take heed and fear the words of the Prophet when he said:
أَفَلَا تَتَّقِي اللَّهَ فِي هَذِهِ الْبَهِيمَةِ؟
Do you not fear Allah concerning this animal in your possession? [Abu Dawud]

This simple query from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) clarified that gentleness and clemency whether it be to animals, or to any living thing (even insects), is from the manifestation of mercy we are tasked to embody in our following of the Prophet. People looking after animals should intend that their feeding and taking care of animals, giving them shelter, protecting them from harm, is all from emulation of this Prophetic mercy – so we should observe and see how much of this mercy is alive in our hearts.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said:
بَيْنَا رَجُلٌ بِطَرِيقٍ فَإِذَا كَلْبٌ يَلْهَثُ مِنَ الْعَطَشِ، فَنَزَلَ الْبِئْرَ، فَمَلَأَ خُفَّهُ مَاءً، فَسَقَى الْكَلْبَ، فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ، فَغَفَرَ لَهُ
While a man was walking on his way, he saw a dog which was panting out of thirst. So, he descended into the well, filled up his leather sock with water and quenched the thirst of the dog. Allah appreciated his action and forgave his sins [Bukhari and Muslim]

O Allah, make us from those who embody this mercy in creation, who strive to reflect this mercy to others so that we in turn may be encompassed by Your mercy. I say this and seek forgiveness for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness for He is the most-forgiving.

Second Khutbah
All praises are for Allah, the One, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions, and whomsoever follows them in the best of ways.

O People of Mercy: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said:
إِنَّمَا يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الرُّحَمَاءَ
Allah is merciful to those of His slaves who are merciful. [Bukhari and Muslim]

So, Allah manifests His special mercy on those who reflect mercy to His creation. These are the people whose very lives become encompassed through His gentle care and His mandated success. These are the people who enjoy the blessings of families full of affection and intimacy.

These are the people who become role models for their communities, who are the very glue through which successful, compassionate societies are built. In mirroring tolerance, coexistence, and love of others, they become an embodiment of compassion, acting as a bridge which can be traversed to an abode of peace and felicity, ultimately the path to God – the real everlasting peace that awaits those who answer the call of Mercy.

As Allah says:
ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ‌وَتَوَاصَوْا ‌بِالصَّبْرِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَةِ* أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْمَيْمَنَةِ
And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. Those are the companions of the right (Admitted into Paradise). [Qur'an: 90:17-18]

And with this we ask You Allah that You send Your prayers and blessings upon all of the Prophets and Messengers, and especially on the seal of them, our master, our Prophet, Sayyiduna Muhammad. O Allah send Your peace and blessings upon him, and upon his family, his companions, all of them.