In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful
The Prophet was sent as a mercy, not one who runs others away from Allah’s mercy
By Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sa’eed Raslaan may Allah preserve him
321. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said,
قِيلَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، ادْعُ اللَّهَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ، قَالَ: إِنِّي لَمْ أُبْعَثْ لَعَّانًا، وَلَكِنْ بُعِثْتُ رَحْمَةً
“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked,
‘Messenger of Allah, invoke a curse for us against the idolaters.’ He replied, ‘I was not sent as a curser. I was sent as a mercy.'”
Shaykh Raslaan comments on this narration in his explanation of Bukhari’s collection al-Adab al-Mufrad vol. 2 p.1414-1418.
The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) statement, “I was not sent as a curser” means that he was not sent as someone who supplicates against the people pushing and driving them away from the mercy of Allah. However, he was sent as a mercy – so then how could he curse them?
Allah the Most High said about this,
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةً۬ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ
“And We have sent you (O Muhammad) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” [al-Anbiyaa: 107]
As for the Messenger’s mercy for the believers then it is clear…
As for the Messenger’s mercy for the disbelievers, then it is the fact that their punishment was prevented from occurring on earth while he was amongst them. Verily when messengers and prophets were sent to the nations of old – and these nations were invited to worship Allah alone but they rejected and rebelled – Allah descended upon them the punishment in the worldly life and also made a punishment for them in the Hereafter. This was the case for the prophets except for the case of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). For surely Allah raised their punishment from happening in the worldly life due to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Allah said,
وَمَا ڪَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمۡ وَأَنتَ فِيہِمۡ
“And Allah would not punish them while you (Muhammad) are amongst them…” [al-Anfaal: 33]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
يا أيها الناس انما أنا رحمة مهداة
“O mankind, surely I am only a merciful guide.” [Tirmidhi in al-‘ilal al-kabeer: 685 | al-Ajurry in ash-Sharee’ah: 1000]
Likewise the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said in an authentic narration collected by Ibn Sa’d in “at-Tabaqaat” and others.
Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam
الفقير الى الله
Trying to Follow the Salaf 