Witnesses of Mercy for Peace and Reconciliation

58 WITNESSING MERCY FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIAT ION n the name of God, the Compassionate and Merciful. Throughout my experience of teaching the sciences of the Sharia, I find that the focus of Islam in the Qur’an and other prophetic texts is mercy. In a sense, it seems to be the entire message of Islam. The texts of the Sharia call us to deliver goods and benefits to others, an exchange that creates mercy, so that it prevails throughout our lives. Therefore, the Messenger for Humanity and God’s mercy, blessings of God and His Peace be Upon Him, definitively assigned the exchange of mercy to pervade every aspect of life. As narrated by Abu Hurayrah: “He who does not show mercy (to others) will not be shown mercy (by Allah).” 1 However, the Sharia foretells human needs in terms of creating mercy, for it does not come except through misery. Thus says a prophetic tradition narrated by Abu Hurayrah that: “Mercy is taken away only from him who is in misery.” 2 In terms of Qur’anic consideration, we find confirmed therein the general mercy of the Lord and its comprehen- siveness, including both the human and the non-human. We find that the Lord, Be He Exalted, said: “And My mercy embraceth all things.” 3 The Qur’an also mentions: “Our Lord! Thou comprehendest all things in mercy and knowledge.” 4 Likewise, we find in the prophetic traditions a call urging us to mercy, calling us to exercise it. In this sense, the Prophet (PBUH) said: “When Allah completed the creation, He wrote in His book which is with Him on His throne, ‘My mercy overpowers my anger’.” 1 He (PBUH) said: “Allah divided mercy into one hun- dred parts. He kept ninety nine parts with Him and sent down one part to the earth, and because of that, it is one single part. His creations are merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts its hoofs away from its foal, lest it should trample on it.” 1 The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Allah created a hundred mercies, and He placed one mercy among His creation, they show mercy to one another by it, and there are ninety-nine mercies with Allah.” 5 He, (PBUH) also said: “When Allah created the creation He ordained for Dr. Abdulaziz Saud Aldhowaihy I Dr. Abdulaziz Saud Aldhowaihy (left) with Sheikh Dr. Abdalrahman Allowaihiq (centre) and Bishop Elias Toumeh (right)