The Virtues Series: Episode 11 "Letter To my Neighbour"

To my Neighbour,
Who came knocking
frantically last night
Eyes flooded with tears
Hands trembling with fear
All you needed
was a plate of food
& some water
Yet you were
Full of apologies.

Dear Neighbour,
Why did you apologize?
Even though you
were the one who helped me
My Lord would've asked me
How I could sleep so soundly
While your stomach was empty

You said you couldn't
find the words to thank me
When I am the one
Who ought to thank you
For reminding me of my duty
And making my task easy

I know it must've been hard for you
As you are honorable
But do this for me as a favour
Come to me, anytime dear neighbour.

You are, as instructed by my Lord
Entitled, to my loving care
So please do not hesitate
Come to me, without fear

And each time, I'll owe you gratitude
And I'll pray you're rewarded in multitude
For even though it may seem like I'm helping you
In reality, it is I who is being helped by you.

☆☆☆☆☆

Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while the neighbor to his side goes hungry.”
Source: Sunan al-Kubrā 19049

Umar and Aisha (May Allah be pleased with them) saying that the Messenger of Allah said:
"Angel Jibril advised me continuously to take care of the neighbour till I thought that Allah is to make him an inheritor."

Narrated by Ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
The best friend in the sight of Allah is the one who is good to his companions; and the best neighbour in the sight of Allah is the one who is good to his neighbours" [Tirmidhi]

May Allah make us among those who are good to our neighbours and those who have good neighbours as well.

The Virtues Series: Episode 10 "You Choose What You See"

I met this girl at the airport. We were on transit on our way to school & I was with a coursemate. The airline had reserved accommodation for us at a hotel & it came with dinner & breakfast for the next day before our flight. My coursemate & I were seated at the hotel restaurant for dinner when she walked in, the sound of her shoes making an announcement of her presence. 

It only took two minutes for me to conclude I wouldn't like to be in the company of her kind of person. She seemed noisy, disorganized, & her dressing was far from decent. She walked back & forth, drawing even more attention to herself. Making sly comments about the hotel's service every now & again. 

"Where did you get that orange juice" I thought i heard but couldn't believe she could possibly be talking to me. All i could hear was the repetitive clicking of the gum she was chewing. I all but rolled my eyes. 

"Over there" my coursemate replied, pointing towards the stainless dispenser on the table by our left. "Thank You" she had said, which i barely heard while i was busy wallowing in my judgements of her. 

The next morning we met again, this time she seemed calmer & a little reserved. I realized she hadn't come with anyone on her journey actually, & that fact might have been reinforced on her seeing as almost everyone there had their group of people. Even I had my coursemate, who i had met only at the airport before traveling. 

I was seated at the lobby waiting for the bus to take us back to the airport, my coursemate was still having breakfast and the bus time wasn't due till in 30 minutes. 

I looked up from the phone that had kept me engaged as I heard footsteps approaching, I thought it was my coursemate coming but it wasnt actually. It was the girl from yesterday. She came to sit on the couch opposite mine. We clocked eyes, i smiled. Reflex. But she smiled back. And in that moment i saw what was akin to fear, innocence, sadness, pain. I felt the need to start a conversation. 

"Where are you traveling to?" I asked her. 

"Beijing"

"School..." she added.

"Oh nice..."

"And it's my first year, I dont even know anyone" 

"Wow Okay..."

"But it's okay...I'm sure you'll settle really well...School's going to pick you up?" 

"Yes" she replied. 

"Oh cool then"

"I'm sure it'll be an interesting experience getting to know the environment & all...just feel free to ask questions.."

"Right? I will...thank you" she replied, smiling gratefully. 

And in that short span of time we talked even more about the trip, family, life. She told me that it was her first time travelling alone, & that she missed her family so much. She was terrified of what awaits her at school & the thought of not being able to go back till after a whole session. She was going to study medicine, she said she had heard it was difficult, she felt nervous of whether or not she'll do well with her courses and what challenges she would face. As i listened to her I tried to calm her fears, telling her that nothing in life is beyond our capacities we just need to believe we can and give our best. Challenges will come but we can overcome them with hardwork, faith & optimism.

My coursemate had joined us too and she also gave her some advice. It turned out she knew a few people at the school she was going and she mentioned that they were doing okay and she could ask for them. 

When it was time to part, she waved us with a grin after receiving a tight warm hug & I wished i would meet her again sometime. 

--------

A smile had formed on her mother's lip as she finished the recount of her experience. 

"Won't you say anything?" she asked.

"I think you know it already...you know the lesson of this experience already...

You've seen that the bulk of what people are is how you see them...while you had initially seen her through only her apparent actions, you couldn't connect with her or understand her...but when you looked at her and saw an individual just like you, with a heart & feelings...when you listened to not just her words but her silence, saw not just her eyes but the heart & soul to whom they are a window...you were able to connect & draw closer to her & even assist her...And you know what, perhaps you were right with your initial judgements...perhaps she is actually as you had seen her, a girl, lacking in sufficient decency, disorganized and noisy...but those aren't what define her in totality...those temporary attributes don't form the core of what she is...or can be...we need to refine the way we look at each other, we need to consider each other through eyes of compassion and humanity...as works in progress, fallible as our ownselves...in need of love, & nourishment & betterment...when we look at each other let us see potentials for goodness...our eyes are lenses and what we focus on magnifies...when see each other that way then we can truly help each other, love & care for each other...tolerate & forgive each other, truly be there for each other...and more so, when you look out for the good in others you remind them about their potentials too, you assist them in believing in their own selves too, strengthen them to enhance the good that lies within them...

We are all just amazing, special, unique & beautiful individuals...and to enjoy & benefit from this rich blend of Awesomeness we need to carry within us hearts wide enough to accommodate one & all...openly & freely.

The Virtues Series: Episode 9 "To be Selfish or Not to Be"

"Is it ever okay to be selfish?" she asked

 "Well..." I replied. "What is Your definition of selfish?"

 "When you do things only for yourself? Or When you think only about yourself, without considering others?"

 "Hmm..." I thought.

 But is there really anyone who isn't?

 One way or the other the underlying reason for the things we do are our own selves. Thinking about all the things I've done I can only conclude one thing; I did them because they served ME somehow. When I visit a friend, help someone, call to check on my neighbour, give out to charity; all these may have been deeds for others but in reality they were for ME. I did them because they either made me happy, brought me peace, put a smile on my face, cleared my conscience, made me feel at ease, or even for the reward promised by Allah for every atom of good deed, so He would look down upon Me with His mercy & be pleased Me 

Some people get their happiness from other people's pain, while other's cannot find peace knowing they've hurt a soul. Some people are nourished by giving love & sharing what they have, while others find joy in stashing billions in their bank accounts. 

But I think If you could only recognize what your soul truly needs, if you could recognise it's source of true peace, and the connection between you & every soul out there you'll find that what you do for others serves you too. You'll find that in order to have more peace & happiness, you need to share some with others too. In order to be safe & secure, you need to save, help & protect others too. 

It's like the farmer who gives his neighbour some of his good seeds recognizing that His seeds would have more chances of surviving & maintaining their quality if they're neighbours were good seeds too, not prone to infestation or disease that could spread to them. 

And what if i told you that your chances to succeed were tied to the success of others? Well they are...For the more you assist others the more Allah assists you and the more you forgive others the more He forgives you, the more you cover the faults of others, the more He covers Your faults too, & the more You give to others the more He gives to YOU! So you see, it IS about YOU, but there is really is no you without me or them or us, We are in this together and that's why we cohabit this earth. It's not about Pursuing success, it's about what success Means to YOU. Whether it's fame, a title or a stash of money in your account or whether it is the positive impact you've brought to the world, living true to your purpose on this earth.

 If you ask me I would say its okay to be selfish...Love & Care about others because YOUR life would have more meaning & be better, Help others because Your Lord has asked you to & He would be pleased with YOU, Forgive & be compassionate with others so He can forgive & be compassionate with YOU, Inspire others to do Good, so He can grant YOU the reward for everytime they do it & inspire others too. 

If we all sat to truly think about ourselves we'll find that we can't help but think about others too, for every word we speak, decision we make and action we take affects the next person...To do right by ourselves is to do right by the people, is to not hurt or oppress or be unjust to anyone for that is a discredit to your own self...but we must not also forget the things we owe to ourselves...we must not also forget that the circle is not complete without ourselves in it, as much as we give our love & kindness, we also deserve a share. 

An empty vessel, they say, cannot give out water. If we don't take care of our own selves, then how can we truly extend the care to others without harming ourselves in which case the aim would be defeated? 

So yes be selfish my dear, but know that i am a part of you as you are me.

The Virtues Series: Episode 8 "The Full Measure"

"Excuse me Sir," she called out, as she hastened towards the gentleman that had just left her stall.

"Excuse me please," she called out again, 

He turned to see who was calling, while he used his hand to feel the pocket on his jeans for his phone or wallet. He was wondering if he was called because either of them had fallen or he had forgotten them.

"This fell off the bowl of walnuts i had measured for you" she said, handing him the small walnut as he looked at her in surprise.

"Oh..." he replied. You could've just left it really"

"Well, but it wasn't mine to keep. You paid for the full bowl.."

"& this wouldn't have reduced..."

"But it was a part of it...and you paid for the full measure" she cut in, before he finished his sentence. "So it's yours," she added, "here it is Sir, thank you"

"Thank you too" he said, after collecting it.

He walked back to his car still quite perplexed.

"Strange Woman" He said to himself as he entered his car to drive away. 

"Who still does this in our era?"

He turned the ignition to start his car, & almost immediately the Qur'an recitation he was listening to earlier, resumed again. 

It began the next Surah, Al-Mutaffiin;

“Woe unto those who give short measure, those who, when they are to receive their due from people, demand that it be given in full but when they have to measure or weigh whatever they owe to others, give less than what is due. Do they not know that they are bound to be raised from the dead (and called to account) on an awesome Day, the Day when all men shall stand before the Sustainer of all the worlds?” [1-6]

"SubhanAllaah..." He said, after listening to the first six Ayahs. 

"SubhanAllaah...Perhaps these were the words that drove her actions. Perhaps these were the warnings she feared, thinking about the day of Reckoning, while many remain heedless.

And how often do we forget things like this?

How often do we underestimate "little" things like giving back fully for what we are being paid? When a job contract stipulates a number of hours but we cut it short because everyone else is doing that or no one would notice. When we are required to give a measure and we approximate to the lower value because the extra digits are "insignificant"...these are all things we owe and for which we will be called to account on the final day.

“She is certainly among the few…” he thought. “ Who pay heed to the timeless instructions of the Qur'an, those who hold on to its values and imbibe it's teachings in spite of what the norm is, those who stay true to their words and dealings and would be rewarded with Jannah Bi idhnillaah."

O Allah make us among your faithful servants, those who are gifted with the Consciousness of You at every moment, in every thought and action, those who Remember You, and Seek only Your pleasure & mercy & not those who earn Your wrath. O Allah assist us to imbibe the teachings of Your Qur'an so that it reforms us and beautifies us and guides us, forgive us where we fall short, guide us to only do that which you love and avoid that which you don't. Help us to recognize the right things to do and enable us to carry them out & help us to recognize the wrong things to do and enable us to avoid them." 

“And O Allah," He smiled thoughtfully. 

He wasn't going to finish his du'a without praying for the one who inspired it.

"Bless this woman & put Your blessings in her work and increase her in everything good. Aameen."