I just came back from a family holiday to Perth, Australia last week. There were 9 adults and 1 toddler travelling together, we all stayed under one roof in a beautiful homestay and went to and fro in a 12 seater commuter van. As fun as it was, I couldn't wait to go home and have my 'hermit' time. I have been (sort of) working from home for almost 2 years this month, so I have technically been living a life of an introvert - pretty minimal interaction with people, apart from clients, family and the little colleagues that I have. I told my husband I like staying at home and didn't feel the need of having to go out and meet people so much. Though this may seem like a quality of a good wife (I wish!), he didn't quite agree - he told me I have to go out and meet people, interaction will give rise to the opportunity for 'sharing knowledge with one another' and strengthen our silaturrahim (bonds of brotherhood).
Well as fate would have it, I got myself another reason of why I had to 'be outside'. Allah swt has granted us akal/the faculty of mind so that we can think, we can reason, we can differentiate right from wrong. What could better work as stimulus for our mind than the physical world we live in. I had my lunch at Coffee Bean earlier today, and spent RM 30 on a lasagna and iced chocolate mousse latte - considered it as a treat since I just received my proofreading paycheck. The I went to the fruit shop to get some fruits...outside the shop was an elderly Chinese man, squatting and going through the rubbish bags in front of the shop for recycled paper. :( :( I gave the old man RM 10, and he replied with a thank you while putting both hands together as a sign of gratefulness. I went back to the car and here I am in front of the computer still thinking about the old man - where is his family, how long has it been since he has eaten, why is he still working? My RM 30 meal feels so undeserving - I feel bad for having a pricey meal. Some may argue that we should not think too much, that we have a right to spend as we wish because we worked hard to earn money...bla bla bla... If I did not bump into that old man, I would feel the same...but I went out today, and met someone who was struggling to make ends meet. How can I then feel that it is okay to spend so much on 1 meal, when the same amount could probably last him a few days worth of meals?
2015 seemed to be a hard year for many (economically) based on what we all saw being reported in the news. We saw a lot of price hikes in different areas - marginal effects to some...definitely major to those earning minimal income. This story from the time of Umar al Khattab r.a came to mind, and I've been meaning to share it for quite some time now -
It was the year of the famine. Umar took pains to ensure that adequate relief reached all people, and that there were no persons in the city who went to sleep hungry.
One night as usual Umar went on his round. He was accompanied by his slave Aslam. As he strolled from street to street all was quiet and the people seemed to be asleep. Umar thought to himself, "Thank God, there is no one in this city whom the famine has afflicted."
Then as he turned a corner he saw a cottage where light was burning, and from where the sound of the weeping of the children was heard. Umar went to the cottage. He saw that the lady of the house was cooking something on the hearth, and the children were crying.
Umar knocked at the gate, and addressing the lady of the house Umar enquired why were the children crying. She said that they were crying because they were hungry. "And what are you cooking", asked Umar. The lady said that in the kettle there was only water and stones. That was to while away the children that food was being cooked for them. She hoped that exhausted the children would go to sleep.
Hearing this tale of woe, Umar felt guilty. He had thought that because of the arrangements made by him, no one was afflicted in the city and here was a family which was starving. Umar said to the lady that he would arrange relief for her family immediately.
Umar went to the Baitul Mal. There he put the necessary provisions in a bag and carried the bag to the cottage. His slave insisted that he would carry the bag, but Umar said that he would carry his burden himself. Umar handed over the bag of provisions to the lady. Umar sat by the hearth and helped the lady cook the meals. When the meals were ready the children were awakened and served with the delicious meals. As the children ate to their fill and were satisfied they smiled the smile of happiness. Seeing the destitute children smile Umar also felt happy.
Umar enquired of the lady whether there was none to support. She said that the father of the children had died, and there was no body to support. Whatever little was in the house had been gradually used up and they were starving since the last three days.
Umar asked the lady why she had not brought her distress to the notice of the Caliph. The lady said that in spite of her poverty she had some sence of self-respect and she could not go and beg the Caliph for any favour. She added that it was incumbent on the Caliph to ascertain that there was no one in his charge who was starving.
Umar said, "You are right. Please excuse me for the remissness in the past. For the future it will be my responsibility to see that your wants are satisfied."
And when the lady realised that the man who had come to her relief was the Caliph himself, she felt satisfied that the Caliph had discharged his onerous responsibilities creditably.
The messages I got from this story are:
1. Real Muslim leaders take care of the welfare of every member in society. For those who knew, Umar al Khattab did not live in a palace or grand residence. The Caliphs (and of course Rasulullah saw) did not live a life of wealth or extravagance. It was unthinkable to live in luxury if there were people suffering.
2. While it may be easy to shift the blame on the leaders/government for not helping the poor, I think that everyone has equal responsibility to help alleviate financial burdens of others in need. It could be our neighbours, our colleagues or even the makcik cleaner at our office. :)
Thank you.
Sincerely,
ASH
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