Just a few minutes to ponder [Archives:2008/1121/Community]
By: Lamis Abdulkarim Shuga'a
[email protected]
Several times, we've heard worthy speeches, especially from those with considerable experiences, but haven't realized their importance or value until pondering them more deeply and seriously. What I mean is that if we consider them carefully, we can determine their value on one hand, while benefiting from them on the other.
An important sentence uttered by famed Islamic propagandist Amr Khalid caught my attention. I concentrated upon a particular sentence in his long speech, considering it for a couple minutes.
Khalid said that most, if not all, problems around us arise for one reason: each person's ignorance of his or her rights, first toward himself, and then toward others. In other words, if everyone knew their exact rights and duties toward others, as well as the duties they should receive from others in return, there most certainly would be fewer problems in our societies in general and in our lives specifically.
Such a useful idea must be taken into account, but also adhered to and practiced faithfully in our daily lives.
First, I must admit that no one is perfect. In fact, every one of us makes different types of mistakes and fails to fully accomplish our duties – whether ours or others' – for one reason or another. Moreover, we often continue doing those mistakes, even if we know their consequences.
Maybe it's our nature, but we must obey the rules and do our duty as best we can in order to avoid expected problems on one hand, and receive reward, whether in this life or in the afterlife, on the other.
As the Qur'an says: “Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, to him will We give a new life, and life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.” (Surat Al-Nahl: 97)
Using some examples, I'll explain what I mean and what I wish to convey in detail, thereby showing to what extent we can benefit from Khalid's idea, beginning with the smallest segment of society – the family.
Many problems occur can between husbands and wives due to the carelessness or failure of one or both to fully carry out their duties. For example, a husband may become angry if he notices some housework being neglected, especially if the reason is insignificant, or if his wife or children don't obey some of his orders.
Another situation that may disturb a husband is if he sees his wife not restricting the household budget by thoughtlessly buying many things or cooking more than necessary.
On the other hand, a husband may have some unreasonable or bad behaviors that annoy his wife, thereby causing problems for himself, for example, neglecting household demands, being careless toward his wife or children or treating them rudely. Selfishness can prevent him from sharing housework with his wife, etc.
Additionally, due to problems at work, many husbands return home with loud shouting and nervous behavior, however, this common problem can be solved if husbands do as one of my relative's friends does. Upon returning home, he throws all of his work problems onto a small tree near his home. Calling it “the problems tree,” he takes them back when he goes to work again. In this way, he can reduce a lot of troubles with his family.
Wives can avoid many problems if they're more satisfied, patient and can bear with their husbands, while at the same time, accepting their fate and performing all of their required duties sincerely. Likewise, children should adhere to their duties and the house rules according to Islamic instruction.
Moving on to another segment, schools, we can apply the same concepts. For one reason or another, some teachers don't fulfill their work obligations completely or don't obey school rules, which consequently lead to continuing problems with either the school's director, students' families or sometimes the students themselves.
On the other hand, students may be rude to teachers if questioned about their homework or if they don't study well, etc. Hence, students must obey their teachers and do their duties; otherwise, they'll almost certainly face problems and fail to be successful in their school work. It's not amazing to say the same thing regarding politics. Some nations unrightfully interfere in the affairs of others, which leads to conflicts. Such matters wouldn't occur if those countries perceived the precise limits of their treatment of others.
In many places and with different types of people, we can observe other types of failure in various areas; for example, at work, in public places, in streets, in markets, with neighbors, etc.
In conclusion, what I want to say can be summarized in the following hadith by the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh): “One good thing about those in Islam is that they let alone what doesn't have meaning for them.”
A Yemeni proverb further asserts, “No one will abuse you if you remain silent,” which, in this case, means that the one who is silent fulfills his duties and doesn't cause problems.
Lamis Abdulkarim Ahmed Shuga'a is an English teacher from Taiz currently pursuing a master's degree at Taiz University's English Department Language Center.
——
[archive-e:1121-v:15-y:2008-d:2008-01-17-p:community]
