MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – Islam should be presented in public authentically and beautifully. This religion teaches loving-kindness and compassion to all human beings regardless of their background. Thus, Muslims are encouraged to demonstrate a trilogy of compassion in Islam.
“First, Islam instills the theological awareness of the importance of God of compassion (ar-rahman) and God of mercy (ar-rahim) in the lives of Muslims,” said Sukidi Mulyadi in his preaching at Masjid Indonesia in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday (7/4).
All Qur’an verses, except at-Taubah, begin with “in the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.”
According to Sukidi, all Muslims should cultivate the idea, particularly those in anger and hatred.
Muslims should emulate the two names of Allah, ar-rahman and ar-rahim. Indeed, hadith Qudsi mentions, “Verily, My Mercy prevails over My Wrath.”
Second, Prophet Muhammad is a prophet of mercy. Embodying the God who is the Most Merciful, Muhammad was sent by God to show his love and compassion to all human beings.
Prophet Muhammad’s compassion mission refers to surah Al-Anbiya verse 107: “We have sent you ˹O Prophet˺ only as a mercy for the whole world.”
Last, Islam teaches Muslims to bring mercy to the whole world.
“True Muslims should instill compassion to all people regardless their beliefs, ethnicities, races, skin colors, and origins because they are equal and deserve respect,” said Sukidi, who graduated from Harvard University.
Hence, Muslims should promote Islam as a religion of loving-kindness and compassion and present generous and compassionate social-humanitarian ethics for not only fellow believers but also all human beings and the universe.