Islam the Religion of Mercy

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) once kissed Al-Hasan bin 'Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him while Al-Aqra' bin Haabis was in his presence. So Al-Aqra'  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him 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  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "He who does not show mercy (to others) will not be shown mercy (by Allaah)."
Verily, in Islam, mercy encompasses this world and the Hereafter, as well as humankind, animals, birds and the surrounding habitats. Allaah Says (what means): "And My mercy encompasses every thing." [Quran 7:156]
Allaah has ascribed Mercy to Himself and He has also described His Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, and righteous servants as being endowed with it. Allaah Says (what means): "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah and those who are with him are severe against the disbelievers and merciful to one another." [Quran 48:29]

Allaah has made his sending forth of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) as a mercy to all of creation, as He Says (what means): "And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy to the worlds." [Quran 21:107] The word "worlds" ('Aalameen) is general and includes the world of the humans, the world of the Jinn, the world of the animals, the world of the birds, as well as the nations found on land and in the sea.

Allaah has commanded that mercy be applied to every thing and in every action. Thus, even when you slaughter a sacrificial animal, you show mercy to it by saying ‘Bismillaah’ (In the name of Allaah) and by sharpening your knife (so that it will be a quick and painless death). The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) 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."
It is reported that Allaah forgave a prostitute from the children of Israel 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. Allaah appreciated what she did and forgave her sins.

Once our Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) saw that one of his Companions, may Allaah  be pleased with him, grabbed the chick of a lark, and it began screeching over the heads of the Companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them. So he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) 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 we are required to show mercy to him and be gentle with him. This is why our Lord has forbidden us from oppressing the orphan. Allaah Says (what means): "Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression. And do not repel the beggar."  [Quran 93: 9-10]

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) 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."  He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) would rub the head of the orphans and say: "I and the guardian of an orphan will be like this in Paradise - and he gestured with his index and middle finger."
Indeed the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) commanded us to take care of the children, women and the elders. Thus, in his last words to his Companions  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  them and his nation he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "The prayer and what your right hands possess." "Take good care of the women (i.e. wives)."  And he 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 His creatures, even the lions -- the most ferocious of beasts -- are merciful to their children. Yet Allaah is more merciful to His creation than a mother is to her child. It is reported that on the day that Allaah created mercy, He created one hundred parts to it. He left ninety-nine parts with Him, by which He will show mercy to His servants on the Day of Judgment and sent down one single part of mercy to earth, which humans and animals share amongst themselves.

The Messenger of Allaah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) has condemned the person that is void of any mercy, and he condemned the one who breaks family ties. He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Kinship is connected to the Throne ('Arsh). It says: 'Whoever severs me, then Allaah will break (away from) him. And whoever maintains me, then Allaah will keep connected to him."

In another narration he  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: 
"Verily, the kinship will be connected to the Throne of the Most Merciful on the Day of Judgment. 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.'"
The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) condemned the oppressive leaders who do not show mercy to their people, by saying: "The worst leaders are al-Hutamah."

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. Ar-Raheem). This is why He has commanded it in every place and in every situation. A Muslim begins his action by saying ‘Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem’  (in the name of Allaah, Most Merciful, the Giver of Mercy) so that Allaah can bless him in his action. Every action that is void of mercy has no blessing in it, nor any good. If the servants of Allaah show mercy towards one another, this is a cause for Allaah sending His mercy down on them.

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) 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  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) were. And have mercy on our dead ones and put those who have mercy from amongst Your servants in charge over us, O Most Merciful!