Allah sent His Messenger as a mercy to all the worlds 21:107. And the Prophet ﷺ told of a man who was forgiven because he filled his shoe with water for a thirsty dog Bukhari 2363.
From the Quran
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ
From the Prophet ﷺ
«مَنْ لاَ يَرْحَمُ لاَ يُرْحَمُ»
Seen in the prophets
He ﷺ kissed his grandson al-Hasan. A man sitting there said: "I have ten children and I have never kissed any of them." The Prophet ﷺ looked at him and said: "Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy" Bukhari 5997.
Salih's people were given a she-camel as a sign, and his instruction was about the animal: "Leave her to eat in Allah's land, and do not touch her with harm" 7:73.
Sulayman's army was on the march when an ant warned the others to get out of the way, so that Sulayman and his soldiers would not crush them without noticing. He heard her, and smiled 27:18-19.
What it is not
Mercy is not only for big gestures. A shoe full of water for a dog was enough for Allah to forgive a man Bukhari 2363.
Today, in practice
Put out a bowl of water when it is hot.
Kiss your children, and tell them out loud that you love them.
Be patient with the slow one in the queue: the elderly, the confused, the new.
Small, practical steps. This is friendly advice, not a ruling.
Your manner for the week
الرَّحْمَة Mercy
Choose one manner and carry it for seven days. It is saved on this device only, nobody else sees it.
Their moments
Sources on this page
Quran 7:73Quran 21:107Quran 27:18-19Sahih al-Bukhari 5997Sahih al-Bukhari 6013
Quran meanings are given in plain English, close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com.