In the previous input, I discussed aspects of humility such as open-mindedness, non-defensiveness, and empathy, and how to think about these things in our striving to reach Jannah. We will continue to look at some additional aspects in this input, and how we might benefit and improve our character inshallah.
سورة العنكبوت ٦٩
وَٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
Surah Al-Ankaboot 29:69
And those who strive in Our (cause),- We will certainly guide them to our Paths: For verily Allah is with those who do right.
* Acknowledgment of mistakes. Humility involves the willingness to admit when we are wrong and to take responsibility for our actions. This includes being able to apologize sincerely and to make things right when necessary. We may relate it to empathy: if we feel that we have done wrong, we can put ourselves in the other person’s shoes and try to imagine ourselves in their situation. How would we like to be treated? The same is true if people come to us and apologizes for something. If they are sincere, then we should hold to forgivness. Though, since people can be different in character and thinking, it may sometimes be a challenge in how to handle these types of things. As I said in my previous input, “if there is a chemistry of respect between people, then that is always a good thing.” Indeed, a good communication with respect between people is always best.
سورة الحجرات ١٠
إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ إِخۡوَةٞ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَ أَخَوَيۡكُمۡۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ
سورة الأحزاب ٧٠
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُواْ قَوۡلٗا سَدِيدٗا
Surah Al-Hujuraat 49:10
The Believers are but a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy.
Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:70
O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and (always) say a word directed to the Right
* Respect for Others. A respect for others goes beyond the aspect of recognizing our mistakes towards a single person. We know that this world consists of countless people, each different from the other. I wrote the following words in the input called “Humans“: “One of the problems most humans have is that we generalize far too often. We put a group of people under the same light. It could be men. It could be women. It could be people of a certain culture, colour (ethnicity), religion, or profession. The cause of this type of thinking is that we identify ourselves outside of that group. We mentally raise an “us and them” line of thinking, a barrier.”
A humble person respects others, acknowledging their worth and treating them with kindness and consideration. We strive to recognize the value of individuals and do not view ourselves as superior.
If we consider a common issue, it may be a situation when you try to explain something to someone, and they don’t get it. Or it takes a long time for them to understand. Many might think of such a person as “stupid” (أستغفر الله). But, just because it takes them a longer time to reach the same conclusion, that doesn’t make them stupid. It just makes them different. Their way of thinking is different. Remember that Allah has given different favours to different people.
In other times, a person may simply not care, their attention is elsewhere. In whatever situation you may find yourself, remember two things:
سورة الفرقان ٢٠
وَجَعَلۡنَا بَعۡضَكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٖ فِتۡنَةً أَتَصۡبِرُونَۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرٗا
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).
The second thing, remind yourself that He sees any person in this same way…
سورة النجم ٣٢
هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِكُمۡ إِذۡ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَإِذۡ أَنتُمۡ أَجِنَّةٞ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡۖ فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡۖ هُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ
Surah An-Najm 53:32
He knows you well when He brings you out of the earth, And when ye are hidden in your mothers’ wombs. Therefore justify not yourselves: He knows best who it is that guards against evil.
Remember that two biological brothers or sisters who come from the same parents do not always agree or think in the exact same way. So how can we start to see things? How can we generally respect people more? It helps when we remember Him. Remind yourself that everyone depend on Allah equally. (Whether they know it or not.) They are His creation just as much as any of us are. As previously mentioned, it always goes best with people who have a mutual respect in return. For others, if there is no way of connecting with them, don’t exhaust yourself. A simple solution…
سورة القصص ٥٥
وَإِذَا سَمِعُواْ ٱللَّغۡوَ أَعۡرَضُواْ عَنۡهُ وَقَالُواْ لَنَآ أَعۡمَٰلُنَا وَلَكُمۡ أَعۡمَٰلُكُمۡ سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ لَا نَبۡتَغِي ٱلۡجَٰهِلِينَ
Surah Al-Qasas 28:55
And when they hear vain talk, they turn away therefrom and say: “To us our deeds, and to you yours; peace be to you: we seek not the ignorant.”
Everything depends on the chemistry between people… but everyone depends on Him and that is calming somehow. He is aware and will judge everyone fairly in the end. That is what we should put our trust in. Reminding ourselves of this may help us see things right inshallah.
We will continue on our path to Jannah next time inshallah, be sure to not miss it. For now, I want to wish everyone a beautiful time, and a happy independence day for Jordan tomorrow (25th of May), from the heart. A beautiful Jumma Mubarak everyone.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
1
1
1
1
1