Magnanimity of Islam

The Islamic Law is still more magnanimous, and irres-pective of faith, race and race faith, and colour, it honours the entire humanity. The Qur'an declares: {We have honoured the sons of Adam}

This honour is the birthright of all persons, and with respect to creed and knowledge and the mode of living provides the same opportunities for all men. It is the duty of the Islamic state to support them all in all these matters without distinction. The Islamic Shari'ah takes man to an even higher plane, and says that decisions shall be taken by God in matters of the rewards and punishments not on their outward appearances and acts but in accordance with their intentions (niyat).
The Prophet says: "Certainly, Allah does not look to your forms and countenances but to your hearts" (Muslim)

Rewards and punishments depend on intentions. So we find the following tradition of the Prophet, which has been reported by all the Traditionalists: "All acts depend on intentions and there is for everybody what he intended"

And along with that Islam has also pointed out that the intention agreeable in the sight of God is that doing good, beneficence and seeking the countenance of God must be intended and no material or commercial object-ives must be in sight. The Qur'an says:
{And adore your Lord; and do good; that yet may prosper}

For this good turn that is done only to seek the countenance of God, it is not right to expect any return from the person benefited. The Qur'an has said: {And they feed, for the love of God, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive, (Saying), "We feed you for the sake of God alone; no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks}

The Wide Scope and Perfection of Magnanimity
Islamic legislation takes its philanthropy to perfection when it brings men, animals, plants, in-animate objects, the earth and the heavens to slavery of God and obedience to the Jaws of nature. The Quran reminds every believer in a beautiful manner in every unit (Rab'at) of the prayer: {Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful} (Al Qur'an I:1-2)

And in this way it demands of every Muslim that he must always keep it in view that he is a part of the universe which is the creation of the Most Gracious, Most Merciful Creator, Whose Mercy extends to every-one and everything. Therefore every Muslim ought to make himself the manifestation of His attribute of Mercy in this universe of His in which he is living and depends on it too for his needs, although God does not in the least stand in need of his devotion and service.