The Prophet of Mercy Website

He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was especially fond of children and used to get into the spirit of childish games in their company. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, would have fun with the children who had come back from Abyssinia and tried to speak in Abyssinian with them. It was his practice to give lifts on his camel to children when he returned from journeys. [Al-Bukhaari]

He, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, would pick up children in his arms, play with them, and kiss them. A companion, recalling his childhood, said: "In my childhood I used to fell dates by throwing stones at palm trees. Somebody took me to the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, who advised me to pick up the dates lying on the ground but not to fell them with stones. He, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, then patted me and blessed me." [Abu Daawood]

Towards the Poor

 The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, enjoined upon Muslims to treat the poor kindly and to help them with alms, zakaat, and in other ways. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "He is not a perfect Muslim who eats his fill and lets his neighbor go hungry."

He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, asked: "Do you love your Creator? Then love your fellow beings first."

Monopoly is unlawful in Islam and he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, preached that: "It is difficult for a man laden with riches to climb the steep path that leads to bliss."

He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, did not prohibit or discourage the acquisition of wealth but insisted that it be lawfully acquired by honest means and that a portion of it would go to the poor. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, advised his followers: "To give the laborer his wages before his perspiration dried up."

He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, did not encourage beggary either and stated that: "Allaah is gracious to him who earns his living by his own labor, and that if a man begs to increase his property, Allaah will diminish it and whoever has food for the day, it is prohibited for him to beg."

To his wife he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "O 'Aa'ishah, love the poor and let them come to you and Allaah will draw you near to Himself." [Al-Bukhaari]

One or two instances of the Prophet's concern for the poor may be given here. A man from Madeenah, Ibaad Ibn Sharjil, was once starving. He entered an orchard and picked some fruit. The owner of the orchard gave him a sound beating and stripped off his clothes. The poor man appealed to the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, who remonstrated the owner thus: "This man was ignorant, you should have dispelled his ignorance; he was hungry, you should have fed him."

His clothes were restored and, in addition, some grain was given to him. [Abu Daawood]

A debtor, Jaabir Ibn Abdullaah, may Allaah be pleased with him, was being harassed by his creditor as he could not clear his debt owing to the failure of his date crop. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, went with Jaabir to the house of the creditor and pleaded with him to give Jaabir some more time but the creditor was not prepared to oblige. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, then went to the oasis and having seen for himself that the crop was really poor, he again approached the creditor with no better result. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, then rested for some time and approached the creditor for a third time but the latter was adamant. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, went again to the orchard and asked Jaabir to pluck the dates. As Allaah would have it, the collection not only sufficed to clear the dues but left something to spare. [Al-Bukhaari]

His love for the poor was so deep that he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to pray: "O Allaah, keep me poor in my life and at my death and raise me at resurrection among those who are poor." [An-Nasaa'ee]

Towards Animals

The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, not only preached to the people to show kindness to each other but also to all living souls. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, forbade the practice of cutting tails and manes of horses, of branding animals at any soft spot, and of keeping horses saddled unnecessarily. [Muslim]

If he saw any animal over-loaded or ill-fed he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, would pull up the owner and say: "Fear Allaah in your treatment of animals." [Abu Daawood]

A companion came to him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, with the young ones of a bird in his sheet and said that the mother bird had hovered over them all along. He was directed by the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, to replace her offspring in the same bush. [Abu Daawood]

During a journey, somebody picked up some birds eggs. The bird's painful note and fluttering attracted the attention of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, who asked the man to replace the eggs. [Al-Bukhaari]

As his army marched towards Makkah to conquer it, they passed a female dog with puppies. The Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, not only gave orders that they should not be disturbed, but posted a man to see that this was done.

He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, stated: "Verily, there is heavenly reward for every act of kindness done to a living animal."

http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=articles&id=136183