Love, Compassion and Forgiveness in Islaam

Love, Compassion and Forgiveness in Islaam
Allah s.w.t. is FAIR and JUST and Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. is a MERCY to humankind.

Assalaamu alaikum.

It is sad to note that, most of the time and with most non-Muslims, love and compassion do not come to mind when they hear or think of Islam. Non-Muslims, and perhaps some Muslims too, do not associate Islam with love and compassion.

Hence the following two articles fill in a much needed void, more so when one seldom hears Islamic speakers touch upon this theme and also when one rarely comes across any discourse, book or article on this neglected theme. (Of course, besides mere words and rhetoric, we in the Ummah also have to display love and compassion by our deeds, action and everyday living).

A speaker who speaks about this theme and the need for Muslims to be compassionate and kind, and also consider 'Love and Compassion' to be a part of Islamic teachings, is Sheikh Yassir Fazaaga. And he speaks with a lot of love, passion and humility. MashaAllah.
Yassir Fazaaga <yassirf@hotmail.com>

JazakAllah, Sheikh Hamadi Al-Aslani, for your well-written (MashaAllah) and much needed article on this theme.

'Love according to Islam'
Sheikh Hamadi Al-Aslani <alaslani@yahoo.com>
http://www.jdci.org/articles.asp (46th article)
http://www.rememberallah.com/articles.asp (46th article)

Please consider the following points that you may wish to add (if you consider them to be relevant, appropriate, suitable & beneficial):

Love, Compassion and Forgiveness in Islaam
Allah s.w.t. is FAIR and JUST and Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. is a MERCY to humankind.

1. Seeking forgiveness from those whom we have wronged and hurt.
Better to do it with humility, sincerity and of your own volition and willingness while you are alive and the person you have hurt is alive, rather than regretting it after the other person has died, or that you are asked about that wrong or hurt by Allah s.w.t. on the day of judgment. (why do some folks have to wait till they on the death-bed, to gather all around them and seek forgiveness? does everyone get such a chance?)

2. Forgiving the person who may have hurt you or wronged you even if he/she may not approach you seeking your pardon.
For "O Lord, please forgive them for they know not what they do" and "Let him who hath not sinneth cast the first stone". For you it’s a win-win situation. They have hurt you. And you forgive them with a tender heart. A good way to please Allah s.w.t.Each one has his own paradigm and perception that he is sincere and doing the "right thing" and wanting to please Allah s.w.t. And in that we do tend to err. Many do not hurt/wrong the other willingly in a wicked, diabolical manner. It is that in their minds and in their perception, what they are doing is 'right'. And from your perspective it is 'hurtful and wrong'.

Now "it takes two to tango, and Satan takes the mango".
3. If we believe that it is Satan who is our avowed enemy (and not the person whom we feel has hurt and wronged us), let's be charitable, forgive, ease our hearts and move on ... and defeat Satan's plotting and whispers.

4. A very common and painful sight is to see men in masaajids in India speaking roughly and rudely to the little ones, asking them to move aside or behind in the congregation, instead of gently and lovingly holding them and welcoming them to Salaah by Jamaat. Will such a child want to come back to the masjid to be humiliated ... or rather go the reverend padre and/or the atheist/rationalist who speaks to him with love?

5. Unless we have Love, Compassion, Empathy, Care and Concern for each other how do we expect to get over 'grudges', petty squabbles and "be not divided amongst" ourselves? And how do we truly expect to touch the hearts and minds of others to whom we wish to do Da'wah or Islaah, unless we have Love, Compassion, Empathy, Care and Concern for that person? And because of us Muslims, does anyone in the world including Muslims think of Love and Compassion the moment Islam and Muslims come to mind?

6. Love, respect and compassion for all humans
Allah s.w.t. has given all humans the free will to choose their beliefs. While we do not agree with any belief, religion and way of life other than Islam, we Muslims respect this right and freedom to believe and to choose one’s faith and beliefs. Islam teaches respect for fellow humans and their lives, property and honour. InshaAllah we shall not violate these even though we may have different beliefs.

7. Love and compassion for animals, plants and the earth’s environment and ecology:
Islam also teaches us to be kind to animals and to protect the flora and fauna, plant life and vegetation. Islam does not permit hunting for sports or “macho / manliness” or as an adventure sport. Islam only permits consumption of certain species by humans.

Let's not allow what is not in our control, to prevent us from doing what is in our control. InshaAllah.

Contemplate:
Allah s.w.t. is FAIR and JUST and the Prophet p.b.u.h. is a MERCY to humankind.

This write-up needs to be polished. And appropriate references have to be added from the Glorious Qur'an, the Saheeh Hadeeth and the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).

JazakAllah & wassalaam, and of course, love.

Obaidullah NewJoy
new_joy@hotmail.com
No Copyrights
This theme is important. The contributor is not.



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