He
looked as though he had been there for a while; an elderly man in his late
fifties. She saw as he wiped off the sweat that travelled down his face, while
he swept dried leaves off the street.
"Merhaba" She waved, drawing nearer to him on her way to her department. It was one of the few words she knew in turkish, & thankfully that sufficed as a greeting.
"Merhaba" he waved back, his lips curving into a grateful smile, as if it was a part of his burden she had just lifted, as if she had just acknowledged his hard work...
They clocked eyes in the kitchen, and she greeted her with a smile. She was on the phone in a hurry to catch the bus, oblivious of the impact of her small gesture on a girl she didn't know.
It had become a part of her. Hearing her mother say it over and over again, she had learned to greet one and all, "even if you're seeing them for the 10th time in the day" as she would always add, completing her lesson with a reminder of the hadith.
Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
A man asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Which act in Islam is the best?" He (ﷺ) replied, "To give food, and to greet everyone, whether you know them or you do not."
[Bukhari & Muslim]
And so she did. Each time wrapping it up with a smile.
Maybe it meant more to them than she realized. Or maybe, it meant only the apparent. To her she was fulfilling her duty to her Lord, obeying the commands of the beloved prophet salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, & striving to imbibe the best of deeds.
Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said:
“You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam (the greeting of peace) among you.” (Muslim)
Isn't it beautiful how simple short words, or such brief gestures could carry so much weight and be the root of love between people, creating bonds sometimes and breaking barriers; making friends out of strangers or just opening doorways to even more good?
And each time you smile or greet a stranger, a friend, a neighbor or family, it represents an opportunity to earn the pleasure of Allah, and earn Jannah...it establishes humility in your heart, & you'll be spreading the essence of your deen...and even when your greetings aren't met with a worthy response, even then be thankful because those times will serve to keep you focused on the one for who's sake you should do all good.
The best of greetings is the greeting of peace, Assalaamu Alaikum (may peace be upon you) & when we are greeted, we should respond with the same or even more, (wa Alaikumussalaam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu)
"May we greet each other with a smile, a hug & speak kind words"
"Merhaba" She waved, drawing nearer to him on her way to her department. It was one of the few words she knew in turkish, & thankfully that sufficed as a greeting.
"Merhaba" he waved back, his lips curving into a grateful smile, as if it was a part of his burden she had just lifted, as if she had just acknowledged his hard work...
They clocked eyes in the kitchen, and she greeted her with a smile. She was on the phone in a hurry to catch the bus, oblivious of the impact of her small gesture on a girl she didn't know.
It had become a part of her. Hearing her mother say it over and over again, she had learned to greet one and all, "even if you're seeing them for the 10th time in the day" as she would always add, completing her lesson with a reminder of the hadith.
Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
A man asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Which act in Islam is the best?" He (ﷺ) replied, "To give food, and to greet everyone, whether you know them or you do not."
[Bukhari & Muslim]
And so she did. Each time wrapping it up with a smile.
Maybe it meant more to them than she realized. Or maybe, it meant only the apparent. To her she was fulfilling her duty to her Lord, obeying the commands of the beloved prophet salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, & striving to imbibe the best of deeds.
Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said:
“You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam (the greeting of peace) among you.” (Muslim)
Isn't it beautiful how simple short words, or such brief gestures could carry so much weight and be the root of love between people, creating bonds sometimes and breaking barriers; making friends out of strangers or just opening doorways to even more good?
And each time you smile or greet a stranger, a friend, a neighbor or family, it represents an opportunity to earn the pleasure of Allah, and earn Jannah...it establishes humility in your heart, & you'll be spreading the essence of your deen...and even when your greetings aren't met with a worthy response, even then be thankful because those times will serve to keep you focused on the one for who's sake you should do all good.
The best of greetings is the greeting of peace, Assalaamu Alaikum (may peace be upon you) & when we are greeted, we should respond with the same or even more, (wa Alaikumussalaam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu)
"May we greet each other with a smile, a hug & speak kind words"
Ameen ameen.
ReplyDeleteJazakilLah khairan.
May we be rightly guided, ameen ameen.
Allahumma Aameen wa anti fa jazakillahu khairan ♡
DeleteAameen
ReplyDeleteStill Am d Best
ReplyDeleteMatawalle