“Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.”

It is also reported in the Sunan collections:

“The merciful are shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and He who is above the heavens will show you mercy.”

Such mercy is good and is commanded, either as an obligation or as a recommendation, unlike pity that obstructs the enforcement of Allah’s religion, which is forbidden. Satan wants people to go to excess in all their affairs. If he sees someone inclined towards mercy, he makes mercy seem so appealing that the person no longer hates what Allah hates or feels protective jealousy over what arouses Allah’s protective jealousy. If he sees someone inclined towards severity, he makes severity for reasons other than Allah’s sake seem appealing, until that person abandons the kindness, righteousness, gentleness, maintenance of ties, and mercy commanded by Allah and His Messenger. He then goes too far in severity, exceeding what Allah and His Messenger love in his condemnation, hatred, and punishment.

Such a person abandons the mercy and kindness Allah has commanded, making himself blameworthy and sinful in this respect. He also goes to excess in the severity commanded by Allah and His Messenger, until he oversteps the bounds. This is part of his excess in his affairs. The former is sinful, and the latter is excessive:

“Indeed, He does not love those who commit excess.”

Let both say:

“Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affairs, make our feet firm, and grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”

As for His words, Most High:

“If you believe in Allah and the Last Day,”

the believer in Allah and the Last Day does what Allah and His Messenger love and forbids what Allah and His Messenger hate. Whoever does not believe in Allah and the Last Day follows his own desires. At times, he is overcome by pity