The Prophet as a Mercy to All Worlds: His Moral Conduct and Compassion for Unbelievers - Part 1

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam

22 January 2024

Despite facing attacks in Taif, the Prophet displayed his mercy and good treatment towards non-believers

The Almighty Allah sent the Prophet Muhammad as a mercy to all worlds. His arrival illuminated the world, brought Islam to the masses, and blessed those who were in the dark. All of creation—humans, Jinns, animals, and plants—benefited from the Prophet’s mercy. Allah says in the Quran:

“And We have not sent you but as a mercy for all the worlds.” (Al-Ambiya: 107)

One questions if the Prophet showed his mercy to those who refused to accept him as the messenger of God. Abdullah bin Abbas answered this question in the explanation of the verse above.

He says: Mercy has been predestined for those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, both in this life and the Hereafter. He [the Prophet] is a mercy in this world to those who do not believe in Allah and His Messenger (i.e., those who remain unbelievers), as they were not subjected to the divine torment that the earlier nations endured—that of being buried beneath the earth and hit by falling stones. (Quoted in Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 5/387)

In this series, I will showcase some instances of the Prophet's mercy, forgiveness, and compassion for non-Muslims.

Despite facing attacks in Taif, the Prophet displayed his mercy and good treatment towards non-believers

In the tenth year of prophethood in Islamic tradition, known as the Year of Sorrow or Aam al-Huzn, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) walked fifty miles to Ta'if, a city in the high mountains southeast of Makkah, to invite its people to Islam. The year of sorrow was marked by the deaths of Prophet Muhammad's uncle Abu Talib and his wife Khadijah. Despite the milder temperatures and an abundance of greenery, the journey to Ta'if was challenging, even if the region was lovely with fruits, and veggies.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) accompanied Zayd ibn Harithah on his travel to Taif. He first met with the local authorities in the city after arriving. He delivered his word to the three brothers who served as the Thakif tribe's chiefs. He then extended an invitation to Islam to them. They each replied in the most caustic manner possible after declining the invitation. The Prophet (peace be upon him), while grieved by their words, did not give up or lose hope. It is reported that following this meeting, he called the people of Ta'if to Islam and stayed there for about a week.

This incident shows that despite being assailed by unbelievers in Taif, the Prophet treated them with kindness and mercy. He called them towards Islam, but nobody answered in Ta'if. However, some were prepared to answer his invitation and embrace Islam as his tour drew to an end. The Ta'if leaders were furious to hear this news. They dispatched a group of youths to assault and stone the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Sadly, the attack was successful. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Zayd bin Haritha were driven from the city by the mob. The stones thrown at them wounded the Prophet and his companion Zayd bin Haritha, leaving their feet covered in blood. After what had transpired, they were traumatised and walked for almost eight kilometres. After arriving in a garden with trees outside of Ta'if, they took a seat to recuperate from their shock. That was the location of Prophet Muhammad's well-known prayer to Allah.

The Prophet noticed a cloud blocking his view of the sky when he raised his head. Jibrail, the angel, was present, and called him, saying, "Allah has heard what the people said and responded to you. Allah has sent the angel of the mountains to you so that you might give him the commands to do with these people as you please." The angel of the mountains greeted him and shouted out to him, saying, "O Muhammad (peace be upon him)! You can place any kind of order! I can let Al-Akhshabain, which consists of Abu Qubais and Qu'aeiqia'an, two mountains on either side of Makkah, fall upon them if that is what you would like. In response, the Prophet (SAWS) said, "I pray to Allah that they will have children who will worship Him Alone, and will worship none besides him.” (Sahih Bukhari: 3231)

Regarding the disobedient and rude people of Taif, the Prophet (peace be upon him) responded to the angel of the mountains with a great degree of kindness, mercy, compassion, sympathy, and patience. It was because the All-Powerful Allah sent him as a mercy to all worlds. Had the prophet (peace be upon him) permitted the angels to execute his plan and permit the mountains to collapse upon the disbelieving people of Taif, they would have been crushed and annihilated.

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Kaniz Fatma is a regular columnist for New Age Islam.

 

URL:     https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/prophet-mercy-compassion-unbelievers-part-1/d/131565

   

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