In this article, the following six points will be discussed:
1) The three categories of the Prophet Muhammad's speeches
2) An example of Hadith Qudsi that gives you an idea about Allah's Mercy
3) The verse of the Noble Quran that supports this Hadith Qudsi
4) The difference of Allah's Mercy and man's mercy
5) Allah has decreed for Himself mercy as a bounty from Him
6) The Story of Abraham and his disbeliever guest when Allah blamed Him
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1) The three categories of the Prophet Muhammad's speeches:
It should be emphasized that the speeches said by the Prophet Muhammad have three categories; they are: 1) The Noble Quran, 2) Hadith Qudsi or Sacred Hadith and 3) Prophetic Hadith.
The Noble Quran is Allah's word which is revealed unto the Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel.
Hadith Qudsi is the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad as revealed to him by Allah. Hadith Qudsi (or Sacred Hadith) is so named because, unlike the majority of Hadith which are Prophetic Hadith, its authority is traced back not to the Prophet Muhammad but to the Almighty Creator.
The Prophetic Hadith is the saying of the Prophet Muhammad that he has said throughout his life and its authority is traced back to him.
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2) Herein, an example of Hadith Qudsi that gives an idea about Allah's Mercy.
In this Hadith Qudsi Allah says:
"O son of Adam, as long as you call upon Me and put your hope in Me, I have forgiven you for what you have done and I do not mind.
O son of Adam, if your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky and then you would seek My forgiveness, I would forgive you.
O son of Adam, if you were to come to Me with sins that are close to filling the earth and then you would meet Me without ascribing any partners with Me, I would certainly bring to you forgiveness close to filling it."
In this Hadith Qudsi, Allah gives hope to mankind more than any other narration.
It displays the feature and excellence of Allah's mercy.
Indeed, Allah is the Most Compassionate, and the Most Merciful.
In this Hadith Qudsi, Allah tells man of the greatness of His forgiveness and mercy so that no one would despair due to the amount of sins he may have committed.
Allah catches the attention of mankind by calling out, O son of Adam!
This is a call to every human being.
Why did not Allah say, O mankind or O People?
The significance of this specific call is because Adam was the first human being, who committed the first sin.
Adam was an example to all humans of the consequences of sin and how to turn to Allah for forgiveness of ones sins.
This gives hope that even after committing a violation, ones sins can be forgiven if one repents to Allah sincerely the same way that the father of mankind sinned, repented, and was forgiven by Allah.
This Hadith teaches us the importance of realizing Allah's mercy, having faith and hope in Him especially when calling to Allah alone for forgiveness, and the importance of repentance in the life and faith of a believer.
This Hadith Qudsi is supported by the following verse of the Holy Quran.
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3) The Noble Quran's verse that supports this Hadith Qudsi
Verse 39:53 says:
QARIB: say: 'O my worshipers, who have sinned excessively against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely, Allah forgives all sins. He is the Forgiver, the Most Merciful.
SHAKIR: say: O my servants! Who have acted extravagantly against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely Allah forgives the faults altogether; surely he is the Forgiving the Merciful
PICKTHAL: say: o my slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, who forgiveth all sins. lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
YUSUFALI: say: "o my servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for he is oft-forgiving, Most merciful.
The meaning of the verse:
Say O Muhammad
O my servants who have been prodigal to their own hurt through disbelief, idolatry, adultery, murder etc.
Do not despair of Allah's mercy
Do not despair of Allah's forgiveness,
Allah forgives all sins.
Lo! He is the Forgiving; He forgives those who repent of disbelief and believe in Allah.
Allah is the Most Merciful towards those who die repentant.
It is said that this verse is the most far reaching in conveying the compassion shown by Allah, Exalted is He, to His servants; because, in accordance with His knowledge, He does not deprive them of that which He bestows on others, rather He showers mercy upon them to the point that He admits them to the very quintessence of [His] kindness, by virtue of [His] eternal remembrance of them.
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4) The difference of Allah's Mercy and man's mercy
Verse 17:100 says:
QARIB: say: 'if you possessed the treasuries of my lord's mercy, you would hold them back for fear of spending and mankind is ever grudging!
SHAKIR: say: if you control the treasures of the mercy of my lord, then you would withhold (them) from fear of spending, and man is niggardly
PICKTHAL: say (unto them): if ye possessed the treasures of the mercy of my lord, ye would surely hold them back for fear of spending, for man was ever grudging.
YUSUFALI: say: "if ye had control of the treasures of the mercy of my lord, behold, ye would keep them back, for fear of spending them: for man is (every) niggardly!"
The meaning of the verse:
Say, to them O Muhammad:
‘If you possessed the treasuries of the mercy of my Lord, of provision and rain,
if you possessed the keys to the stores of the provision of my Lord, you would surely withhold them, you would stint, for fear of spending, fearing that they would be depleted if one spent from them and that you would then become impoverished; and man is ever niggardly’.
In other words, you would surely hold them back for fear of spending for fear of becoming poor, for man i.e. the disbelieving man (was ever grudging) parsimonious, stingy and tight-fisted.
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5) Allah has decreed for Himself mercy as a bounty from Him
Verse 6:12 says:
QARIB: say: 'to whom belongs that which is in the heavens and the earth?' say: 'to Allah. he has written for himself mercy, and will gather you on the day of resurrection in which there is no doubt. those who have lost their souls, they do not believe. '
SHAKIR: say: to whom belongs what is in the heavens and the earth? say: to Allah; he has ordained mercy on himself; most certainly he will gather you on the resurrection day-- there is no doubt about it. (as for) those who have lost their souls, they will not believe
PICKTHAL: say: unto whom belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth? say: unto Allah. he hath prescribed for himself mercy, that he may bring you all together to the day of resurrection whereof there is no doubt. those who ruin their souls will not believe.
YUSUFALI: say: "to whom belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth?" say: "to Allah. he hath inscribed for himself (the rule of) mercy. that he will gather you together for the day of judgment, there is no doubt whatever. it is they who have lost their own souls, that will not believe.
The meaning of the verse:
Say O Muhammad:
‘To whom belongs what is in the heavens and in the earth?’
Say: ‘unto Allah belongs the creation of the heavens and the earth, for even if they do not say this, there is no other response.
Allah has prescribed, He has decreed, for Himself mercy, as a bounty from Him; this is a gentle summoning of them to the faith. He will surely gather you together on the Day of Judgment of which there is no doubt, no uncertainty, in order to requite you for your deeds. Those who have forfeited their own souls subject by exposing them to the chastisement — they do not believe.
In other words, for the believers in deferring His punishment, that He may bring human beings all together to the Day of Judgment ; whereof there is no doubt. Those who ruin their own souls, as well as their dwellings, servants and spouses in Paradise will not believe in Muhammad and the Quran.
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6) The Story of Abraham and his disbeliever guest
Abraham, the great Prophet and the father of all Prophet was famous of Hospitality and Kindness. He used not to eat unless he has guest or guests sharing with him his food. One day, he has got a 60 years old guest. He was happy and told his family to prepare food for the guest. While waiting for food, Abraham asked the guest for his faith and religion. The guest was disbeliever with no faith.
Abraham was disappointed and said: Sorry my guest, there is no food for you.
The guest left and walked away.
The Angel Gabriel came to Abraham and said:
Allah is giving this man food for 60 years and you refused to give him one meal!
And the Angel Gabriel smiled and disappeared!
Abraham ran bare footed to catch his guest back.
Finally, he found him
Abraham said: come on please, the food is ready for you
The guest said: what happened with you?
Abraham said: My God blamed me because of you
The guest said: your God did that?
Abraham said: O yes!
The guest said: then your God is Great and Merciful
The guest continued: tell me about your God
Abraham said: please come home to eat and I will tell you.
And at home, Abraham told him and the guest said: I believe in your God.
Then Abraham prayed to Allah and the angel Gabriel came back to him.
Abraham said:
'O You Who is the most generous in pardoning!'
Then the angel Gabriel said to him:
'O Abraham! Do you know what the generosity of His pardon implies?'
Abraham answered: 'No, O Gabriel.'
The angel Gabriel said:
'It is that when He pardons a misdeed, He converts it into a good deed.'
