The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) o­nce kissed Al-Hasan Ibn ‘Alee (i.e. his grandson) while Al-Aqra' Ibn Haabis was in his presence. So Al-Aqra' said to him: "You kiss your children. I swear by Allaah, I have ten children and I never kissed any o­ne of them!" So the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "He who doesn't show mercy (to others) will not be shown mercy (by Allaah)."

Verily, mercy - in our religion - encompasses this world and the hereafter, as well as mankind, animals, birds, and the surrounding habitats.

Allaah says: "And My mercy encompasses everything."

Allaah has described Himself with mercy and He has also described His Prophets and righteous servants with it. Allaah says: "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and those who are with him are severe against the disbelievers and merciful to o­ne another."

Allaah has made his sending forth of the Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) as a mercy to all of creation, as He says: "And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy to the worlds."

The word "worlds" (‘aalameen) is general and thus includes the world of the humans, the world of the jinn, the world of the animals and the world of the birds, as well as the nations found o­n land and the nations found in sea.

And indeed Allaah has commanded that mercy be applied to every thing and in every action. So even when you slaughter you sacrificial animal, you show mercy to it by saying "Bismillaah" and by sharpening your sword (so that it will be a quick and painless death). The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Verily Allaah has prescribed Ihsaan (goodness) for everything. So when you slaughter, then slaughter in a good manner, and when you kill (in war), then kill in a good manner. And let each of you sharpen his blade and let him spare the animal he slaughters from suffering."

And Allaah indeed forgave o­ne prostitute from the Jews who showed mercy to a dog that was dying from thirst. She filled her shoe with water and then taking hold of the dog's mouth, she gave it the water to drink. So Allaah was thankful to her for what she did and forgave her sins.

And o­nce our Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) saw o­ne of his Companions grab the baby of a lark, and it began screeching over the heads of the Companions. So he (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Who bereaved this (lark) of her child? Return her children back to her!"

The more weak and poor a human being is, the more required we are of showing mercy to him. And being gentle with him is what is most incumbent. This is why our Lord has forbidden us from oppressing the orphan. Allaah says: "Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression. And do not repel the beggar."

The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "The person that looks after and supports the widow and the needy o­ne is like the mujaahid (one who makes Jihaad) in the Cause of Allaah."

And he (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) would rub the head of the orphan and say: "I and the guardian of an orphan will be like this in Paradise - and he sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam gestured with his index and middle finger."

Indeed he (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) commanded us to take care of the children and the women and the elders. Thus, in his last words to his Companions and his nation, he said: "The prayer and what your right hands possess." "Take good care of the women (i.e. wives)." And he (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "The best of you is the best to his wives. And I am the best amongst you with my wives."

Mercy is something innate, which Allaah has placed into the hearts of (all) His creatures, even the lions - the most dangerous of them - for they are merciful to their children. Yet Allaah is more merciful to His creation than a mother is to her child. That is why o­n the day that He created mercy, He created o­ne hundred parts to it. And He left ninety-nine parts with Him, by which He will show mercy to His servants o­n the Day of Judgement, and sent down o­ne single part of mercy to earth, which humans and animals share amongst themselves.

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) has condemned the person that is void of any mercy and who doesn't attain a large amount of it. This is why he (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) condemned the o­ne who breaks family ties. He (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Kinship is connected to the Throne (‘Arsh). It says: ‘Whoever severs me, then break (away from) him. And whoever maintains me, then keep connected to him."

And in o­ne narration: "Verily, the kinship will be connected to the Throne of the Most Merciful o­n the Day of Judgement. It will say: ‘This is the place for the o­ne who sought refuge in You from the severing (of family ties).' So Allaah will say to it: ‘Will it please you that I connect those who maintained you and that I cut off those who severed you?' And it will say: ‘I will be pleased (with that), my Lord.'"

And he (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) condemned the oppressive leaders who do not show mercy to their people, by saying: "The worst leaders are the cruel oppressive o­nes (al-hutamah)."

And Allaah has named Himself Ar-Rahmaan and Ar-Raheem, so he is the Most Merciful of this world and the Hereafter (i.e. Ar-Rahmaan) and the bestower and giver of mercy (i.e. Raheem). This is why He has commanded it in every place and in every situation. The Muslim begins his action by saying Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem so that Allaah can bless him in his action. So every action that is void of mercy, then there is no blessing in it, nor any good. And the servants of Allaah showing mercy towards o­ne another is a cause for Allaah sending His mercy down o­n them.

The Prophet (saws) said: "The Most Merciful shows mercy to those who have mercy o­n others. Show mercy to those o­n earth, and the o­ne above the heaven will show mercy to you."

O Allaah, have mercy o­n us above the earth and below the earth and o­n the Day when our deeds will be presented to us. And cause us to be merciful to o­ne another just as the Companions of Your Prophet (saws) were. And have mercy o­n our dead o­nes and put those who have mercy from amongst Your servants in charge over us O Rahmaan O Raheem!