I hope Eid passed well for everyone and that you spent a beautiful time. Here is a reminder from something I wrote in last year’s Eid input… “let the sharing of good words and deeds continue even after Ramadan. It is important to remember that life continues after the month has passed, and a good thing to continue to strive to be the best person that you can be, inshallah.”
May Allah bless all of you for your striving and good deeds.
As some of you may remember, I had started to write a series of inputs on the topic of generalization in the beginning of the year… and in the last of those inputs, the one called “What impact does generalization have?“, I wrote… “Whether we assume something about a person or a group, I think many of us are already aware of the negative effects of assumptions and generalizations. So, how can we face that reality?”
On that note, we have the title of today’s article… how can we face generalization?
Generalizations can sometimes contain a grain of truth but often ignore individual differences. We have touched that aspect before, but there is a strategy to handle it.
It’s important to question generalizations, and approach people and situations with an open mind. We should remind ourselves of the following words from the Quran… and at the same time remember that these differences exist for a reason.
سورة الروم ٢٠-٢٢
وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنۡ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٖ ثُمَّ إِذَآ أَنتُم بَشَرٞ تَنتَشِرُونَ
وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنۡ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنۡ أَنفُسِكُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا لِّتَسۡكُنُوٓاْ إِلَيۡهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيۡنَكُم مَّوَدَّةٗ وَرَحۡمَةًۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ خَلۡقُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَٰفُ أَلۡسِنَتِكُمۡ وَأَلۡوَٰنِكُمۡۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّلۡعَٰلِمِينَ
سورة الفُرقَان ٢٠
وَجَعَلۡنَا بَعۡضَكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٖ فِتۡنَةً أَتَصۡبِرُونَۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرٗا
Surah Ar-Room 30:20-22
Among His Signs in this, that He created you from dust; and then,- behold, ye are men scattered (far and wide)!
And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.
And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colours: verily in that are Signs for those who know.
Surah Al-Furqaan 25:20
We have made some of you as a trial for others: will ye have patience? for Allah is One Who sees (all things).
Life is a trial. Every person put in our lives is there for a reason. Before judging a group or a person based on assumptions or hearsay, seek to understand the situation, the group, or the person. Remember that you are a unique individual, different from all others around you… but they are equally the same in this as well. No matter who they are. Acknowledge that generalizations are not universal truths and adapt decisions according to what you know rather than what you think you know. In the end, that is the mistake that most people tend to do in this life… we think, we decide, not… we understand, we decide.
We will continue the discussion next time inshallah, make sure not to miss it. For now, I hope you found this input interesting and inspiring, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish a beautiful and blessed Friday. Jumma Mubarak everyone, and a day full of safety and comfort inshallah. All my well wishes, from the heart.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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