Why are Some People Merciless Despite Being Religious?

The question raised touches upon one of the most challenging apparent contradictions in society: the paradox between claiming religiosity and exhibiting mercilessness. At first glance, these two concepts, religiosity and mercilessness, seem to be in direct opposition. This is because the essence of all divine religions, especially the noble religion of Islam, is founded upon mercy, compassion, justice, and benevolence. The Holy Quran repeatedly emphasizes these concepts, and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is introduced as the epitome of mercy to all worlds. So, how is it possible for an individual to claim to be religious, yet be devoid of kindness and compassion, and even display hardness of heart? The answer to this question lies in a deeper understanding of the concept of 'true religiosity' and distinguishing it from 'superficial or outward religiosity.' From a Quranic perspective, faith (Iman) is not merely limited to a set of intellectual beliefs or the performance of outward rituals. True faith is a state of the heart that manifests itself in actions and behavior. Allah Almighty introduces Himself in the Quran with the attributes 'Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim' (The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful) and has extended His mercy over all things. The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) was sent as 'Rahmatan lil-Alamin' (a mercy to the worlds). This itself indicates that mercy is the backbone of divine teachings. Therefore, religiosity without mercy and compassion is like a tree without fruit; it has a beautiful appearance but is devoid of its primary purpose, which is to bear fruit and be beneficial. One reason why some seemingly religious individuals are merciless is their lack of a deep and correct understanding of religious teachings. For these individuals, religion has transformed into a collection of dry, spiritless rituals and ceremonies, instead of being a comprehensive and transformative value system that shapes ethics and behavior. These individuals may pray, fast, and perform Hajj, but the essential core of these acts of worship—which is self-purification, spiritual refinement, and fostering empathy with fellow human beings—has not developed within them. The Holy Quran, in Surah Al-Ma'un, admonishes worshipers who are heedless of their prayers and even withhold small acts of kindness from others. These verses clearly indicate that merely performing prayer does not guarantee true religiosity; rather, it is its connection to helping the needy and showing kindness to creation that gives it value. Another reason is entanglement in the snares of self-desire, arrogance (kibr), and worldly attachment (hubb al-dunya). When a person becomes attached to wealth, status, or power, these attachments can harden their heart, preventing them from seeing the suffering of others and feeling empathy. The Quran repeatedly refers to the affliction of the hardening of hearts (qaswat al-qulub) and considers it a result of sins, negligence, heedlessness, and turning away from the remembrance of Allah. A hardened heart is no longer capable of receiving divine light or being influenced by divine verses and signs. Such an individual might even use religious teachings to justify their merciless actions, while being completely detached from the true spirit of religion. This misuse of religion is one of the most dangerous deviations. Furthermore, an individual's religiosity might be mixed with hypocrisy (riya) and deceit (nifaq). A hypocrite is someone who outwardly beautifies their actions to gain people's admiration, while their inner self is corrupt. Such an individual is only seeking social prestige or personal gain, neither seeking divine pleasure nor eternal salvation. Nifaq (hypocrisy) is also a state where an individual outwardly claims faith but is inwardly disbelieving or hostile to the truth. In both cases, mercy and compassion, which are fruits of true faith, have no place in the hearts of these individuals. Islamic teachings place immense emphasis on 'Huquq al-Nas' (rights of people); the rights that humans have upon one another. Violating these rights, committing oppression and injustice, and showing cruelty towards the weak are considered among the greatest sins. Even if an individual performs all their acts of worship perfectly, but wrongs people, their religiosity will be incomplete and flawed. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Whoever does not show mercy to people, Allah will not show mercy to him." This noble Hadith explicitly shows that reciprocal mercy is a basis for receiving divine mercy. In conclusion, mercilessness among some outwardly religious individuals does not stem from religion itself, but rather from weakness of faith, deficiencies in self-purification, environmental influences, and their personal inclinations. Islam, as a complete guide to life, constantly invites human beings to self-purification, acquiring virtuous morals, and avoiding vices. The ultimate goal of religion is to build a human being who is a manifestation of divine attributes, especially mercy and love, on earth. Therefore, hardness of heart or mercilessness is not only not a sign of religiosity but is in complete contradiction to the spirit and truth of Islam. These individuals have, in essence, used religion as a tool for their personal agendas and have deviated from the main path of guidance. To overcome this phenomenon, emphasis must be placed on the importance of self-purification, a deep understanding of Quranic teachings, and the institutionalization of Islamic ethics in societies so that religiosity penetrates from the superficial level into the depths of individuals' souls and becomes a manifestation of mercy and humanity.