The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 39
Natural, Moral and Spiritual States of Man 39 frequented by hundreds of patients of all kinds, and ob- serve the daily tasks of an experienced doctor, you will then hopefully come to understand the meaning of com- passion. The Holy Qur'an teaches us to love the virtuous, the pi- ous and righteous, and also to have compassion for the wicked and the disbelievers. Almighty Allah says: عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنتُمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ 35 That is: 'O disbelievers, this Prophet is so compassionate that he cannot stand the sight of your suffering and is highly solicitous for your safety from these hardships. ' لَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَفْسَكَ الَّا يَكُوْنُوْا مُؤْمِنِينَ 36 That is: 'Will you die worrying why they do not be- lieve?' This means that, your compassion has reached the limit where your anguish for them has brought you close to death. تَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ تَوَاصَوْا بِالْمَرْحَمَةِ 37 That is: 'The faithful are those who counsel patience and compassion to one another,' i. e. , they advise patience in adversity and compassion towards God's creatures. Here too Marhamah means compassion, for this is what the word Marhamah implies in Arabic. In short, the true meaning of the Qur'anic teaching is that love, which in reality means to reflect in one's person the qualities of the beloved, is not permissible except for God Almighty and for the righteous ones. Indeed it is 35 Al-Taubah, 9:128 [Publisher] 36 Al-Shu'arā', 26:4 [Publisher] 37 Al-Balad, 90:18 [Publisher]