Today, the entire globe and especially certain parts of the world are at a critical point that is more dangerous than ever. Destruction of the power balance, chaotic situations and utter confusion at any moment seem to be inescapable. Communities and diverse groups within communities live with endless anger and hatred, pursuing plans of murder and complete destruction that were previously considered impossible.
Nations and all the diverse groups within nations wish to get rid of the people or groups that are seen to be the 'other,' as if the 'other' were merely poultry affected by the bird flu pandemic and thus deserve extermination. Full of ill-will, such people are always making malicious complaints and churning up the latest scenarios of hostility.
Having dropped the concept of ‘love’ even from their vocabulary, individuals raised in such a world are not aware of love, and hatred is their most vivid idea. As such, they can never feel enough of it. They never become tired of rancor and cannot overcome their feelings of anger. Never even attempting to manage their rage, they incessantly run after wickedness; one evil deed after the other, under the influence of these evil thoughts, and they try to make what is wrong seem right.
Committing so much wickedness, a person like this could squeeze the lifelong malevolence of the tyrants of former times into a couple of years; even into several months. He is paralyzed in terms of faculties, disabled in terms of reasoning, and so lost that he can neither think in a healthy way nor behave normally. He is also not consistent. Bursting into anger, he sometimes destroys and reduces everything around him to ashes, and sometimes he is even in unrelenting rage and fury to the point that he eats out his own heart.
This is the case with individuals, societies, and those holding power in many parts of the world today. Many of them seem as if they have been waging war against peace and security; indeed, they not only blow up their own state of peace but also disturb that of the public. Worse still, they turn to the use of force and violence, when to the onlooker it might seem as if they are fighting for freedom and liberty.
Nations and all the diverse groups within nations wish to get rid of the people or groups that are seen to be the 'other,' as if the 'other' were merely poultry affected by the bird flu pandemic and thus deserve extermination. Full of ill-will, such people are always making malicious complaints and churning up the latest scenarios of hostility.
Having dropped the concept of ‘love’ even from their vocabulary, individuals raised in such a world are not aware of love, and hatred is their most vivid idea. As such, they can never feel enough of it. They never become tired of rancor and cannot overcome their feelings of anger. Never even attempting to manage their rage, they incessantly run after wickedness; one evil deed after the other, under the influence of these evil thoughts, and they try to make what is wrong seem right.
Committing so much wickedness, a person like this could squeeze the lifelong malevolence of the tyrants of former times into a couple of years; even into several months. He is paralyzed in terms of faculties, disabled in terms of reasoning, and so lost that he can neither think in a healthy way nor behave normally. He is also not consistent. Bursting into anger, he sometimes destroys and reduces everything around him to ashes, and sometimes he is even in unrelenting rage and fury to the point that he eats out his own heart.
This is the case with individuals, societies, and those holding power in many parts of the world today. Many of them seem as if they have been waging war against peace and security; indeed, they not only blow up their own state of peace but also disturb that of the public. Worse still, they turn to the use of force and violence, when to the onlooker it might seem as if they are fighting for freedom and liberty.
The Healing Touch of Compassion
Compassion has turned away evil instigations countless times up to the present; it has saved humanity from dipping into the depths of destruction. So many times it has turned chasms, which look like pits of hell, into gardens of paradise.
Compassion, which can be defined as loving and caring for others without expecting anything in return, helping the oppressed and the wronged, and treating them with great kindness and sincerity, is a manifestation of Divine attributes, heavenly breath, and a term describing the warmth of all mothers.
Those fortunate ones who have compassion in their hearts always offer their help to those in need of mercy with no expectation of any return. They try their best to reach out to the miserable and the wretched, sympathize with their suffering and loneliness, and become a source of comfort for them. This feeling of compassion becomes sight for those who are spiritually blind and hearing for the deaf and insensitive, causing them all to recognize what they need above all.
Even those tyrants roaring with anger may become spellbound by the force of the silent proclamation of compassion and start questioning themselves, even if it is only for a moment. Pointing to compassion as one of the distinguishing characteristics of being a believer, Allah’s Messenger ( peace and blessings be upon him), said, "He is not of us who does not show mercy to the young, nor honor the elderly." (Authenticated by al-Albani)
Compassion has such a great power that it softens the hearts of those who have no pity; the obstinate come to heel by it, and even the worst feeling of ill-will surrenders to compassion. If there is an elixir that can obviate enmity and abhorrence, it is nothing but compassion, and again if there is anything that can invert animosity, anger, and violence completely, it is nothing other than compassion. Compassionate individuals are like fire-fighters putting out rage that boils like the heat of hell. As they speak the language of compassion, oppression and enmity become dumbstruck; the hands of those whose mind is focused only on destruction are bound up; many of the misguided are guided, but those who obstinately reject being guided to the right way are only divinely penalized because of their blind wrong-headedness.
Compassion, which can be defined as loving and caring for others without expecting anything in return, helping the oppressed and the wronged, and treating them with great kindness and sincerity, is a manifestation of Divine attributes, heavenly breath, and a term describing the warmth of all mothers.
Those fortunate ones who have compassion in their hearts always offer their help to those in need of mercy with no expectation of any return. They try their best to reach out to the miserable and the wretched, sympathize with their suffering and loneliness, and become a source of comfort for them. This feeling of compassion becomes sight for those who are spiritually blind and hearing for the deaf and insensitive, causing them all to recognize what they need above all.
Even those tyrants roaring with anger may become spellbound by the force of the silent proclamation of compassion and start questioning themselves, even if it is only for a moment. Pointing to compassion as one of the distinguishing characteristics of being a believer, Allah’s Messenger ( peace and blessings be upon him), said, "He is not of us who does not show mercy to the young, nor honor the elderly." (Authenticated by al-Albani)
Compassion has such a great power that it softens the hearts of those who have no pity; the obstinate come to heel by it, and even the worst feeling of ill-will surrenders to compassion. If there is an elixir that can obviate enmity and abhorrence, it is nothing but compassion, and again if there is anything that can invert animosity, anger, and violence completely, it is nothing other than compassion. Compassionate individuals are like fire-fighters putting out rage that boils like the heat of hell. As they speak the language of compassion, oppression and enmity become dumbstruck; the hands of those whose mind is focused only on destruction are bound up; many of the misguided are guided, but those who obstinately reject being guided to the right way are only divinely penalized because of their blind wrong-headedness.
In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease: And grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves.) (Al-Baqarah 2 :10)
Towards a Compassionate Community
Compassion is such a tender feeling that it opens up new prospects. It is only through compassion that the concerned individual not only receives a share in the happiness, peace, and pleasure of others, but also shows feelings of sympathy for their sufferings, with an ardent desire to help. Social relations improve more quickly in an atmosphere where compassion prevails, and the solidarity of communities is built up by its presence. Everyone in such a community embraces the other with loving affection. Individuals and groups in such a community turn out to be models of geniality and sincerity, as if they lead a life of competition among themselves to conquer the hearts. In this way, bonds of love and affection between people grow stronger, and the immeasurable pleasure of living for others is truly felt.
Discussing the issue from a wider perspective, compassion is of supreme significance if it means being sensitive and bravely facing the grave sufferings of people, helping to eliminate their suffering, and even removing anticipated sources of distress and replacing them with joy and happiness. A person whose heart beats with the pulse of mercy is so full of compassion for others that he or she approaches all people and events very gently. He embraces those living in misery like a compassionate mother taking her little ones close to her. He constantly circles around those in dire need and protection like a mother bird beating her wings to return to the nest to feed and protect her young. He lives for others, and takes every risk to save them from harm, and denies himself to the point of risking his own life.
Discussing the issue from a wider perspective, compassion is of supreme significance if it means being sensitive and bravely facing the grave sufferings of people, helping to eliminate their suffering, and even removing anticipated sources of distress and replacing them with joy and happiness. A person whose heart beats with the pulse of mercy is so full of compassion for others that he or she approaches all people and events very gently. He embraces those living in misery like a compassionate mother taking her little ones close to her. He constantly circles around those in dire need and protection like a mother bird beating her wings to return to the nest to feed and protect her young. He lives for others, and takes every risk to save them from harm, and denies himself to the point of risking his own life.
Mirror of Divine Mercy
Indeed, if we deeply contemplate existence, and if we lend an ear to what it whispers from within, we will see compassion embracing everything and the melody of compassion will be heard all around. The universe and all things in it are essentially woven out of compassion, and what brings created things their essential beauty is compassion. The trees, for instance, are embodied in concrete forms out of divine compassion, and their fruits are, again, the embodiments of Allah’s mercy and compassion. Likewise, a human being is a mirror of divine mercy, and faith is luminous divine compassion. This fleeting world is a means of eternal bliss, and the other world is the exhibition of compassion in all its splendor. The beginning and end of all things is indeed mercy and compassion.
If the enlightening narratives of guiding figures like the prophets, the pious scholars, and the friends of Allah the Almighty are truly comprehended, it will be clearly seen that compassion effervesces throughout their luminous lives without ceasing. They have lived as the heroes of compassion, have always conducted themselves in and with compassion, and rested in compassion. While such blessed travelers riding a heavenly steed granted by divine providence are never seen stranded, those whose hearts beat with hatred, grudge, and ruthlessness never reach their target. It was reported by Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that an immoral woman entered Paradise because she took pity and gave some water to a dog that was dying of thirst; whilst an ill-fated woman, who was so cruel to her cat that she did not let it go out, eventually starving it to death, was condemned to hell. In this respect,Paradise is a pavilion of compassion, while hell is a dungeon of wrath and hatred. Just as every virtuous deed performed here in this world will be waiting for the one who performed it in Paradise, every bad deed will be watching for the ill-fated one who is earning hell by its commission.
If the enlightening narratives of guiding figures like the prophets, the pious scholars, and the friends of Allah the Almighty are truly comprehended, it will be clearly seen that compassion effervesces throughout their luminous lives without ceasing. They have lived as the heroes of compassion, have always conducted themselves in and with compassion, and rested in compassion. While such blessed travelers riding a heavenly steed granted by divine providence are never seen stranded, those whose hearts beat with hatred, grudge, and ruthlessness never reach their target. It was reported by Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that an immoral woman entered Paradise because she took pity and gave some water to a dog that was dying of thirst; whilst an ill-fated woman, who was so cruel to her cat that she did not let it go out, eventually starving it to death, was condemned to hell. In this respect,Paradise is a pavilion of compassion, while hell is a dungeon of wrath and hatred. Just as every virtuous deed performed here in this world will be waiting for the one who performed it in Paradise, every bad deed will be watching for the ill-fated one who is earning hell by its commission.
The Essence of Existence
Even though compassion and hatred are both present as realities in this world, it is indeed compassion which is the essence of all existence. Were it not for compassion as the essence of all creation, human beings or any other thing would not have come into existence nor would they remain in existence. Without compassion, crushing and collapsing would follow one upon the other, and all existence would turn into a spiral of chaos. Lamentations of misery and desolation would be heard in every place, cries of grief from atrocity and savagery would be sensed, and the entire world would turn into a place of mourning. If we have existed until now and will continue to exist, it is because of the compassion of the All-Merciful. If we are those who love others and whom others love, it is due to His blessing and mercy.
Beyond everything else, it is compassion that invigorates our hearts and triggers humane feelings. Again, it is nothing but compassion which drives us in our inner world to do good, to welcome and to help others. Under the light of divine mercy and compassion, a heart full of compassion displays committed generosity, has pure and fine manners, and always acts with sincerity. A person with compassion moves on the path of love, and is spurred to action in goodness and benevolence on this way. In accordance with the extent of such people’s compassion, Allah the Almighty turns towards them, expands the immensity of their hearts, and bestows exceptional blessings on them. I hope the passing days will fill us with compassion and will save us from crude behavior and I hope these days are not far away.
Beyond everything else, it is compassion that invigorates our hearts and triggers humane feelings. Again, it is nothing but compassion which drives us in our inner world to do good, to welcome and to help others. Under the light of divine mercy and compassion, a heart full of compassion displays committed generosity, has pure and fine manners, and always acts with sincerity. A person with compassion moves on the path of love, and is spurred to action in goodness and benevolence on this way. In accordance with the extent of such people’s compassion, Allah the Almighty turns towards them, expands the immensity of their hearts, and bestows exceptional blessings on them. I hope the passing days will fill us with compassion and will save us from crude behavior and I hope these days are not far away.
~Fethullah Gulen
source: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1233567639159&pagename=Zone-English-Living_Shariah%2FLSELayout
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