The sermon opened with a reminder of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) compassion, recounting an instance where he embraced and kissed his grandson Hasan. Observing this, one of the Prophet’s companions expressed that he had never kissed his own children, to which the Prophet responded, "No mercy will be shown to the unmerciful," underscoring the importance of compassion as a core value in Islam.
According to the sermon, mercy is not merely an emotion but a reflection of Allah's names, al-Rahman and al-Rahim, which emphasize compassion. "Mercy is the ability to soothe wounded hearts and comfort those in sorrow," the sermon stated, adding that mercy extends beyond addressing material needs to offering wisdom, warmth, and love to others.
The message urged believers to show mercy first to themselves, then to family, community, and all living beings. A hadith was referenced: "Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you," reminding Muslims that compassion towards creation brings Allah's mercy.
In light of escalating global violence, the sermon called on Muslims to resist hatred and resentment. By embracing patience and piety, the faithful can counter societal division, nurture mercy, and foster solidarity. “If believers seek refuge in Allah’s forgiveness and mercy and commit to repentance, they will find divine compassion,” the sermon advised.
As followers of Prophet Muhammad, known as the "Messenger of Mercy," Muslims were urged to uphold mercy as a guiding principle. Diyanet called on individuals to treat parents, spouses, children, and neighbors with kindness and compassion, and to avoid harboring hatred or resentment. The message also stressed the importance of respecting others’ rights, refraining from wrongdoing, and building relationships based on mutual trust and respect.
The sermon concluded with a Qur’anic verse: “Inform My servants that I am truly the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful, and that My torment is indeed the most painful.” It closed with a supplication: “Our Lord! We have believed, so forgive us and have mercy on us, for You are the best of those who show mercy.”
The full text of the sermon is as follows:
Dear Muslims!
Children held a special place in our Prophet’s (saw) heart. On one occasion, while sitting with his Companions, his grandson, Hasan, approached them. Our beloved Prophet (saw) immediately lifted him into his arms, embraced him, and kissed him. Someone who witnessed this moment with the Prophet said, “I have ten children, yet I have never kissed any of them.” In response, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُ لاَ يُرْحَمُ “No mercy will be shown to the unmerciful.”
Dear Believers!
One of the profound feelings that Allah the Almighty (swt) has instilled in human nature is mercy. Mercy is the reflection of Allah the Almighty’s (swt) names, al-Rahman and al-Rahim, within our hearts. Mercy is not merely a feeling of pity; it is the ability to soothe wounded hearts and bring comfort to those in sorrow. Mercy means showing sensitivity to everyone and everything—not with an attitude of “what’s in it for me,” but with a mindset of “what role can I play.” Mercy is not only about addressing people’s material needs; it is also about enlightening minds with knowledge and wisdom and filling hearts with warmth and love. Mercy is not merely opposing wrongdoing; it is uniting people in goodness and nurturing every hope with care and love.
Dear Muslims!
Believers must first show mercy to themselves, then extend it to their family, their community, and all of creation. In one of his hadiths, the Messenger of Allah (saw) says, اِرْحَمُوا مَنْ فِى الأَرْضِ يَرْحَمْكُمْ مَنْ فِى السَّمَاءِ “Be merciful to those on the earth and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you.” Unfortunately, we are living in times where the spiral of violence is all-encompassing and ruthlessness prevails. Many people have lost their sense of mercy, consumed by hatred, resentment, and anger. As a result, with each passing day, many homes are torn apart in our society, and countless lives are senselessly lost over trivial reasons. However, if believers embrace patience and piety, living a life adorned with faith and good morals, they can make mercy the prevailing force in society. If they seek refuge in the forgiveness and mercy of our Lord (swt), repenting from their sins with the intention never to return to them, they will attain divine mercy.
Esteemed Believers!
We are the ummah of the Messenger of Mercy, Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (saw). We are the representatives of a civilization that upholds mercy as its guiding principle. Our duty is not only to refrain from saying “Ugh!” to our parents but to extend our wings of mercy over them with mercy. We are called to treat our spouse with love and affection, and our children with care and compassion. We must establish strong relationships with our relatives and neighbors, becoming a guarantee of trust and peace in our communities. It is our duty to treat everyone we interact with, whether in service or receiving service through our profession, with respect and courtesy, while always striving to help one another. It is to cleanse our hearts of hatred and resentment, filling them instead with divine mercy and prophetic compassion. It is to nurture our brotherhood with mercy, deepening our unity and solidarity. It is to refrain from engaging in all that is haram and to respect the rights of others, both individual and public, with the hope that Allah the Almighty’s (swt) mercy will encompass us. It is to never forget the following verses of our Almighty Lord (swt): نَبِّئْ عِبَاد۪ٓي اَنّ۪ٓي اَنَا الْغَفُورُ الرَّح۪يمُۙ “O Prophet! Inform My servants that I am truly the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful,” وَاَنَّ عَذَاب۪ي هُوَ الْعَذَابُ الْاَل۪يمُ “and that My torment is indeed the most painful.”
I would like to conclude this Friday’s khutbah with the following supplication in the Holy Qur’an: “...Our Lord! We have believed, so forgive us and have mercy on us, for You are the best of those who show mercy.” (ILKHA)