Four hundred million.
That is really huge number, so big in fact that it is hard to imagine that this is the amount of words that the average person speaks in their entire life. Now multiply that number with the amount of people that have ever lived and we will end up with a truly breathtaking amount.
The spoken word has been used to influence others, get something done, to learn or teach, change the world, and sometimes just because it makes us feel better. Almost all of the words that were ever uttered are now lost, but only a few precious gems continue to remain with us.
The literary jewels uttered by the Prophet of Mercy, Muhammad are amongst the timeless, unforgotten words that continue to resonate. They have the ability to move us deep inside. They have the potential to evoke hope, love, justice, compassion, kindness, self-reflection, courage and social change. Significantly, they can inspire a new purpose in our lives.
This booklet is a compilation of authentic words of mercy, from the Prophet of Mercy, Muhammad.
Mercy and Compassion
"The Merciful One shows mercy to those who are themselves merciful [to others]. So show mercy to whatever is on Earth, then He who is in heaven will show mercy to you."
"God is compassionate and loves compassion."
"He is not of us who has no compassion for our little ones and does not honour our old ones."
"May God have mercy on a man who is kind when he buys, when he sells, and when he makes a demand."
Contentment and Spirituality
"Richness is not having many possessions. Rather, true richness is the richness of the soul."
"Indeed, God does not look towards your bodies nor towards your appearances. But, He looks towards your hearts and your deeds."
"Do not talk too much without remembrance of God. Indeed, excessive talking without remembrance of God hardens the heart. And indeed the furthest of people from God are the harsh-hearted."
"Be mindful of God, you will find Him before you. Get to know God in prosperity and He will know you in adversity. Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you; and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship."
"Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, establishing the prayer, paying the obligatory charity, making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadan."
Love
"By the one who has my soul in His hand, you will not enter the Garden until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I point out to you something, which will make you love one another if you do it? Make the greeting of peace be widespread among you."
"The servant of God does not reach the reality of faith until he loves for the people what he loves for himself of goodness."
"Love for the people what you love for yourself and you will be a believer. Behave well with your neighbours and you will be a Muslim."
"None of you has faith until he loves for the people what he loves for himself."
"When a man loves his brother he should tell him that he loves him."
"Love for humanity what you love for yourself."
"The best deed after belief in God is benevolent love towards people."
Community and Peace
"To feed others, and to greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know."
"He who makes peace between the people by inventing good information or saying good things is not a liar."
"He who does not thank people, does not thank God."
"He whose neighbour is not safe from his mischief [does not truly believe]."
"All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over a white, except by piety and good action."
"The believer is not he who eats his fill while his neighbour is hungry."
"The best charity is to reconcile people."
Charity and Humanitarianism
"God said: 'Spend [i.e. on charity], O son of Adam, and I shall spend on you.'"
"Charity does not diminish wealth."
"Visit the sick, feed the hungry and free the captives."
"Make things easy, and do not make them difficult, and give good tidings and do not make people run away."
"Give the labourer his wages before his sweat dries."
"Every act of goodness is charity."
Character and Manners
"The believers who show the most perfect faith are those who have the best character, and the best of you are those who are best to their wives."
"[God] has revealed to me that you should adopt humility so that no one oppresses another."
"He who truly believes in God and the last Day should speak good or keep silent."
"The best among you is he who has the best manners."
"Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales."
"The strong man is not the one who is strong in wrestling, but the one who controls himself in anger."
Environment and Animals
"If the Hour [the day of Resurrection] is about to be established and one of you is holding a palm shoot, let him take advantage of even one second before the Hour is established to plant it."
"If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift (sadaqah) for him."
"Removing harmful things from the road is an act of charity."
"There is a reward for serving any living being."
"Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger than that without a just cause, God will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment."
"A prostitute saw a dog lolling around a well on a hot day and hanging his tongue from thirst. She drew some water for it in her shoe, so God forgave her."