Extended Abstract

This essay explores the metaphysical foundations of compassion, especially as understood within the Islamic tradition. It aims to highlight the significance of compassion in both religious and ethical discourse. The essay's central question is how the traditional, metaphysical understanding of compassion, with a focus on the Islamic perspective, differs from modern, secular approaches to ethics.

To address this question, the essay uses a comparative approach, examining the concept of compassion across various faith traditions to demonstrate its universal significance. However, the primary focus is on Islam, where compassion is central to its message.

The essay argues that compassion is crucial for individual and communal life, as well as for holistic moral philosophy, spiritual and ethical growth, and creating a more compassionate and just world.

The traditional understanding of compassion, as presented in the essay, is rooted in the concept of Divine unity. From this perspective, compassion is not merely a human emotion but an essential attribute of the Divine, manifested in creation, revelation, and the guidance of humanity. In Islam, this divine compassion is expressed through the names “al-Raḥmān” (The Most Compassionate) and “al-Raḥīm” (The Most Merciful). These names highlight the all-encompassing nature of God's mercy, which extends even beyond the scope of “al-Raḥīm” to the very essence of the Divine, symbolized by “al-Raḥmān”. The Quran emphasizes that God has made compassion an inherent part of Himself, indicating its integral and inseparable nature to the Divine essence. Therefore, the essay argues, any apparent contradictions, such as the existence of suffering and evil in the world, are not due to a lack of God's compassion but rather stem from human limitations and spiritual ignorance.

Compassion is also intimately connected to the concept of “wajh Allah” (the Face of God), which represents God's presence everywhere and in everything. This concept emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings and the inherent goodness in creation. The essay emphasizes the importance of self-knowledge as a path to recognizing the divine presence within. This inward journey allows individuals to connect with the “hidden treasure” of the divine spark residing in their hearts. This connection is facilitated through remembrance (“dhikr”) and prayer, which are acts of acknowledging the divine presence within and responding to God's compassion.

The essay then contrasts the traditional understanding of compassion with the modern, secular approach to ethics. It suggests that while secular ethics may have contributed to human flourishing in the modern era, it often prioritizes individual autonomy and societal progress at the expense of the metaphysical dimensions of compassion.

This lack of connection to a transcendent source leads to a limited and potentially self-serving understanding of morality. The essay argues that without the grounding of a metaphysical reality, secular ethics risks reducing compassion and other virtues to mere social constructs or personal preferences, susceptible to changing standards and ultimately lacking a solid foundation. The essay illustrates this point through examples from literature, such as Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov and Graham Greene's The Third Man. These examples highlight the dangers of a purely humanistic approach to ethics that fails to recognize the interconnectedness of all beings and the transcendent source of compassion.

The essay acknowledges recent initiatives, such as the Charter for Compassion and A Common Word, which aim to promote compassion and understanding across different faith traditions. While praising these efforts, the essay cautions against the risks of abstracting compassion from its metaphysical roots, which could lead to a sentimentalized and ultimately ineffective understanding of this crucial virtue.

The essay concludes by emphasizing that true compassion arises from recognizing the divine presence within ourselves and in all of creation. This recognition enables us to connect with the source of mercy and extend it to others, fostering a more just and compassionate world. This understanding aligns with the Islamic principle of “Tawhīd” (Divine unity), which calls for recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of all creation and responding with compassion and justice.

Acknowledgement & Funding

· The manuscript did not receive a grant from any organization.

Conflict of Interest

·        The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contribution

All authors share equal responsibility for the content of this paper.

Seddigheh Kardan; Email: Seddigheh.kardan@mail.mcgill.ca; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7748-0582

Ali Lakhani; Email: alil@lakhani-lawyers.com

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