Having Empathy and Concern Over Others’ Wellbeing

The unique characteristic of the Qur’an is that, because it is from Allah Who Knows what is in all our hearts, the Qur’an also describes the psychology and inner thoughts of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, a characteristic not available in other books or biographies and neither one that you won’t be able to observe even if you were a companion of the Prophet together with him. Here Allah describes the Prophet’s feelings over others when they turn away from his guidance, in surah Al-Kahf, verse 6 :

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا

“Perhaps, you would kill yourself (O Muhammad ﷺ) in grief over their footsteps (when they turn away from you), because they do not have faith/belief in this narration (the Qur’an).”

This is also mirrored in surah ash-Shu’ara verse 3 and in surah Fatir verse 8 :

أَفَمَن زُيِّنَ لَهُ سُوءُ عَمَلِهِ فَرَآهُ حَسَنًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ فَلَا تَذْهَبْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسَرَاتٍ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ

“Is he, the one who views his evil deeds and considers them to be good (equal to the one who is rightly guided)?

Verily, Allah sends astray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. So do not destroy yourself in sorrow for them. Truly, Allah is the All-Knower of what they do”

Allah here is narrating to us the feelings of grief the Prophet felt when people do not have faith or perform righteousness.

This teaches us a very important sunnah as a believer, in having genuine concern over others’ wellbeing, especially with regards to their religion. Even though we will not bear the burdens and are not accountable over others’ sins and wrongdoings, we should have a genuine feeling of empathy over wanting them to be guided, wanting to save them from the Hellfire, wanting them to also be entitled for the Mercy of Allah with Paradise in the Hereafter.

Many of us today, we make some effort to give da’wah, deliver a message, share some knowledge, but when we a rejected, we give up and justify to ourselves, that “okay I’ve done my part”.

Imagine if you see person who is walking towards a pit of fire below; that person cannot see or perceive the fire, but you can see it. The believer should not only save himself, but to endeavour and try his level best to save that person; not just give up and let him walk into the fire after a few warnings.

This is essentially the way of life which drives the message of surah Al-‘Asr

“(I swear) By the Time. Verily, mankind is truly in a state of constant loss. Except : those who believe, and work righteousness, and continuously enjoin others towards truth, and enjoin others with patience and perserverence”

May Allah make us amongst those who develop concern and empathy over others to continuously enjoin others towards righteousness and good.

Reminder: recite surah Al-Kahf today.

من قرأ سورة الكهف يوم الجمعة أضاءله من النور ما بين الجمعتين

“Whomsoever recites surah Al-Kahf on the Day of Friday, will be given a light between the two Fridays (i.e. until the following Friday)”

(Narrated by Al-Hakim and Al-Bayhaqi. Graded “hasan” by ibn Hajar and “sahih” in Sahih Al-Jami’ Al-Albani)

A Little Inspiration Can Go A Long Way

Around the year 725 CE (100 After Hijrah), the great tabi’I scholar ash-Sha’bi walked by the local marketplace in Kufah, Iraq when he noticed a young merchant there in his early 20’s. Thinking this young man was one of the students of knowledge in his study circles, he asked this young man, “Whose classes are you attending?”

To which this young man replied “Nobody’s” – implying that he is a merchant and not a student of knowledge, as the Shaikh thought.

To this, Shaikh ash-Sha’bi responded, “But I see signs of intelligence in you – you should sit in the company of learned men (scholars)”.

Those words moved this young man’s heart, and made him have deep thoughts contemplating his future. Since then, he made the decision to completely undertake the pursuit of knowledge and eventually became one of the greatest scholars of Fiqh in Islamic history.

This young man was none other than Nu’man ibn Thabit – otherwise known as Imam Abu Hanifah: the scholar of whom the Hanafi Mazhab is attibuted to.

Those concise yet encouraging words of ash-Sha’bi had such a profound impact on this man that it triggered him to become the greatest in his field until this day.

In a more recent example, Shaikh Muhammad Al-Arifi, author of the book “Enjoy Your Life”, once gave a talk to a group of school children. He asked the children, did anyone know of a hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) regarding the importance of the prayer. One of the children responded, by accurately quoting the hadith: “Between a man, and disbelief/polytheism is to abandon the prayer”.

Shaikh Al-Arifi was so impressed by his response and enthusiasm, that he instinctively gave his watch to the boy. The incident moved the boy so much that it encouraged him to study more eagerly and memorize the Qur’an as he had developed a feeling of self-worth.

Years passed by and Shaikh Al-Arifi went to a mosque, found out about a young man who was the imam of a mosque, a graduate in Shari’ah college and was working in one of the official courts. The Shaikh didn’t recognize him at first, but this young man then identified himself with the Shaikh on how the Shaikh had an impact on his life : this was the same boy who was gifted with his watch many years ago!

Notice now, that these weren’t  great lengthy speeches, sermons or a lectures – just small words and gestures of encouragement. In fact, even the smallest gestures of kindness can inspire others. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a master at this – the way he treated his companions, young or  old, rich or poor, family or friend, from the slave to the noble – his choice of words would always have a positive impact and mark on others.

Which should really make us ponder, how much efforts have we done to inspire others?

As parents, husbands, wives, uncles, aunties, brothers, sisters, friends, teachers, classmates, or colleagues to others – we can all do that extra something to make a difference.

It doesn’t take a great deal of academic knowledge, just a sincere yearning and passion to encourage others around us.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“لاَ تَحْقِرَنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ شَيْئًا وَلَوْ أَنْ تَلْقَى أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ”

“Do not belittle or consider insignificant any good deeds that you do, even if it is to meet your brother with a cheerful face”

(Narrated by Muslim)