Prophet Muhammad -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- is a prophet that was sent as a grace for the universe, and he is a very compassionate prophet to all creatures; to human being, animals, and even plants. Here are several hadith that explain the compassion of the Prophet to other human being, albeit they were infidels who denied his calling -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-.
From ‘Aisha -may Allah be pleased with her-, she told that once she asked the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, ‘Have you encountered a day harder than the day (of the battle) of Uhud?” The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- replied,
لَقَدْ لَقِيتُ مِنْ قَوْمِكِ مَا لَقِيتُ وَكَانَ أَشَدَّ مَا لَقِيتُ مِنْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْعَقَبَةِ إِذْ عَرَضْتُ نَفْسِي عَلَى ابْنِ عَبْدِ يَالِيلَ بْنِ عَبْدِ كُلَالٍ فَلَمْ يُجِبْنِي إِلَى مَا أَرَدْتُ فَانْطَلَقْتُ وَأَنَا مَهْمُومٌ عَلَى وَجْهِي فَلَمْ أَسْتَفِقْ إِلَّا وَأَنَا بِقَرْنِ الثَّعَالِبِ فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَإِذَا أَنَا بِسَحَابَةٍ قَدْ أَظَلَّتْنِي فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا فِيهَا جِبْرِيلُ فَنَادَانِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ سَمِعَ قَوْلَ قَوْمِكَ لَكَ وَمَا رَدُّوا عَلَيْكَ وَقَدْ بَعَثَ إِلَيْكَ مَلَكَ الْجِبَالِ لِتَأْمُرَهُ بِمَا شِئْتَ فِيهِمْ فَنَادَانِي مَلَكُ الْجِبَالِ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ فَقَالَ ذَلِكَ فِيمَا شِئْتَ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَنْ أُطْبِقَ عَلَيْهِمْ الْأَخْشَبَيْنِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَلْ أَرْجُو أَنْ يُخْرِجَ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَصْلَابِهِمْ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ لَا يُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا
“Your tribes have troubled me a lot, and the worse trouble was the trouble on the day of ‘Aqaba when I presented myself to Ibn ‘Abd-Yâlil bin ‘Abd-Kulâl and he did not respond to my demand. So, I departed, overwhelmed with excessive sorrow, and proceeded on, and could not relax till I found myself at Qarn-ath-Tha’âlib, where I lifted my head towards the sky to see a cloud shading me unexpectedly. I looked up and saw Gabriel in it. He called me saying, ‘Allah has heard your people’s saying to you, and what they replied back to you, Allah has sent the angel of the mountains to you so that you may order him to do whatever you wish to these people.’ The angel of the mountains called upon me and greeted me, and then said, ‘O Muhammad! Order what you wish. If you like, I will let Al-Akhshabain (i.e., two mountains) fall on them.’ The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, No, but I hope that Allah will let them beget children who will worship Allâh Alone, and will worship none besides Him.'” (Narrated by Al Bukhari in hadith no. 3059 and Muslim, no. 4754, and this is the narration in Sahih Al Bukhari)
Abdullah Ibn Umar -may Allah be pleased with him- said:
أن امرأة وجدت في بعض مغازي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم مقتولة . فأنكر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قتل النساء والصبيان >> رواه البخاري ومسلم
“Indeed, there was once a woman killed in one of the battle, then the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- denied (refused to justify) the killing of women and children.” (Narrated by. Al-Bukhari (2851) Muslim (4645))
And in another narration it is said that:
وفي رواية لهما ( وجدت امرأة مقتولة في بعض تلك المغازي . فنهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن قتل النساء والصبيان
“A woman was killed in one of the battle, the the messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- forbade the killing of women and children.” (Narrated by. Al-Bukhari Muslim (4646))
From Anas Ibn Malik, -may Allah be pleased with him-, he said: ,
كان غلام يهودي يخدم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فمرض ، فأتاه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يعوده ، فقعد عند رأسه ، فقال له : أسلم . فنظر إلى أبيه وهو عنده ، فقال له : أطع أبا القاسم صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فأسلم ، فخرج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يقول : الحمد لله الذي أنقذه من النار >> رواه البخاري
“There was a Jewish boy who always serve (help) the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, but then the boy became ill. The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- came to visit him, and he sat near his head, and said, “Embrace Islam!” The boy looked at his father who was near him, and his father said, “Obey (the command) of Abul Qasim (The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- ).” And the boy embraced Islam. The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- went out, saying, “All praises be to Allah Who has saved him from the Hell.” [See: Sahih Bukhari, No. 1356, 5657]
From ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr -may Allah be pleased with him, he said that the messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him -said:
من قتل نفسا معاهدا لم يرح رائحة الجنة ، وإن ريحها ليوجد من مسيرة أربعين عاما . رواه البخاري
“Whoever kill a kafir mu’ahad (an infidel whose country has a peace treaty with Islamic country-, translator) will not smell the fragrant of Paradise, whereas that fragrant indeed could be smelled from 40 years distance of journey.” (Narrated by Al Bukhari)
From Abu Huraira- peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- , he said:
قيل : يا رسول الله ! ادع على المشركين . قال ” إني لم أبعث لعانا . وإنما بعثت رحمة “. رواه مسلم
“It is said to the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, “O Messenger of Allah! Curse the infidels.” The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- replied, “Verily, I am not sent as a curser, but as a grace (sent to bring compassion).” (Narrated by Muslim)
From Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him-, he said:
كنت أدعو أمي إلى الإسلام وهي مشركة . فدعوتها يوما فأسمعتني في رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ما أكره . فأتيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأنا أبكي . قلت : يا رسول الله ! إني كنت أدعو أمي إلى الإسلام فتأبى علي . فدعوتها اليوم فأسمعتني فيك ما أكره . فادع الله أن يهدي أم أبي هريرة . فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ” اللهم ! اهد أم أبي هريرة ” فخرجت مستبشرا بدعوة نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم . فلما جئت فصرت إلى الباب . فإذا هو مجاف . فسمعت أمي خشف قدمي . فقالت : مكانك ! يا أبا هريرة ! وسمعت خضخضة الماء . قال فاغتسلت ولبست درعها وعجلت عن خمارها . ففتحت الباب . ثم قالت : يا أبا هريرة ! أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله ، وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله . قال فرجعت إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فأتيته وأنا أبكي من الفرح . قال قلت : يا رسول الله ! أبشر قد استجاب الله دعوتك وهدى أم أبي هريرة . فحمد الله وأثنى عليه وقال خيرا . قال قلت : يا رسول الله ! ادع الله أن يحببني أنا وأمي إلى عبادة المؤمنين ، ويحببهم إلينا . قال فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ” اللهم ! حبب عبيدك هذا – يعني أبا هريرة – وأمه إلى عبادك المؤمنين . وحبب إليهم المؤمنين ” فما خلق مؤمن يسمع بي ، ولا يراني ، إلا أحبني .. رواه مسلم
“I used to call my mother to Islam when she was a idolator. I called her one day, and she said to me something about the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- that I disliked. I came to the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- weeping, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have been calling my mother to Islam but she refuses. I called her today and she said to me something about you that I disliked. Pray to Allah to guide the mother of Abu Huraira.’ The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said: ‘O Allah, guide the mother of Abu Huraira.’ I went out, feeling optimistic because of the supplication of the Prophet of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- ”When I came near the door, I found it closed. My mother heard my footsteps and said: ‘Stay where you are, O Abu Huraira!’ I heard the sound of falling water. She performed Ghusl (bathe) then she put on her chemise and quickly put on her head cover, then she opened the door and said: ‘O Abu Huraira, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.’ He said: ‘I went back to the Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- and I came to him, weeping with joy.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, be of good cheer, for Allah has answered your prayer and has guided the mother of Abu Huraira.’ He praised and glorified Allah and said good things.”I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah to make my mother and I beloved to His believing slaves, and to make them beloved to us.’ The Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said: ‘O Allah, make this slave of Yours’ – meaning Abu Huraira – ‘and his mother beloved to Your believing slaves, and make the believers beloved to them.’ There is no believer created who hears of me or sees me, but he loves me.'” (Narrated by Muslim, in “book of the Virtues of the companions”.)
Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him- said:
قدم طفيل بن عمرو الدوسي وأصحابه ، على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالوا : يا رسول الله ، إن دوسا عصت وأبت ، فادع الله عليها ، فقيل : هلكت دوس ، قال : ( اللهم اهد دوسا وأت بهم ) رواه البخاري
“Thufail Ibn ‘Amr Ad Dausi and his companions came to the messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, indeed, the Daus tribe deny and hesitate (to embrace Islam), so curse them.’ One said, “Woe to Daus.” The Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, “O Allah, guide the tribe of Daus and bring them (in the state of muslim).” (Narrated by Al Bukhari)
Jabir Ibn Abdillah -may Allah be pleased with him- said that the companions said:
يا رسول الله ! أحرقتنا نبال ثقيف ، فادع الله عليهم . فقال : اللهم اهد ثقيفا >> رواه الترمذي بسند صحيح
“O Messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, the arrows of Thaqif tribe have attacked us, curse them.” The messenger of Allah -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said, “O Allah, give Your guidance to Thaqif tribe.” (Narrated by Tirmidhi with a valid narrational chain.)
And there are still plenty of hadith that describe the compassion of our Prophet to human being and other creatures.
Reference: The Picture of Prophet Muhammad’s Compassion -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-, by Dr. Muhammad Ibn ‘Adnan as-Saman. Translated by Abu Yusuf Sujono/Alsofwah.
Republished with several grammatical editing by editors of kisahMuslim.com.
Article of www.whatisquran.com