Presented by Zia H Shah MD

A Sacred Hadith on Compassion and Dignity

At the heart of Islamic teachings is a profound recognition of human dignity and the sacredness of each soul’s journey. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) conveyed a Hadith Qudsi – a saying in which Allah speaks in the first person – that powerfully illustrates how God is found through compassionate service to others. In this narration, Allah will say on the Day of Resurrection: “O son of Adam, I fell ill and you visited Me not… Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him? O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you fed Me not… Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that (the reward for doing so) with Me?”thequran.love. Through this vivid imagery, Allah identifies with the suffering of the sick and the hungry, reproaching those who ignored them. The Prophet explains that had we cared for those in need, we would have found Allah’s presence and pleasure with them. This sacred narration “emphasizes that acts of compassion are not just social duties but are beloved to Allah – so much so that helping a person in distress is metaphorically described as ‘visiting,’ ‘feeding,’ or ‘giving drink’ to Allah Himself”thequran.love.

This gentle, heart-touching Hadith Qudsi softens our hearts and affirms an essential truth: every human being carries an innate worth in the eyes of God. In the Prophet’s own words, “Allah has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others”thequran.love. Showing compassion to our fellow humans is a way of honoring God’s creation. By serving others with kindness, we recognize the sacred dignity bestowed on each individual by the Creator. This lays a spiritual foundation for freedom of conscience and expression – because if God Himself “is with” the downtrodden and values our service to them, then each person’s life, beliefs, and voice must be treated as precious. Compassion thus becomes a pathway to God and a basis for respecting the freedom and dignity of every soul.

Every Soul’s Dignity and Freedom of Conscience

Islam teaches that human beings are born with an inherent dignity and a God-given freedom to choose their path. The Qur’an declares, “Indeed, We have dignified the children of Adam… and privileged them far above many of Our creatures.”quran.com. Every person – regardless of background or belief – is honored by Allah. This divinely granted honor is tied to freedom of conscience: each individual has the right and responsibility to seek the truth and believe freely, without coercion. The Qur’an famously commands, “Let there be no compulsion in religion, for the truth stands out clearly from falsehood.”islamawakened.com. Faith, to be genuine, must be a sincere choice of the heart. No one can be forced to believe, for true guidance is clear and must be accepted willingly. Likewise, Surah Al-Kafirun concludes, “Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion”islamawakened.com, emphasizing that belief is a personal matter between each soul and God.

This emphasis on freedom is not a mere secular principle, but a deeply spiritual one. The Qur’an reminds us that “No soul burdened with sin will bear the burden of another”quran.com – each person is accountable for their own beliefs and deeds. Since no one can carry the weight of another’s choices, it follows that each conscience must be free to choose its way. Our tradition celebrates those who use this freedom wisely: who ponder, reflect, and make responsible choices. The Qur’an praises “those who listen to what is said and follow the best of it. These are the ones rightly guided by Allah, and these are truly the people of reason.”islamawakened.com. In other words, Islam expects us to use our God-given intellect and conscience to discern truth from error. This active engagement of the mind can only happen in an atmosphere of freedom. Every individual is called to “listen to all speech and follow the best”, which implies that a variety of voices and ideas will be heard and considered. The guidance of Allah is with those who exercise this freedom of thought to arrive at the best in speech and conduct.

Crucially, because guidance is ultimately from Allah, we trust that allowing freedom of religion and thought does not weaken faith – rather, it lets faith flourish sincerely. Believers are confident that truth stands clear from falsehood, as Allah has stated, so we need not fear open discourse. Each person’s journey to faith is sacred. Forcing faith upon someone not only violates their dignity, it also shows a lack of trust in Allah’s justice and guidance. Islam instead entrusts every soul with the freedom to accept or reject, knowing that Allah will judge each individual justly. As a further assurance, Allah says that all will return to Him in the end, “and He will inform you regarding your differences.”quran.com. Human beings may diverge in beliefs and opinions in this life – that is part of the divine plan – but ultimate judgment belongs to God alone. Thus, we uphold each person’s conscience as inviolable, leaving final outcomes to Allah’s wisdom.

Diversity of Thought as Part of Divine Wisdom

Rather than demanding uniformity, the Qur’an teaches that diversity in beliefs and communities exists by Divine wisdom. Allah could have made all humanity a single community of believers, but He chose not to, in order to allow us free will and to test us in our moral response to differences. The Qur’an addresses the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and all people, saying: “To each of you We have ordained a code of law and a way of life. If Allah had willed, He would have made you one community, but His Will is to test you with what He has given each of you. So compete with one another in doing good.”quran.com. Here we learn an profound lesson: plurality is part of God’s plan. People will follow different paths, and our role is not to eradicate these differences but to excel in virtue and good deeds within our own path. Ultimately, “to Allah you will all return, then He will inform you of the truth regarding your differences”quran.com. Diversity of thought and religion is thus envisioned as a means for mutual growth and a test of our commitment to justice and compassion.

The Qur’an also states, “Had your Lord willed, all who are on earth would have believed, all of them together. So will you compel people until they become believers?” (10:99). This rhetorical question asked of the Prophet emphasizes that even he was not sent to force hearts to believe. Guidance is in God’s hands. Our duty is to convey the message with wisdom and love, not to coerce. In another verse, the Qur’an acknowledges differences and tells us how to respond: “For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.”islamawakened.com. This is a declaration of respectful coexistence, revealing that acknowledging the other’s right to believe differently is itself a Quranic principle. Fourteen centuries ago, Islam established the paradigm that religious belief is a personal choice and that diversity must be respected as long as there is peace and justice in society.

Such divine wisdom was reflected in the Prophet Muhammad’s own life. In the pluralistic society of Medina, the Prophet (pbuh) drafted the Charter of Medina granting Jewish and other tribes religious freedom and equal civic rights. He engaged in dialogue with Christians, Jews, and even polytheists, inviting them to truth but never compelling them. There is a famous incident where a group of Christian visitors were even allowed to worship in the Prophet’s mosque according to their own tradition – a profound example of religious tolerance and hospitality. The Prophet recognized the sincerity of anyone who sought God, even if their understanding was different, and he maintained treaties that upheld freedom of worship for all communities under his leadership. This prophetic example underlines that diverse faiths and opinions can coexist under the shade of justice and mutual respect. Far from viewing diversity as a threat, Islam sees it as an opportunity to practice forbearance, learn from one another, and come together in shared values of compassion and goodness.

The Power of Compassionate Dialogue and Expression

With freedom of belief comes the need for respectful and compassionate dialogue. Islam highly values freedom of speech – not as an unchecked license to harm, but as a vehicle for truth and kindness. The Qur’an establishes guidelines for discourse that protect human dignity: “Do not insult what they invoke besides Allah or they will insult Allah spitefully out of ignorance.”quran.com. Even when disagreeing with others’ beliefs, Muslims are instructed to speak with courtesy and avoid ridicule or abuse. This verse recognizes the sanctity of others’ religious feelings: if we were to mock their objects of worship, it would only lead to mutual hatred and an escalation of disrespect. Instead, the Quranic ethic is to disagree without being disagreeable, to stand for truth without trampling on others’ honor. In the spirit of this verse, generations of Muslim scholars emphasized adab (etiquette) in debate – listening attentively, using kind words, and appealing to common values. The goal of speech in Islam is not to win arguments or humiliate others, but to call towards righteousness in the best manner. As Allah instructs, “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice, and debate with them in the most courteous way” (16:125).

Freedom of speech in an Islamic sense means the right to speak goodness and stand for justice. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak what is good or remain silent.” This teaching encourages believers to use their words for positive purposes – to uplift, to counsel, to bear witness to truth – and otherwise refrain from harmful speech. One of the most celebrated forms of speech in Islam is speaking truth to power. The Prophet proclaimed, “The best form of Jihad is to speak a word of truth against an oppressive ruler.”jamiat.org.pk. In other words, using one’s voice to defend the oppressed and confront injustice is considered a supreme act of faith. This Prophetic saying affirms that free expression is not only allowed but valorized when it is used for truth and justice. It is a God-given responsibility of the individual to use their conscience and voice in support of what is right, even in the face of authority. Many prophets in the Qur’an – Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all) – exemplified this courage, openly challenging the falsehoods and tyrannies of their time with wisdom and compassion. Their stories teach us that honest testimony and sincere dialogue are pathways to reform and guidance.

Importantly, Islam pairs the ideal of frank speech with the virtue of compassion. We are taught to temper truth with mercy. Even when the Prophet Muhammad had to correct someone or convey an uncomfortable truth, he did so with gentleness. The Qur’an describes him as “kind and merciful to the believers” (9:128) and instructs, “It is by God’s mercy that you are gentle to them; if you had been harsh and hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you” (3:159). This gentleness in communication attracted hearts rather than driving them away. In our own lives, upholding freedom of thought and expression means fostering an environment where people feel safe to share their minds and hearts. We create this safe space through empathy and humility – listening to understand, not to condemn. When we engage in compassionate dialogue, we affirm the inherent worth of the other person’s perspective, even if we ultimately disagree. Such dialogue is itself an act of service and compassion. It reflects the Prophetic ethos of wishing guidance and goodness for everyone. As the Qur’an instructs the Prophet to say, “My Lord knows best who has guidance… I am only a clear warner” (Quran 28:56, 67:26), implying that his role – and by extension, our role – is to convey the message clearly, not to control others’ responses. Guidance is in the hands of Allah, and our speech must be driven by sincere concern and respect for others, not by ego or anger.

Serving Others and Honoring God-Given Freedom

The Hadith Qudsi about finding God through serving others carries a profound message: we serve God by serving humanity. Every act of kindness to a fellow human being is, in reality, an act of devotion to Allah. This concept can be expanded to include honoring the freedoms and rights of others as a form of worship. Just as feeding the hungry or visiting the sick is a way to attain nearness to Godthequran.lovethequran.love, so is supporting a person’s freedom to believe and speak. When we uphold someone’s freedom of religion or protect their right to express their conscience, we are relieving an oppression and fulfilling a trust from God. Consider that forcing someone in matters of faith or suppressing their voice is a form of harm – it causes spiritual and emotional pain. To lift that burden and allow a soul to breathe free is an act of compassion that God loves. It is reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Help your brother, whether he is the oppressor or the oppressed.” The companions asked, “How do we help an oppressor?” He replied, “By stopping him from oppressing others.” One way we can apply this today is by standing up against religious persecution and injustice, whether the victims are Muslim or of any other faith. In doing so, we embody mercy for the oppressed and also guide the oppressor away from sin – truly helping both. This is service to humanity in the highest sense, and thus service to Allah.

Islamic teachings frequently link devotion to God with good conduct towards people. The Qur’an ties piety with ethical behavior: “Righteousness is not [only] in turning your faces toward the east or west, but [true righteousness is in] one who… gives wealth in spite of love for it to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing captives…” (2:177). Freeing captives in our age can mean freeing people from all kinds of bondage, including the bondage of fear and oppression that stifles free thought. When we promote education, when we encourage questioning and learning, when we create a climate where it’s safe to have honest conversations about faith and ethics, we are actually freeing minds – and this is a continuation of the Prophet’s mission to liberate humanity from ignorance (jahiliyyah) and tyranny. Every scholar who wrote books, every teacher who answered questions, every parent who listened to a child’s curious inquiries – all have contributed to an Islamic civilization that values knowledge and intellectual freedom as a form of collective service. The early Muslim community debated interpretations of the Qur’an and Hadith respectfully, recognizing that earnest difference of opinion is a mercy so long as it is in search of truth. By embracing such diversity of thought, they kept the door open for rich scholarship and wisdom, which benefited the entire community.

Furthermore, the spirit of serving others in Islam goes beyond physical needs; it includes emotional support and validation. Sometimes lending a listening ear is the greatest charity. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was a compassionate listener – he gave his full attention to people, making each person feel valued. In doing so, he acknowledged their humanity and agency. We too follow his example by listening to others’ fears, hopes, and even criticisms with an open heart. When someone from a different faith or viewpoint speaks, we show them respect, because in Islam every person’s “honor, property and blood” are sacred (per the Prophet’s Sermon at the Farewell Pilgrimage). Granting someone the courtesy to speak their mind without fear is a way of honoring their sanctity. It is also a way of finding common ground. The Qur’an tells us to say to the People of the Book, “Come to a common word between us and you…” (3:64), inviting others to dialogue on the basis of shared values. This Quranic call encourages Muslims to seek understanding and mutual respect as a form of service to peace in society. In essence, protecting freedom of religion and expression for everyone is part of our duty “to enjoin what is good and forbid what is wrong” – it is an embodiment of justice, which is itself a form of worship. Allah loves justice and has forbidden oppression on Himself and made it forbidden among us. Therefore, standing up for each soul’s God-given freedom is indeed a sacred trust and a service to the Almighty.

Conclusion: Freedom as a Spiritual Path of Mercy

In Islam, freedom of speech, thought, and religion are not merely political ideals – they are deeply spiritual principles rooted in mercy, human dignity, and divine justice. We have seen how a beautiful Hadith Qudsi about compassion teaches us that serving others is a way to find God’s presencethequran.love. This compassionate outlook naturally leads us to uphold each person’s freedom of conscience and expression, since coercion and cruelty are antithetical to the mercy that God commands us to show. The Qur’an and Sunnah consistently affirm that every individual must be addressed with respect and invited to goodness with wisdom, never with force or humiliationislamawakened.comquran.com. By protecting the space for sincere belief and honest dialogue, we are actually honoring the “freedom God has bestowed on every soul.” This freedom is a gift and a test – it allows us to rise to our noble potential or to fall, and only through freedom can love and faith be genuine.

For a religious community, embracing these freedoms means trusting in Allah’s guidance and prioritizing compassion over compulsion. It means we engage with the wider world in a spirit of humble confidence: confident that truth will prevail (for “falsehood by nature is bound to perish” – 17:81), and humble in recognizing that we ourselves were guided by God’s grace, not by any compulsion. We speak out against injustice and falsehood, but we do so with integrity and mercy, reflecting the Quranic balance of “strength in principle and softness in approach.” Our dialogue with others – be they Muslim or not – is marked by a heartfelt desire for mutual understanding and goodwill. We remember that the Prophet (pbuh) transformed hearts not with the sword of coercion, but with the sword of compassion: through patience, forgiveness, and genuine care.

In our homes, our mosques, and our societies, let us cultivate a culture where questions can be asked openly, where differences can be discussed calmly, and where no one fears being shamed for their honest beliefs. Such an environment of compassionate dialogue is itself an act of ibadah (worship), because it fulfills God’s command to be just and kind. It is a way of loving for our fellow humans what we love for ourselves – a cornerstone of our faith. When we allow others the freedom we cherish for ourselves, we are living the Golden Rule that the Prophet ﷺ taught. We are also creating the conditions for faith to take root in hearts by choice, as intended, rather than by force or pressure. This is how freedom becomes a path of mercy and spiritual growth.

In closing, the values of freedom of speech, thought, and religion shine in Islam as part of a greater tapestry of divine values – mercy (rahmah), justice (‘adl), and human nobility (karamah). These are not foreign concepts but integral to our understanding of Tawhid (God’s oneness) and khilafah (our role as moral agents on earth). By serving others and protecting their God-given freedoms, we walk in the footsteps of the Prophet who showed compassion to all. We fulfill the Quranic injunction, “Help one another in goodness and piety” (5:2). And ultimately, we come closer to our Lord. Indeed, when we honor each person’s conscience and expression, we affirm that spark of the divine breath in every soul. We create a society of trust and empathy, where hearts can discover the truth of Islam not behind walls of fear, but in the open air of love and understanding. In such a society, we all find Allah’s grace “with us,” as promised in the Hadith Qudsi, and we hope to hear His pleasure on the Day when “to Him we will return, and He will inform us of what we used to do”. May Allah guide us to be merciful servants who uphold both His divine law and the dignified freedom of His creation. Ameen. islamawakened.com quran.com