At its very basic form, kindness is part of all living beings' DNA and not just human beings. We know that kindness exists even in the animal world. Babies recognize kindness even before they recognize spoken words. We all appreciate people who are kind to us and we normally despise the ones who are harsh towards us.
In some cases, kindness is considered better than charity
Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. And Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most Forbearing.
Charity is not always with good intentions. We might give charity because we have social pressure or because we feel guilty for not doing so. But kindness has to come from the heart. We can't be kind and have ill feelings for someone for example. Sometimes kindness touches someone's heart more profoundly than material goods or money.
Being kind to one's parents
And We have commanded people to ˹honour˺ their parents. Their mothers bore them through hardship upon hardship, and their weaning takes two years. So be grateful to Me and your parents. To Me is the final return. But if they pressure you to associate with Me what you have no knowledge of, do not obey them. Still keep their company in this world courteously, and follow the way of those who turn to Me ˹in devotion˺. Then to Me you will ˹all˺ return, and then I will inform you of what you used to do.
It's important to note that even if Allah mentions not obeying our parents if they ask us to do something that goes against Islam or if they ask us to associate someone else with Allah (which is the highest sin in Islam). He has still commanded us to "keep their company in this world courteously".
Kindness toward orphans
And when [other] relatives and orphans and the needy are present at the [time of] division, then provide for them [something] out of it [i.e., the estate] and speak to them words of appropriate kindness.
Dawah without kindness is invalid
And lower your wing [i.e., show kindness] to those who follow you of the believers.
This one is common sense in our opinion. Our character, kindness and care should invite people over to Islam even before we engage in dawah. Prophet Muhammad was of the highest character and he was kind to even folks who were harsh towards him. The least we can do is try to mimic his character and kindness.
If you were invited to dinner and the food looked rotten, would you sit down and eat? Probably not. How can we expect our fellow human beings to get curious about the deen and accept it if our character, as ambassadors of Islam, is rotten.
One of the attributes of Allah is kindness
And [there is a share for] those who come after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful."
Allah's kindness towards us is boundless. Look around you, his kindness is evident everywhere. He has given us eyes to see our loved ones. He has given us the ability to walk upright in a gracious manner. He has given us ears to listen and a mouth to express ourselves. Above all, every single day, he protects us and provides for us.
May Allah grant all of us understanding and He knows best.
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