In Islam, Kindness is a big deal. Kindness is mentioned many times in the holy Quran, and it’s rare to read about the Prophet Muhammad PBUH without seeing his kindness pouring off the page…
Kindness is mentioned towards parents even when they attain old age and become a liability for a person. “Your Lord has decreed, that you worship none save Him, and (that you show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both attain old age … speak unto them with a kind word.” (1723)
Acts of charity should also be accompanied by words of kindness (which are free) “Those who spend their wealth for the cause of Allah and afterward make not reproach and injury to follow that which they have spent, their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear to come upon them, neither shall they grieve.”(2262)
Even In a marital relationship, the man has been given the responsibility to protect and provide for his wife, and the wife is similar to her husband. Both spouses become a “garment” for each other, preserving and protecting each other through kindness and compassion.
The years 2020 and 2021 will no doubt be remembered as “The Covid Years” for the foreseeable future. This global pandemic has changed a lot of what we considered to be “normal life”. Our work and school circumstances have changed. Our travel routines and destinations have changed. For many of us, even a simple trip to the grocery store has changed.
These changes might seem minor to us, or they might cause us a great deal of anxiety and stress…
Which makes it easy to forget the suffering of those brothers and sisters overseas. Our summer holidays being canceled is nothing compared to people in the sub-continent being unable to provide breathing apparatus for COVID-affected people.
Learning or working online is frustrating, but nothing compared to the Palestinian family who has come home to find their home in rubble.
The annoying face mask at the grocery store is nothing compared to mothers in Yemen who can’t provide baby milk to their toddlers.
So it’s all relative….
Sure this COVID thing has made life harder for us. Of course. I’m with you.
But let’s put our daily hassles and frustrations to one side for a second and imagine… just try to imagine that life. Wallahi, it’s nearly impossible.
I was speaking to a friend recently who said to me “Whenever I get down about COVID, lockdowns, restrictions, vaccines, or anything… I just open my phone and donate to feed a poor person… it’s like medicine in my chest”.
Kindness in Islam
In Islam, Kindness is a big deal. Kindness is mentioned many times in the holy Quran, and it’s rare to read about the Prophet Muhammad PBUH without seeing his kindness pouring off the page…
Kindness is mentioned towards parents even when they attain old age and become a liability for a person. “Your Lord has decreed, that you worship none save Him, and (that you show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both attain old age … speak unto them with a kind word.” (1723)
Acts of charity should also be accompanied by words of kindness (which are free) “Those who spend their wealth for the cause of Allah and afterward make not reproach and injury to follow that which they have spent, their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear to come upon them, neither shall they grieve.”(2262)
Even In a marital relationship, the man has been given the responsibility to protect and provide for his wife, and the wife is similar to her husband. Both spouses become a “garment” for each other, preserving and protecting each other through kindness and compassion.
The years 2020 and 2021 will no doubt be remembered as “The Covid Years” for the foreseeable future. This global pandemic has changed a lot of what we considered to be “normal life”. Our work and school circumstances have changed. Our travel routines and destinations have changed. For many of us, even a simple trip to the grocery store has changed.
These changes might seem minor to us, or they might cause us a great deal of anxiety and stress…
Which makes it easy to forget the suffering of those brothers and sisters overseas. Our summer holidays being canceled is nothing compared to people in the sub-continent being unable to provide breathing apparatus for COVID-affected people.
Learning or working online is frustrating, but nothing compared to the Palestinian family who has come home to find their home in rubble.
The annoying face mask at the grocery store is nothing compared to mothers in Yemen who can’t provide baby milk to their toddlers.
So it’s all relative….
Sure this COVID thing has made life harder for us. Of course. I’m with you.
But let’s put our daily hassles and frustrations to one side for a second and imagine… just try to imagine that life. Wallahi, it’s nearly impossible.
I was speaking to a friend recently who said to me “Whenever I get down about COVID, lockdowns, restrictions, vaccines, or anything… I just open my phone and donate to feed a poor person… it’s like medicine in my chest”.
Maybe we should give that medicine a try…