A Non-Muslim's Compassion

The portrayal of Mother Teresa giving back to the world is a unique example when teaching us a broad message about what it means to be merciful. She once said, “I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love.” This demonstrates the idea that helping others in need seldom does any harm, but rather benefits the overall wellness of the world around you. By devoting her life to showing mercy towards those less fortunate, Mother Teresa was able to work upon benevolence for the whole world. This altruism extends to several other religions and occasions. Abu Dawud once reported Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) saying, “ The Compassionate has mercy (rahma) on those who are merciful. Show mercy to the people of earth, and the One in the Heavens will show mercy to you.” This exemplifies the ideology that mercy will be shown to those who show it onto others. Myriads of hadiths such as this shed light on the fact that mercy from the divine is where we originate from; this rumination is something we must keep within us in all everyday movements. Through Islam, we must express, as Mother Teresa once did, mercy in all we do. She was one of the first religious figures in the world to be revered by people of all religious backgrounds because a shared trait between her actions and the beliefs of our world’s religions, including showing compassion and simply being generous. Through giving to all types of people in need, she worked upon an idea even rooted in Islam; to be merciful and saccharine to all those in the world. Spiritual values of mercy and compassion is rooted in all mundane tasks, as Allah has created us with rahma and will continue to bless our existence in this dunya.