Humanity is facing perplexing times. With revolutionary advancements in technology and other arenas of human enterprise, the prospects for material well being, collective development and shared prosperity are brighter than ever before in our globalized world. And yet, paradoxically, what we witness today is that instead of coming together for the common good, the world is actually falling apart. Despite lofty rhetoric on rule-based international order, global governance is hostage to narrowly-defined economic interests of certain elite classes in richer nations. Economic affairs around the world are run in such a way that the rich is getting richer, and the poor is becoming poorer in most places. Indeed, it seems day by day, the world is inexorably heading towards an unsustainable imbalance, precipitating man-made, and other ecological, disasters of all kinds. Already, the growing inequality, characterized by islands of affluence and pervasive poverty, is creating emotional heartburns, leading to competition and conflicts over control of resources, tearing apart communities and nations. The widening disparity and simmering tensions can and will destroy public order if left unaddressed, and it calls for radical course correction in the way in which affairs of the world are being managed.
The Prophetic teachings work to refine the humans by making them mindful of the Divine expectations of a life lived in absolute certainty of personal responsibility and accountability for all our deeds. It seeks to cultivate within the believer the spirit of fairness, justice, kindness, compassion, benevolence and residual goodwill for all living beings who share the world with him/her. In seeking to obtain the approval of a Merciful Divine, a believer spreads kindness and compassion for all and would not cause harm or injury to anyone- fellow humans, the animals or the natural environment. In addition to insisting on justice and fairness in all settings of life, the Prophet of Islam taught people to develop beneficial solidarity across our differences- class, race, language, nation, etc.- in a spirit of goodness and equity, and thereby respect the Will of God reflecting through the magnificent diversity in His creations in this world.
Reproduced Below are some of the Qur'anic verses, and the sacred traditions and sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) that address the larger theme of Divine Mercy, and also extracts from the final sermon of the Holy Prophet (sa) on enduring values for a just society:
"Say: Unto whom belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth? Say: Unto God. He has prescribed for Himself mercy." (Surah al-An‘am, 6:13)
"Your Lord has prescribed for Himself mercy, that those of you who do evil through ignorance and repent afterward thereof and does right, (for him) lo! He is Forgiving, Compassionate." (Surah al-An‘am, 6:54)
"My mercy embraces all things, therefore I shall ordain it for those who ward off (evil) and pay the poor-due, and those who believe Our revelations." (Surah al-A‘raf, 7:156)
Lo! the mercy of God is nigh unto the virtuous. (Surah al-A‘raf, 7:56)
Announce, (O Muhammad) unto My slaves that verily I am the Forgiving, the Compassionate. (Surah al-Hijr, 15:49)
"Those who bear the Throne, and all who are round about it, hymn the praises of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who believe (saying): 'Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy and knowledge, therefore forgive those who repent and follow Your way. Ward off from them the punishment of hell.'" (Surah Ghafir, 40:7)
Prophetic Teachings on Divine Mercy
“God says, Great and Glorious is He, ‘My mercy outstrips my wrath.’” [~ Sahih Muslim].
“God is not merciful to one who is not merciful to people.” [~ Sahih al-Bukhari no. 7465, Kitab al-Tawhid; ~ Sahih Muslim no. 6170, Kitab al-Fada’il].
“He who is unkind to the young and disrespectful to the old is not one of us.” [~ Sunan al-Tirmidhi].
“The merciful are shown mercy by the Merciful. Be merciful to those on earth, and He who is in heaven will be merciful to you. Kinship ties are connecting branches from the Merciful. Whoever maintains them will be maintained by God, and whoever cuts them will be cut off by God.” [~ Sunan al-Tirmidhi].
“God made mercy one-hundred parts. He held back ninety-nine parts, and sent down one part to earth. It is from that part that creatures show mercy to each other, such that a mare will lift her hoof over her foal, fearing that she might harm him.” [~ Sahih al-Bukhari].
“If the believer knew the punishment of God, he would never feel assured of His Garden, and if the unbeliever knew the mercy of God, he would never despair of His Garden.” [~ Sahih Muslim].
Holy Prophet (sa) on Islamic Values:
Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O people, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah’s trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.
O people, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.
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 black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety (Taqwa) and good action.