What’s Islam as Rahmatan lil Alamin ?!
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ ﴿۱۰۷﴾
“We have not sent you (Prophet Muhammad) except as a mercy to all the worlds”
(QS. Al Anbiya (21):107).
According to Ibnu Katsir this ayat point that Prophet Muhammad Shollallahu Alahi wa Sallam was sent to all human, not only for Muslims but also for non believers (kafir) (Tafsir, book 5, p. 385).
Means of Rahmat :
رَحْمَةٌ
affection, sympathy, friendliness, tolerance.
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال رسول الله عليه الصّلاة والسّلام: إن لله مائة رحمة، واحدة بين الجن والإنس والبهائم والهوام، فبها يتعاطفون، وبها يتراحمون، وبها يتعاطف الوحوش على أولادها، وأخَّر تسعاً وتسعين رحمة يرحم بها عباده يوم القيامة
“Verily Allah has 100 mercy. One of them was revealed to the jinn, humans, animals and plants. With that grace they have compassion and love for one another. With him also wild animals love their children. And Allah will end 99 mercy for Him to bestow upon His servants on the Day of Resurrection.” (Muttafaq ‘alaih, in Sahih Bukhari no. 6104 and Sahih Muslim no. 2725, recited this hadith from Abu Hurairah RA).
عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِىِّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – قَالَ « لَمَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ فِى كِتَابِهِ – هُوَ يَكْتُبُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ ، وَهْوَ وَضْعٌ عِنْدَهُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ – إِنَّ رَحْمَتِى تَغْلِبُ غَضَبِى »
From Abu Hurairah, from the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, he said, “When Allah created His creatures, He wrote in His Book, whose book is located with Him above the ‘Throne, “Indeed, My mercy is more powerful than the Throne. my wrath.” (Narrated by Bukhari no. 7404 and Muslim no. 2751).
Firstly, basing on the Islamic salvation mission, the Prophetic of Muhammad Shollallahu Alahi wa Sallam is inclusively for all creation. It’s including Human, Jinn and also Alam.
This salvation is for whom they are Muslims in their Islamic way, also for whom they are still as non believers to give them their salvation and chance to find the right path.
For Muslims they live in Blessings of Alloh Subhanahu wa Ta’ala and will accept their Jannah (paradises) but for non believers they live in Wrat of Alloh Subhanahu wa Ta’ala and will enter their Nar (Hells).
But under the advantages of Rahmat, non believers would be given a chance to find the right path of life in Islam and they will not immediately be tortured as long there is Rosulullah Shollallahu Alahi wa Sallam.
Alloh Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says,
وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَأَنْتَ فِيهِمْ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
“Allah will not torture them as long as you are in their midst. And Allah will not punish them while they beg for forgiveness.” (Surat al-Anfal: 33).
The keys words here are the presence of Prophet Muhammad Shollallahu Alahi wa Sallam and also Istighfar (seeking mercy of Alloh Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) can withstand the coming of punishment.
While the previous sinners before the era of Prophet Muhammad Shollallahu Alahi wa Sallam were immediately punished.
Secondly, according to the name of Islam which means safety, peace and welfare it’s always guide all the people to the right path of life. The tennets of Islamic Syari’ah will present welfare civilization and create blessings of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala in the earth.
We need welfare life and also blessings of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.
The implementation of Islamic Syari’ah such as tennet of halal foods and beverages would develop healthy lifestyle, Anti Riba (Anti usury) would create just economy and spreading of wealthy balance, Anti criminals would safe the Muslims ummah and other also other peoples. Also the implementation of other Islamic Syari’ah will perform more good civilization and blessings.
Thirdly, the Islamic Syari’ah will create the benefit for Muslims and also non muslims.
There are abundant of proofs that Muslims’s inventions and innovations basing on the Islamic tennets has benefited modern civilization.
There are math, physics, alchemia, medicine, navigation, aviation, optics, astronomy, literature and so on.
When the West is still in a darkness, Islamic ummah since the 7th century was enlightened with the presence of Prophet Muhammad Shollallahu Alahi wa Sallam as the Rahmatan lil Alamin.
if so, Rahmatan lil Alamin is the light, goodness, guidance, mercy and blessings which includes in the Islamic presence.
Rahmatan lil Alamin of course always including tolerance but not tolerance without limits by mixing faith, praying together with followers of other religions, singing along in churches or temples, don’t care about disobedience and leave Amar Ma’ruf Nahi Munkar and making out with people who are hostile to Islam.
لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًۭا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ يُوَآدُّونَ مَنْ حَآدَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ ءَابَآءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَتَبَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍۢ مِّنْهُ ۖ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حِزْبُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
“You will never find a people who ˹truly˺ believe in Allah and the Last Day loyal to those who defy Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their parents, children, siblings, or extended family. For those ˹believers˺, Allah has instilled faith in their hearts and strengthened them with a spirit from Him. He will admit them into Gardens under which rivers flow, to stay there forever. Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. They are the party of Allah. Indeed, Allah’s party is bound to succeed’ (QS. Al Mujadilah: 22).
Istanbul, 3rd Romadhon 1443 H/4 April 2022 M.
Abdurrahman Anton Minardi