Relations with non-Muslims - Teachings of the Prophet of Mercy(Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

 The extent of Allah’s mercy

There is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim about the mercy of Allah:

عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مِائَةَ رَحْمَةٍ أَنْزَلَ مِنْهَا رَحْمَةً وَاحِدَةً بَيْنَ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنْسِ وَالْبَهَائِمِ وَالْهَوَامِّ فَبِهَا يَتَعَاطَفُونَ وَبِهَا يَتَرَاحَمُونَ وَبِهَا تَعْطِفُ الْوَحْشُ عَلَى وَلَدِهَا وَأَخَّرَ اللَّهُ تِسْعًا وَتِسْعِينَ رَحْمَةً يَرْحَمُ بِهَا عِبَادَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) narrates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Indeed, Almighty Allah has 100 mercies.  He has distributed 1 mercy (of those 100) among the genies, humankind, animals and insects.  It is because of that mercy people are benevolent with each other.  Only because of this do they treat each other with grace and kindness and it is only because of this that barbaric animals are compassionate on their young ones.  Almighty Allah has postponed His 99 mercies to the Day of Judgment when He will treat His slaves with mercy[1]. 

Another Hadith in Sahih Muslim has the following words:

فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ الْجُزْءِ تَتَرَاحَمُ الْخَلاَئِقُ حَتَّى تَرْفَعَ الدَّابَّةُ حَافِرَهَا عَنْ وَلَدِهَا خَشْيَةَ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُ

Translation: It is because of that unit of mercy that the creation treats each other mercifully and affectionately so much that an animal removes its hoof from over its young one lest it should harm the young one[2]. 

How merciful should that Lord Almighty be if only one part from His mercy has made love, tenderness and compassion so common in the world!