I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, Allah divided Mercy into one hundred parts. He kept ninety nine parts with Him and sent down one part to the earth, and because of that, its one single part, His Creations are merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts up its hoofs away from its baby animal, lest it should trample on it."
Hadith Text
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, Allah divided Mercy into one hundred parts. He kept ninety nine parts with Him and sent down one part to the earth, and because of that, its one single part, His Creations are merciful to each other, so that even the mare lifts up its hoofs away from its baby animal, lest it should trample on it.
Source Reference
Book: Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab)
Author: Sahih al-Bukhari
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 6000
Commentary on Divine Mercy
This profound hadith reveals the infinite nature of Allah's mercy. The numerical division serves as a metaphor to help human comprehension grasp the vast difference between divine mercy and worldly compassion. The ninety-nine parts reserved with Allah signify His absolute, perfect mercy that encompasses all creation, while the single part distributed among creatures enables them to show kindness to one another.
The Nature of Worldly Compassion
The mercy we witness in creation - from human kindness to animal instinct - represents merely one percent of total mercy. This explains why human compassion is limited and imperfect. The example of the mare carefully avoiding stepping on her foal demonstrates how this divine gift manifests even in animal behavior, proving that all compassion originates from Allah's eternal attribute of mercy.
Spiritual Implications
Scholars explain that this hadith encourages believers to recognize that any mercy they show or receive is ultimately from Allah. It teaches humility by showing that human capacity for mercy is minuscule compared to divine mercy. This understanding should increase our hope in Allah's forgiveness and inspire us to emulate His attribute of mercy in our interactions with all creation.
Practical Application
This teaching reminds Muslims to be merciful to all creatures, following the example set by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). It calls for compassion in family relations, kindness to animals, and mercy toward all humans regardless of faith. The hadith ultimately points toward seeking the greater mercy reserved with Allah through obedience and righteous deeds.