FAJR REMINDER: THINK OF OTHERS!
By: Umm Affan
Shawwal 14, 1439 (28-June-2018)
Do you at all have sympathy for those in distress? People today are fond of flaunting on the social media especially when they buy new car, procure a job or beget a baby. How do you want those desiring such to feel when you boastfully display yours? Do you think of those in hunger before showing your meal on the social media? Alas! Where do you keep your empathy? Is your sensitivity towards the conditions of others dead? Imagine yourself in their situations and see what it means not to have a formal education, job, house, car, wife and child. The Prophet (SallaLlahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) (as recorded in Sahih Al-Bukhari) encouraged us on sympathy saying: “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When one of the limbs suffers, the whole body responds to it with wakefulness and fever.”
In another narration (recorded in Sahih Al-Bukhari), the Prophet (SallaLlahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself.” You need to imagine yourself in someone’s shoes in order to understand his or her situation. Don’t get it wrong! I’m not saying we shouldn’t be happy and thankful over Allah’s Favor. But, show off is discouraged. What’s the need to put one’s life on social media (displaying pictures and so on)? Islam teaches compassion and humbleness. Iyaad Ibn Himaar (RadiyaLlahu ‘Anhu) narrated (as recorded in Sahih Muslim) that the Prophet (SallaLlahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “Allah revealed to me that we should be humble among ourselves and none should show pride upon the others.” I beseech Allah to make us be merciful to ourselves. (Aameen)
