Welcoming Mercy
🌟 The Highest Standard in the Land
A Standard So High, Only A True Messenger of God Could Bear It
God did not merely choose the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, He entrusted him with the highest moral and spiritual standard ever placed upon a human being.
In this role, he exemplified accountability, embodying the virtues expected of a messenger.
The Qur’an makes this clear:
“If he [Muhammad] had falsely attributed something to Us, We would surely have seized him by the right hand, then We would surely have severed his aorta…”
(Qur’an 69:44–46)
This was not a threat—it was a Declaration of Divine standard. The Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, was not above scrutiny. He was held to a standard so elevated, so uncompromising, that even the slightest deviation would have warranted immediate Divine correction.
And yet—he accepted it.
He did not flinch. He did not negotiate. He did not ask for leniency. He embraced the weight of Divine trust with humility, courage, and unwavering fidelity.
The Contrast: Satan and the Rejection of Standards
When God commanded Satan to bow to Adam upon him peace, he refused. Not because he misunderstood—but because he rejected the very idea of being held to a standard beyond his pride. He deflected, justified, and ultimately rebelled. He wanted status without surrender. Influence without accountability.
The Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, on the other hand, wanted nothing above the pleasure of God—even if it meant being corrected, even if it meant being publicly reprimanded, even if it meant enduring the trial of Ṭaif, where he was hit from all directions and left face to face with the directionless.
He did not ask for revenge. He asked for guidance—for them. He did not seek comfort. He sought Divine pleasure. He did not resist accountability. He welcomed it.
“If You are not angry with me, I do not care… For You the right to reprimand until You are pleased.”
This is the difference between a soul that surrenders to God and a soul that rebels. Between a leader who transforms and a figure who corrupts.
What This Teaches Us
True greatness is not in being above the law, but in submitting to it.
Mercy without accountability is manipulation or hypocrisy. Accountability without mercy is tyranny. The Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, embodied both, perfectly.
Satan rejected standards. The Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, embodied them. That’s why one was cast out, and the other was raised to the heavens.
When a leader or teacher demands excellence from others but exempts themselves from the same scrutiny, they erode the very foundation of trust and integrity. It’s a reversal of the prophetic model.
The Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, was held to the highest standard—and he accepted it fully. He didn’t ask for privilege; he embraced responsibility. That’s why his mercy had weight, and his leadership had credibility.
Contrast that with leaders who want the perks of authority without the burden of accountability. They:
Preach discipline, but seek revenge.
Demand transparency, but operate in secrecy.
Preach faith, then throw shade.
This is entitlement, not leadership.
When a teacher or leader lowers the bar for themselves, they’re not just failing personally, they’re corrupting the moral ecosystem around them. It sends a message: “Standards are for the commoners. Power is for the exempt.” And that breeds cynicism, not growth.
If a leader wants to be followed, they must first be willing to be held accountable. Otherwise, they’re not leading, they’re performing.
Can Mercy Exist Without Accountability?
In a world that often confuses impunity with Divine authority, the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, offers a radical redefinition of mercy, one that is inseparable from accountability. His mission was not only to deliver revelation but to embody it, even under the most painful circumstances.
Nowhere is this more evident than in his duʿāʾ at Ṭāʾif—a moment of rejection, mockery by fools, and Divine intimacy.
The Trial of Ṭāʾif: Mercy in the Shadow of Stones
He was hit from all directions, to bring him face to face with the directionless. His support gone, his people unreceptive, and his mission seemingly stalled, the Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, walked into Ṭāʾif with hope and left with wounds.
He did not obligate God to his hopes. He trusted. And God responded, not with legions or large CROWD, but with one kind soul.
Mercy Rewarded: One Kind Soul
Addas, a WISE Christian servant, saw the bleeding Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, resting in a garden and offered him grapes. The Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, spoke gently, shared the message of monotheism, and Addas embraced Islam.
Addas kissed the head of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, and embraced Islam.
He saw a man bloodied, rejected, and alone, yet he did not interpret this as Divine humiliation. Why?
Because people perceive reality through the light that governs their hearts.
Addas saw dignity where others saw disgrace. He saw truth standing firm in the face of cruelty. He saw a Messenger who had done nothing wrong, surrounded by people who were doing everything wrong.
The stones they threw revealed their own spiritual poverty. The mercy he showed revealed his Divine strength.
Addas responded not to the noise of the foolish crowd, but to the clarity of character. And that’s the lesson: never internalize the shame of those who are full of it. You give what you own. They gave shame. He gave faith.
How many came to comfort him? One.
But that one was enough. Because the Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, was sincere and true, seeking to elevate truth and God, not himself.
This moment is symbolic:
Mercy bore fruit—literally and spiritually.
Accountability led to transformation.
Surrender and faith were role-modeled with grace.
📚 Classical Reflections: Al-Buti and Al-Sha’rawi
Ramadan al-Buti: Jurisprudence in Vulnerability
In Fiqh al-Sīrah, al-Buti analyzes the duʿāʾ of Ṭāʾif to extract legal and moral lessons:
Prophetic strength in vulnerability: Despite being the best of creation, the Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, expressed his weakness and lack of resources to Allah. Al-Buti teaches that true strength lies in acknowledging one’s dependency on God alone.
The primacy of Divine pleasure: The line “If You are not angry with me, I do not care…” becomes a central focus. Success is measured by pleasure and closeness to Allah.
Patience and perseverance: The duʿāʾ is a model of sabr and thabāt—patience and steadfastness in the face of rejection and psychological warfare.
Perfect character: Even after abuse, the Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, did not curse or retaliate. He turned to God and sought the guidance of his persecutors.
Muhammad Metwali al-Sha’rawi: Spiritual Depth and Divine Light
Shaykh al-Sha’rawi’s commentary brings out the metaphysical and emotional layers of the duʿāʾ:
Absolute reliance (tawakkul): The Prophet’s questions—“To whom have You entrusted me?”—reflect total surrender, not doubt.
Transformative power of supplication: The duʿāʾ becomes a spiritual crucible, deepening the Prophet’s connection with Allah.
Divine light as refuge: “I seek refuge in the light of Your face…” is a metaphysical invocation—seeking protection from the darkness of worldly and spiritual trials.
A prayer for all times: For al-Sha’rawi, this duʿāʾ is timeless—a template for every believer facing hardship, psychological warfare, or despair.
Divine Accountability:
“For You the Right to Reprimand Until You Are Pleased”
Embedded in this duʿāʾ is a profound acknowledgment: “For You the right to socially reprimand until You are pleased.”
This reframes the Prophet’s suffering—not as injustice, but as Divine prerogative. It affirms:
That Allah has the right to correct, call to account, and discipline.
That humility—not humiliation—is the measure of piety and trustworthiness.
“Water flows toward the slope, and solutions arise where difficulties appear.” — Rumi
This is not just metaphor—it’s a lesson.
Difficulty is not a detour; it’s a doorway. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, was hit from all directions, not to be broken, but to be Divinely guided.
Rumi reminds us that hardship is not the absence of Divine favor—it’s often the terrain where Divine solutions descend. Just as water seeks the lowest point, Mercy seeks the humbled heart. And just as Addas appeared in the garden, kindness finds its way to those who trust the slope, not resist it.
So when you find yourself in difficulty, don’t panic. You’re standing where the water flows. Let it carry you—not away from God, but toward Him.
That the Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, did not seek vindication from people, but the pleasure of our Lord.
This is the ultimate submission: accepting not only Divine judgment, but Divine reprimand.
Psychological Insight: Why Accountability Deepens Mercy
Modern psychology affirms that people trust compassionate leaders more when they are also accountable. Leaders who:
Open to correction.
Open to being at fault.
Submit to higher principles than them, not less.
…are seen as more sincere, more trustworthy, and more transformative.
The Prophet’s ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, dua at Ṭaif is a case study in this dynamic. His mercy was not performative—it was forged in the fire of Divine scrutiny.
Final Reflection: Mercy That Transforms
The Prophet ﷺ upon him peace and blessings, was the most accountable of men and the most merciful. His life teaches us that mercy without accountability is indulgence, and accountability without mercy is tyranny. But when the two meet, they produce something Divine.
So let us remember:
“For You the right to reprimand until You are pleased.”
This is not a statement of despair, it is a declaration of loving surrender to God. A love so deep that it welcomes correction, embraces refinement, and seeks only the pleasure of the One who sees all.
He was hit from all directions, not to break him, but to bring him face to face with the directionless. And in that moment, he chose not validation from the crowd, but God. Not wrath, but mercy. Not pride, but prayer.
May we learn to lead with that same moral clarity: To be truthful. To be just. To be merciful. And above all, to be accountable.
Fadwa Wazwaz | Fəd-wə Wəz-wəz is a Palestinian-American born in Jerusalem, Palestine and raised in the US. She is an author of “God Intervenes Between A Person And Their Heart: Key Lessons From The Prophets” and “Love Is Deeper Than Words: Key Lessons From The Prophets.”