Peace.Now

Went to Masjid in my flip flops the other day.  Warm and humid all day.  you know i think I will wear my sandals to work tomorrow.  Happy days are here again!  Enjoy it while you can folks.  (BTW, it snowed this morning!)

Now and then  this old chap walk down my street.  He looks Ukranian, maybe Jewish.  He sports a knitted hat of some sort.  He is very old and with a lot of effort walks up my street.  Try to  say good morning to him, and ask him how he is.  A smile lights up his face, and he says something which dont undertstand, but acknowledge his response with a smile.  Just the fact he was noticed, made him feel special.  What harm can come to us if by a few words we say brings some kind of comfort? 

On another occasion went to a client’s premises.  It is some kind of a elderly day scheme.  There was this old woman who came up to us making conversation.  A cheerful and chatty lady.  She had a cockney accent, which made me smile a little.  She was chatting about her experiences with buying some devices from electrical stores and her freeview channels. We asked her whether she wanted to sit, and she said no, she was fine.  Alhumdulillah, it was good to lend a human being an ear, and attention.  

A friend of mine.  Not a close one, I add, just someone I know.  his toddler was admitted to hospital for something. I was thinking….if it was my toddler, I would really appreciate someone just ASKING me how he was.  Would console me, that someone thought of my little one, with that in mind, I rang him to ask him how his son was .  He was appreciated, and he was at home now, out of danger.  Call was barely a minute.  It is nice to be remembered, to be appreciated, to be noticed.  Meeting someone once, exchanging names, and then months later meet them again, remembered their name, and greeted them.  Then they might say to you: “oh, you remembered my name!” (i.e. you took me seriously)

We can, with such little effort, “light up” people’s lives.  Just giving them attention.  Asking how they are.  How their families are.  How their pets are :S  You know what I mean.  Is it so difficult?  Perhaps, perhaps not. 

A Saheeh (rigorously authentic) Hadith states: He who visits a sick person dwells in the Khurfah of Paradise.  It was asked: O Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam! What is the Khurfah of Paradise?  He replied:  The harvested fruits of Paradise. (Muslim).

Now, there was this woman in the time of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah grant him Peace).  She was a Jewish woman, who held enmity for him.  She used to leave thorns, rubbish, and excrement in the path of the Prophet Muhammad (May Allah grant him Peace). SHe wanted to cause him as much pain as possible.

He was very much anguished by this, of course.  Imagine having to clean clothes, staying clear of thorns and other filth.  So if it was me, I would be well annoyed (to put it lightly) but Blessed Prophet Muhammad (May Allah grant him Peace) endured this disgraceful behaviour without taking as much as an ounce of revenge.  Now it so happened, that for some days, there was no thorns, anguish or a sign of distresss from this women. 

If it was us, we would have hoped in our hearts that the woman would have kicked the bucket (died for those who are not familiar with weird english phrases).  or moved, or something very very evil happened to them like fell into a well or something.  Behold the conduct of the Blessed Prophet Muhammad (May Allah grant him Peace), who made concern for her, despite her horrible behaviour towards him, asked about her, and discovered she was sick.  He visited her, and asked her how she was.  Now can you imagine for a moment, the reaction of this woman horrified, uh-oh terrified, alarmed?!!?  She was probably thinking, he has come to finish me off, but no he came to ask her how she was, to convey his good wishes in the best manner possible.  Of course, you can guess this woman regretted her actions, and accepted Islam.

Just think and ponder over this for a few minutes.  Someone causes anguish, pain and grief and when they are in need, shows their concern for them, and demonstrates, pristine pure Islamic Character.  These are the teachings of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam which will bring peace and comfort to the lives of each and everyone around us.

How would we have acted in that situation?  How much do we show our care and concern for those close to us, let alone those who wish to cause us harm?   One great Scholar, Shaykh In’aamul Hasan Rahmatullahi Alaih said: Logho ko Rahat ponchawoh which roughly translates, be a cause of comfort for others.

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