Mercy is one of the attributes of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Almighty. It is from the mercy of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) that calamities and trials expiate one’s sins, and a believer is rewarded for showing patience through these calamities. Another aspect that manifests the mercy of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) is that He conceals our sins and faults in this life and forgives them in the Aakhirah (Hereafter).
The vastness of the mercy of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) is quite evident. One of the Names of Allah is, the Most Merciful and the ever Merciful. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) created mercy in one hundred parts, but only sent down one part amongst mankind and kept the rest for the pious slaves in the Aakhirah. Hadhrat Abu Hurairah reported that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said: “Allah has divided mercy into one hundred parts; and He retained with Him ninety-nine parts, and sent down to earth one part. Through this one part creatures deal with one another with compassion, so much so that an animal lifts its hoof over its young lest it should hurt it”. (Bukhari and Muslim)
In another narration, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said: “Allah created one hundred units of mercy on the Day He created the heavens and the earth. Each one of them can contain all that is between the heaven and the earth. Of them, he put one on earth, through which a mother has compassion for her children and animals and birds have compassion for one another. On the Day of Qiyaamah (Resurrection), He will perfect and complete His mercy”. (That is He will use all the hundred units of mercy for his slaves on that Day).”
Moreover, Hadhrat Abu Hurairah reported that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said: “Were an infidel to know the mercy Allah has, none would despair of His Jannah (Paradise).” (Muslim)
The mercy of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) far exceeds that of the mother for her child. Hadhrat `Umar ibn Al-Khattaab reported that some prisoners were brought to Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) amongst whom there was a woman who was running (searching for her child). Whenever she saw a child among the captives, she took hold of it, pressed it against her belly and breastfed it. The Messenger, Hadhrat Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said: ‘Do you think this woman would ever throw her child into fire?”
We said: “By Allah! She would never throw the child into fire.”
Thereupon Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) said: “Allah is more kind to his slave than this woman is to her child.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah reported that he heard Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) saying: “When Allah created the creatures, He wrote in the Book, which is with Him over His Throne: `Verily, My Mercy prevailed over My Wrath’.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
This is the mercy that the believer’s soul resorts to after death, as Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) indicated to his Sahaabah (Companions).
Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) extends His mercy to his disobedient slaves whenever they repent and turn to Him for forgiveness. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) bestows on him His mercy and forgives their sins and conceals them for him. Hadhrat Ibne ‘Abbas reported that once a group of the disbelievers came to Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) who had killed many people and committed adultery excessively. They said: “What you are saying and calling people to is a good thing, but is there a way to expiate for what we have committed in the past?”
Then the following Aayah (Verse) was revealed (which means):
وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَدۡعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقۡتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِي حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا يَزۡنُونَۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٰلِكَ يَلۡقَ أَثَامٗا (68) يُضَٰعَفۡ لَهُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ وَيَخۡلُدۡ فِيهِۦ مُهَانًا (69) إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلٗا صَٰلِحٗا فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّهُ سَئَِّاتِهِمۡ حَسَنَٰتٖۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورٗا رَّحِيمٗا (70)
“- and those who do not invoke any other god along with Allah, and do not kill a person whom Allah has given sanctity, except rightfully, nor do they fornicate; and whoever does it, shall face the recompense of his sin, the punishment will be doubled for him, and he will remain there disdained, forever, except the one who repents and believes and does good deeds, then Allah will replace the evils of such people by good deeds, and Allah is Most- Forgiving, Very-Merciful.” (al-Furqaan 25:68-70)
No one can limit this vast mercy of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), the Almighty, nor prevent it from reaching the people. With His mercy, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) guides people, forgives their sins, accepts their good deeds and overlooks their wrongdoings.