How should we understand the statement “Mercy may bring about evil”? In what cases is mercy bad?

How can the statement “Mercy may bring about evil” be explained religiously? What is meant by this statement? In what cases is mercy bad?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Mercy is an honorable feeling given by Allah like the feeling of pity and love. Where there is no mercy, there is hatred, grudge and hardheartedness.

As a matter of fact, the following verse orders the Prophet to have compassion, mercy and good deeds:

“It is part of the Mercy of Allah that thou dost deal gently with them Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee...” (Aal-i Imran, 3/159)

However, it is necessary to be moderate in mercy like in everything and one should avoid extremism. That is the meaning of the sentence you mention. That is, if you show too much mercy to a person, tolerate all of his mistakes and correct all of his faults, we will harm him, not favor him. For instance, if you forgive a person who does not show respect to others’ rights and who oppresses them, it means to cause a virus to emerge or to mortify an organ. A person can forgive only the mistakes made against him; he cannot forgive the mistakes made against others on behalf of them. Thus, an evil may emerge from not punishing a person who deserves to be punished. This statement does not mean we should not show any mercy.

One of the characteristics of man is that he has “compassion”. This characteristic emerges from Allah’s encompassing, merciful and endless names “ar-Rahman (the All-Comapssionate), ar-Rahim (the All-Merciful) and al-Wadud (the Loving One)”. Compassion is a humane characteristic that needs to be shown to the innocent and weak people. It is a sharp elixir made of compassion and love, all of whose kinds are clean and pure. The source of real compassion is self-sacrifice and sincerity. Compassion, which is an indication that makes us feel our endless poverty in the presence of the Creator, is also the essence of real gratitude. If mercy and compassion are used properly, the natural gratitude is also fulfilled.

Man feels pity and shows mercy since he is an addressee of Allah’s names “ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim”. Man has such a heart that Islam makes this heart attain a trait that will show mercy to animals and that will not crush even an ant.

Our Lord orders us to show mercy to animals and to love them; He prohibits us from afflicting and torturing them and violating their rights. However, some societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, those who show too much compassion or those who cannot use their feelings moderately feel pity for animals and oppose using animals legitimately and sacrificing them.

Man needs to show compassion moderately and in a balanced way. Otherwise, it will be transformed into a disorder.

“Grant more than divine grant is not grant.”1

It is a mistake to show more mercy than Allah’s mercy and to have more wrath than Allah’s wrath. One cannot show more mercy than Allah’s mercy. One cannot have more wrath than Allah’s wrath.2 All of our talks, love, mercy or fury should be in accordance with religious criteria. An illness may emerge from every deed contrary to them.

Allah is Rahim al-Mutlaq. That is, He owns endless compassion, mercy, help and love. He created animals too. We are His slaves and creatures. Then, we cannot show more mercy than His mercy. Since He allows, it is an illness to show more compassion and mercy than Him.

For instance, the one who states that animals were created for human beings and who orders some animals to be sacrificed is the Owner of the Universe. It is a spiritual illness of some people to oppose sacrificing animals in the name of showing mercy to animals. 

“And cattle He has created for you (men): from them ye derive warmth, and numerous benefits, and of their (meat) ye eat."

“And celebrate the name of Allah, through the Days appointed, over the cattle which He has provided for them (for sacrifice): then eat ye thereof and feed the distressed ones in want."

“To every people did We appoint rites (of sacrifice), that they might celebrate the name of Allah over the sustenance He gave them from animals (fit for food). But your god is One God: submit then your wills to Him (in Islam): and give thou the good news to those who humble themselves."

“The sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the symbols from Allah: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of Allah over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as beg with due humility: thus have We made animals subject to you, that ye may be grateful.”3

It is understood that we need to evaluate everything in accordance with Islamic criteria by comparing other issues to this one. Illnesses and troubles will definitely emerge from the feeling of mercy that is not in accordance with this criterion. 

Footnotes:

1. Muhakemat, 21.
2. Sözler, p. 663.
3. an-Nahl, 16/5.; al-Hajj, 22/28, 33, 34, 36.

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