compassion

The Qur'an is the sacred scripture of Islam, believed to be the literal word of God. It is composed of 114 chapters, called surahs. It is held by Muslims to be unique and uncreated, since it is the word of God.

Islam believes in the absolute oneness of God. The Arabic word for God is Allah. God is all-knowing, all-powerful, eternal, uncreated, the creator of all things, just, good, and merciful. Therefore, human beings owe absolute obedience to God. Doing what is right is so closely linked with worship of God that they are not thought of as separate things in Islam.

Islam shares many values with Christianity, including those that we have listed as Franciscan/Felician values.  Among these are COMPASSION and CONCERN FOR THE POOR.

In the Qur'an, Allah is repeatedly characterized as gracious, merciful, and compassionate. Allah is called gracious and merciful in the beginning of 113 chapters.

"Gracious" may not be a word we use very often. Related to the word "grace," which means "gift," "gracious" connotes expansive, generous kindness.

The Qur'an stresses that righteousness consists in compassion for and doing good to others, and that this is what Allah expects of human beings. In other words, right relationship with Allah requires putting compassion into action -- doing something about the needs of others. 

You are invited to look for what the Qur'an says about compassion or for passages that encourage the practice of compassion. Be aware that other related terms/concepts may be used to convey various shades of meaning connected to compassion, words such as kindness, benevolence, mercy, and even giving to the poor (almsgiving).

"Indeed, Allah enjoins justice, and the doing of good to others; and giving like kindred; and forbids indecency, and manifest evil, and wrongful transgression. . . " (Al Quran 16:91).