Kindness

By Sheikh ‘Alee bin Abdur-Rahman Al-Hudhayfee
Imam of Masjid An Nabawi – Madinah Al Munawwarah

Fellow Muslims! The greatest goal of Islam is to extend kindness to self and kindness to the creatures. It is this goal that determines the position of one before Allah in this world and the Hereafter. It is also this kindness that determines man’s position among his fellow human beings. All obligatory and forbidden things are based on this kindness. Allah has made it obligatory in all His legislations.

The Messenger of Allah said, “Allah has ordained kindness on everything. When you kill (an animal) kill (it) kindly and when you slaughter (an animal), slaughter (it) kindly. Let anyone of you sharpen his knife and let him give rest to his slaughtered animal.”

The Prophet’s statement, “Allah ordained kindness on everything” has two meanings:

One: That Allah has ordained perfection on every obligatory duty and that a Muslim should do it in the best perfect form; that he should endeavour to do as much supererogatory aspects of it as he can and that he should refrain from all aspects of forbidden things. Allah says, “Leave (O Humankind, all kinds of) sin, open and secret.” (Al-An’ am 6:120)

Performing obligatory acts in the perfect form and refraining from forbidden things are the greatest acts of doing kindness to oneself. The greatest act of kindness to oneself is to actualise the belief in the Oneness of Allah by worshipping Him alone without associating any partner to Him. Other things follow this great fundamental.

Two : Every one is commanded to be kind to all creatures. Rasulullah SAW gives an absolute and general command about kindness when He says “the neighbour who is near is the Muslim neighbour who is a relative and the neighbour who is a stranger is the one who is an unbeliever. The Prophet said, “Neighbours are three:

1. A neighbour who has only one right. That neighbour has the least right.
2. A neighbour who has two rights.
3. A neighbour who has three rights. This is the neighbour who has most rights.

The neighbour who has only one right is a neighbour who is an unbeliever and who is not a relative. He should enjoy the right of neighbourliness. The neighbour who has two rights is the Muslim neighbour who has the right of brotherhood in Islam and the right of neighbourliness. The neighbour who has three rights is the one who is Muslim and is a relative. This neighbour has the right of Islamic brotherhood, the right of neighbourliness and the right of blood relation.” (Al-Bazzaar and others)

Some scholars interpreted the ‘companion by the side’ as the wife while some interpreted it to be travel companion. It can also be interpreted, with a greater reason, as the companion at home. Among the greatest act of kindness to the people is to treat them according to the teachings of Islam. This include being truthful with them, respecting them, being patient with them, saying kind words to them and treating them the way one will like to be treated. Allah says, “ O you who believe! Fulfil (your) obligations.” (Al-Ma’idah 5:1) Allah also says, “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” (At-Taubah 9:119)

Sayyadina ‘Uqbah bin ‘Aamir RA narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “O ‘Uqbah! Shall I not tell you of the best of the conduct of this world and the Hereafter? It is to join the tie of kinship with one who severs it, to give him who deprives you and to forgive him who does wrong to you.” (Ahmad and Al-Haakim)

The Messenger of Allah also said, “There is nothing in the scale (of good deeds) that is heavier than good conduct. The one who has good conduct can achieve, through his good conduct, the position of one who performs (voluntary) fasting and prayers.” (Ahmad and others)

The Messenger of Allah also said, “I have seen a man moving about in Paradise simply as a result of a harmful tree which he removed from people’s way.” (Muslim)

Dear brethren! Be kind to yourselves and others in the light of the acts of worship, which Allah enjoined on you. Allah says, “And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious; those who spend (in Allah’s Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves the good-doers.” (Aal ‘Imran 3:133-134)

Brethren in faith! Fear Allah as He should be feared and prepare for the horrors of the Day of Judgement. For this world will soon come to an end and the Hereafter is near with its everlasting bliss or painful punishment. The Messenger of Allah said, “While a man was walking on a road. He became very thirsty. Then he came across a well, got down into it, drank (of its water) and then came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. The man said to himself “This dog is suffering from the same state of thirst as I did.” So he went down the well (again) and filled his shoe (with water) and held it in his mouth and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for that deed and forgave him.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Apostle! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?” He said, “(Yes) There is a reward for serving any animate (living being).” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet also said, “Any man who grows a tree or plants a plant and then a bird or a human being eats from it, it will be counted as charity in his credit.”

Dear brethren! Fear Allah and always be kind to yourselves by carrying out righteous deeds and refraining from forbidden things. Also be kind to your fellow creatures, that your Lord may let you enter the Honourable Abode and ward away from you a painful punishment.