Page 53 - MY GREAT LOVE FOR JESUS LED ME TO TROUTH

to die of thirst, and so forgave her sins because of this good act. (Al-Bukhaaree, 2392)
He was asked, "Messenger of God, are we rewarded for showing kindness toward
animals?" He said, "There is a reward for kindness shown to every living being." (Al-
Bukhaaree, 2323)
The message Prophet Muhammad brought promotes tolerance and respect for the rights
of others including non-Muslims. He said, "Whoever does injustice to someone having a
covenant of protection (i.e., a non-Muslim), diminishes his right, burdens him with more
than he can bear, or takes from him something against his will, I will be his opponent on
the Day of Judgment." (Abu Daawood, 3054(. Islam also commands its adherents to give
back their trusts to their rightful owners and to shun all acts of treachery. Prophet
Muhammad said, "Give back what you have been entrusted with to whoever entrusted
you with it, and do not betray one who has betrayed you." (At-Tirmidhee, 1261) It
strongly disapproves of selfishness and calls its followers to love for others what they love
for themselves. The Prophet said, "None of you becomes a true believer until he loves
for his brother what he loves for himself." (Al-Bukhaaree, 13)
Good morals and respect for women are also part of the Islamic message. The Prophet
said, "The believer with the most complete faith is the one who has the best moral
behavior. And the best among the believers are those who are best in treating their
women." (Ahmad, 7374) Another hadeeth states, "A man came to the Prophet and said,
'Messenger of Allah, to whom should I show kindness most?' The Prophet said, 'Your
mother.' The man asked, 'Who is next?' The Prophet replied, 'Your mother.' The man
asked again, 'Who is next?' The Prophet again replied, 'Your mother.' When the man
asked for the fourth time, the Prophet replied, 'Your father.'" (Muslim, 6452)
Islam teaches that the reward for serving and looking after one's mother is Paradise. The
Prophet instructed a man who consulted him about going for jihad while he had a mother
to take care of by saying, "Stay with her because Paradise is under her feet." (An-
Nasaa'ee, 3106) The Prophet said, "Whoever has a daughter born to him and he
does not bury her alive, humiliate her or favor his sons over her, Allah will
admit him into Paradise because of her." (Ahmad, 1966) He also said, "Whoever
has two daughters or two sisters to whom he is kind as long as they are with him, he and
I will be in Paradise [as close to each other] as these," and he raised his forefinger and
middle finger by way of illustration. (Ibn Abu Shaybah, Al-Musannaf, 21179) It is clear,
therefore, that kindness to women is one of the righteous deeds that are bound to take
one to Paradise.