Mercy

Surah 31 verse 20-24

20. Do you not see that God has subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and the earth, and has made his bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and unseen? Yet there are people who dispute about God, without knowledge, without guidance and without a book to enlighten them.

21. When they are told to follow the (revelation) that God has sent, they say, No, we shall follow the ways of our fathers. What?!, even if it is Satan beckoning them to the chastisement of fire?

22. whoever submits his whole self to God, and is a doer of good, has grasped indeed the firmest handlhold: and to God shall all things return.

23. but if any reject faith, let not his rejection grieve you for to us is their return, and we shall tell them the truth of their deeds: for God knows well all that is in mens hearts.

24. We grant them their pleasure for a little while : in the end shall we drive them to a chastisement unrelenting.

To be a Muslim is to freely submit to God's will and this means to be a "doer of good". Those who reject goodness/good deeds are those who reject God's will. Yet, God's mercy is so vast that those who freely submit to God's will and those who reject God's will are equally sustained and nourished through God's blessings and bounty. But why give blessings to those who reject goodness? Our life on earth--from birth to death--is an opportunity for spiritual growth. God is compassionate and merciful and during our time on earth, gives chances to even those who reject him so that if they do choose to turn to him in repentence, they can have a chance to taste his compassion and mercy. The nourishment and sustenance are blessings from God to all human beings, yet we sometimes take this for granted, thinking that it is simply part of life on earth. We fail to see God's love, compassion and mercy that is actually supporting our life on earth. ---But when we do, our relationship with God becomes filled with gratitude for his love and mercy. As Aristotle said "wicked men obey from fear; good men, from love." The love of God that springs from gratitude by acknowledging his blessings can become a transformative force. As someone said "To love is to recieve a glimpse of heaven." Human beings can use this transformative force for the benefit of all of God's creations. To spread out the blessings and mercy God is blessing us with, to those of God's creations who inhabit the earth along with us. When we transform ourselves, we transform our world.

"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: that word is love." Sophocles.