He loves the merciful and calls to mercy. He orders His servants to enjoin patience and mercy. A person may lack mercy for any number of reasons, among them, an abundance of sins and disobedience. They stain their hearts so much so that they ultimately blind them until their hearts become harder than stones. Allaah says of the Children of Israel (what means): “And yet, after all this, your hearts hardened and became like rocks, or even harder.” [Quran 2:74]

Allaah also says about them when they opposed and rebelled against the divine law (what means): “Then, for having broken their solemn pledge, We rejected them and caused their hearts to harden.” [Quran 5:13]

Among the things that cause a loss of mercy is arrogance with wealth and pride with riches. Allaah says (what means): “Nay, verily, man does transgress whenever he believes himself to be self-sufficient.” [Quran 96:6-7] The day the heart is disciplined with faith and good deeds it fills with mercy and kindness.

Another reason for the weakness of mercy is an abundance of gluttony and saturation. They give rise to contempt and recklessness. Hence the month of fasting was prescribed to crush this unruliness and ill discipline. The fasting person is naturally among the most merciful people. That is because he has tasted hunger, experienced thirst and endured hardship. His soul is, therefore, enveloped with mercy, care and gentleness for Muslims.

Mercy is something which every Muslim is required to render to his brother Muslim. It is a requirement from every responsible custodian toward those under his care. He should feel sorry for them and be lenient toward them.

Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "O Allaah! Whoever was entrusted with authority over any affair of the Muslims and made it difficult for them, please make it difficult for him. And whoever was entrusted over any affair of the Muslims and was kind toward them, then be kind toward him."

In a related hadeeth, Allaah's Messenger, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also said: “Whoever oversees an affair for my nation and disappeared or abandoned them without fulfilling their needs while impoverishing them, Allaah will debar him from his needs and impoverish him on the Day of Judgement.” Mercy demands that the scholar and teacher should be gentle toward his
students and lead them to the easiest and best ways to love him and benefit from his teachings. If he does this Allaah will decree for him the most excellent and abounding reward. Listen to the manner in which Allaah praises His Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam (what means): "And it was by God's grace that thou (O Prophet) didst deal gently with thy followers: for if thou hadst been harsh and hard of heart, they would indeed have broken away from thee.” [Quran 3:159]