Bismellah.....
as we know being mercy to others is from the softeness of the heart...
The Prophet(sas) had a very soft heart. He treated people gently. His
wives(ra) said that they could not recall an incident where he(sas)
scolded them harshly or hit them. He(sas) was known for his
gentleness.
Allah confirmed that this quality is an essential quality. Allah Says
(what means): "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]." [Qur'an 3:159]
This was the quality of the Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention,
and this is the characteristic that all those who seek to guide
others to Allah must have. As it was essential for the Prophets, it
is essential for us. It is essential for those who seek knowledge. It
is essential for parents, with regard to their children. It is
essential for all people.
Softness of the heart is something that we cannot spend too much time
on.
With regards to children, Al-Aqra' Ibn Haabis(ra) visited the Prophet
(sas) and saw him kissing his grandson, Al-Hassan. Al-Aqra'(ra)
said, "I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them."
The Prophet(sas) said to him: "Whoever is not merciful will not be
treated mercifully." [Al-Bukhari]
As for Al-`Aqra'(ra) this was a point of pride, manhood - that one is
not soft, that one is tough.
So it is essential that parents show mercy to their children. If we
look at a home where a father is kind and merciful with his children,
we find a home that is full of happiness and joy. Mercy is something
that we cannot live without.
The reality for those seeking knowledge - as it is compulsory for us
to seek knowledge of the Religion - is that if there is not, along
with that knowledge, a soft heart, then we cannot taste the sweetness
of that knowledge. As Al-Hassan Al-Basri had said: "If a man seeks
knowledge, it will appear in his face, hands and tongue and in his
humility to Allah."
The opposite is true - that nothing corrupts knowledge and Da'wah
(calling people to Islam) more than the harshness of the heart. Where
hearts have become hardened, the knowledge is of no benefit to the
individual, nor can that individual benefit others with it. Softness
of the heart is the characteristic of true Muslims. If it becomes
absent, then a person's life is filled with distress and discomfort.
This is the promise of Allah. Those who lack hearts that are soft
will lead woeful lives. As Allah Says (what means):"…Then woe to
those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah..."
[Qur'an 39: 22]
They are in obvious misguidance. Woe to those who hear the Qur'an and
their hearts do not become fearful and humbled as a result of it. Woe
to those whose eyes are reminded of the Words of Allah, but they do
not weep in fear of Him. Woe to those who are reminded of the
Warnings of Allah and they do not humble themselves to His Words.
It is a curse to have a hardened heart and it is a blessing to have a
soft heart. Those with hardened hearts suffer in this life, even
though they may have all of the trappings of this life. What seems to
be an enjoyable life is empty - it is filled with loneliness. They
cannot find peace of mind and of heart because their hearts are
hardened to Allah … to belief in Allah, to submission to Allah.
That is why Allah Says (what means): "And whoever turns away from My
remembrance -- indeed, he will have a depressed (difficult) life…"
[Qur'an 20: 124]
And (what means): "Those who have believed, and whose hearts are
assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably by the
remembrance of Allah are hearts assured." [Qur'an 13: 28]
What is most beneficial in this life is a soft heart. We should
strive to achieve it because everything else would be meaningless and
useless if we do not have softened hearts. How do we achieve this?
It is not a secret. It is not something known only to a few, handed
down in special sessions and gatherings. As the Prophet, sallallsahu
alayhi wa sallam, said: "I have left you on a clear white plain,
whose night is like its day (i.e. clear). Anyone who deviates from it
is destroyed." [Ahmad, Al-Haakim and Ibn Maajah] The way of the
Prophet(sas) clarifies for us how to achieve a soft heart.
writer: Anas