Indeed, the Prophet was true to the words he himself used to advise others with when he would say, “Allah will show mercy to those who show mercy to others. Show mercy to those on earth, and the One Who is in Heaven will show mercy to you.”

Looking further into the life of this noble man, we see how he used to also defend and stand up for his brothers amongst the Prophets and Messengers who were sent by God before him. While the some of the ignorant people amongst the Children of Israel were describing Jesus with the ugliest and most demeaning words imaginable, Muhammad was teaching humanity:

"And Remember when the angels said: O Mary! Truly Allah gives you glad tidings of a Word from Himself whose name will be the Christ, Jesus the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and in the Hereafter and of those nearest to Allah." [3:45]

While these same people were accusing the Virgin Mary of adultery, Muhammad was teaching the people:

"And Mary, the daughter of `Imran, who guarded her chastity. And We breathed into her of our spirit and she testified to the truth of the words and scriptures of her Lord and was one of the devout servants." [66:12]

And even now do we still find people bent on attacking the Prophets, yet now they focus their insults on the persona of the Prophet Muhammad by calling him a murderer and butcher. Yet it was this same man, Muhammad, who taught his followers the following words of Allah from the Quran:

"Whoever kills another soul for any reason except as a punishment for murder or spreading corruption in the land, it is as if he has killed all of humanity." [5: 32]

He taught humanity mercy and justice, even during war, though he came at a time when the world was steeped in barbarism. There were no treaties, accords, or international laws back then to regulate battle. He was sent by God with laws of justice that were to be applied during all times - both in peace and in war. He prohibited abuse during war as well as mutilation, and he forbade the killing of women, children and innocent people as well as the destruction of property and trees in times of war.

His Mercy with Children, Orphans, Widows, and the Sick

It is authentically narrated in Islamic scriptures that the Prophet Muhammad said, “I start the prayers, intending to lengthen them. I then hear a child crying so I make them shorter, knowing that a mother will be distressed by her child’s cries.”

He also treated all children with love, mercy and gentleness It was mentioned his wife Aishah that the Prophet Muhammad kissed his grandsons on the forehead once while a villager was present. So the villager said with surprise, “I have ten children. I have never kissed any of them!” Prophet Muhammad looked at him and said, “He who does not have mercy will not have mercy upon him.”

Another example of his mercy was his weeping on the death of his son Ibrahim. When the Prophet entered his son’s room while he was dying, his eyes immediately flooded with tears. Then one of his companions said, ‘Even you, O’ Messenger of Allah?’ Then he said ‘It is but mercy.’ He continued (crying) some more and then said, “The eyes weep, the heart is full of grief, yet we say nothing except that which pleases our Lord. Indeed, we are deeply saddened by your departure O! Ibrahim.”

On another occasion, the Prophet was handed his daughter’s son who was dying, and again his eyes filled with tears. His companion Sa`d then told him, “What is this, Prophet of God?” He said, “This is a mercy that the Almighty has made in the hearts of His servants. And surely God has mercy to the merciful ones among His servants.”

From his mercy is that he was never too proud to walk along with a widow or with a poor person and fulfill their needs. He used to visit weak and sick Muslims, as well as non-Muslims, and attend their funerals. He used to treat orphans with the greatest reverence and with extreme kindness. And he used to go even further by advising people to sponsor orphans and treat them with excellence stating, “I and the sponsor of an orphan will be together in Paradise.”

His Mercy with Animals

The Prophet Muhammad’s mercy also extended to animals as he used to advise his followers to treat them with mercy and not abuse them. He used to forbid his companions from hurting them, tiring them, overburdening them with heavy loads for long periods, torturing them, or pushing them beyond their limits, for all of that is mistreatment and abuse of God’s gifts.

For example, the Prophet Muhammad warned against any human being distressing a bird about her little chicks. Once, someone took two chicks of a bird, and when the bird returned to her nest and didn’t find her babies she became distressed. The Prophet Muhammad at that point asked, “Who has distressed this bird by taking its chicks?” Then he asked the responsible person to return the chicks to their mother.

Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad called for mercy and perfection in the slaughter of animals for meat. He once saw a person preparing a lamb for slaughter by laying it down while he was still sharpening the knife in front of the animal. The Prophet Muhammad then exclaimed with displeasure, “Do you want to kill it twice? Sharpen your knife before you lay it down!”

Other Examples of his Mercy:

Story of Anas - I served the Prophet for 10 years but never did he say to me a word of annoyance nor did he ever blame me by asking me why did you do this or why didn’t you do this.

Rushing to the Jewish boy before his death to bring him salvation even though he was mistreated often by the boy’s family.

Inquiring about the health and wellbeing of his Jewish neighbor when on one day he discovered that she had not put out any obstacles in his path, and her subsequent acceptance of Islam.

Although he could have severely punished these people for seeking to harm him, he was always kind and tolerant of not only their different faith, but their attempts to annoy him and make difficulties for him. Whenever people sought to harm him or abuse him, the Prophet Muhammad bore it with patience and frequently prayed to Allah for their guidance. Yet when that harm extended to others on a grander scale he was quick to put a complete and resolute stop to it, yet always in a way filled with mercy, justice and gentleness.

Quran teaches Muslims not to ridicule or insult their gods (other faiths) and how even when he was tortured he didn’t do this or allow others to do so. Commend American media and Bush for their restraint and standing up to state that the disrespectful and derogatory depiction of respected religious figures (thus insulting their followers) is something that democratic people should guard against.

The Prophet’s Mercy with His Community

His wife Aishah said, “Never was the Prophet left to make a choice between two matters but he would prefer the easier among them.” God almighty describes Muhammad’s pity, kindness, and mercy to all the creatures:

Now comes to you a Messenger from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should suffer: he is so anxious over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful. [9:128]

In another part of the Quran, Allah comments on the gentle and tolerant attitude of the Prophet when He says,

 “And by the Mercy of Allah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so pass over (their faults), and ask (Allah's) Forgiveness for them; and consult them in the affairs.” [3:159]
           
Compassion is a sign of humility. It also removes arrogance. Compassion means doing good to all, assisting the needy and being kind to the relatives and near of kin. It also entails showing sympathy for the weak, the sick, the disabled and the orphans by making attending to their needs and by making them smile and be happy. Compassion also entails helping the oppressed and containing corrupt people, for their own good and the good of society as a whole. Compassion means feeling concerned about the affairs of fellow humans, sharing their pains and aspirations and coming to their aid when they need it.

The Prophet Muhammad said, “The example of me and you is like that of a man who kindled a fire. Grasshoppers and butterflies start falling into the fire and the man continued protecting them against it. I am holding you back from falling into the fire and you are slipping out of my grip.” (Bukhârî and Muslim)

He is not one of us who shows no compassion to our young ones and does not respect or honor for our elders. (tirmithi, abu dawud)

Yet it may be, if they believe not in this Message, that you O’ Muhammad will torment your soul with grief over their denial. [18:6]

Saved last prayer for his community on the Day of judgment

Conclusion

By the time the Prophet died at the age of 63, ten years after the Hijrah, the greater part of Arabia had accepted Islam. Within a century of his death, Islam had spread as far west as Spain and as far east as China. It was clear that the message was not limited to Arabs; it was for the whole of humanity. Although Muhammad is deeply loved, revered and emulated by Muslims as Allah’s final Messenger, he is not an object of worship.

For more information please check out the website and book … Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources by Martin Lings