By: Gul-e-lala Rafique
We live in a time when everyone is busy, and sparing time for someone is not just difficult but deeply valuable. Today I visited my neighbours whom we know since we shifted to the hometown where I live. The aunty has grown really old. She shivers, forgets things and cries like a baby. When I met her she said to me, “ I’ve been waiting for you and was asking Allah جل جلالهwhat kind of neighbours I have who don’t visit me even on Eid?” I was ashamed and realised that humans crave for bonding and that we should take care of our neighbours as our Deen teaches us.
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“Jibril kept recommending me to treat my neighbour well until I thought that he would tell me to make him one of my heirs.”
(Bukhari: 6014)
In another Hadith, Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“He is not a believer who eats his fill whilst his neighbour beside him goes hungry.”
The aunty has two daughters-in-law who love fashion and dressing up. I was wearing my Eid dress and we started talking about the current trend of solids and co-ord sets. I also told them about the places from where they can get dyed dupattas (scarves) as it is the most challenging thing for ladies to match dupattas with their outfits. 😅
Gradually, the conversation shifted and I asked about their parents specially about their health because one of them was worried about hers. The discussion got serious as we started talking about the uncertainty of life, the current global situation and the purpose of our life. She said that indeed life is very uncertain and mentioned some recent deaths she heard about. In one case, there were 4 people in a car and one of the lady who had passed away had offered Isha prayer 15 minutes earlier than the time before leaving for a wedding because she feared that she would miss her Salah (prayer). At this I told her that she prioritised Allah جل جلاله and we hope that she’ll be in Jannah (Paradise). I added that we are chasing materialistic things and there’s no end to it. Also, this is the very reason we are not content and happy in our lives and Allah جل جلاله has mentioned about it in the Qur’an that humans are ungrateful.
I told her that psychologists tell us to daily write 10 things for which we are grateful and see how our life changes. Also, by witnessing the current global situation and tests of life, what truly matters is our connection with Allah جل جلاله and our deeds. When we know the purpose of life, worldly issues won’t bother us because we would know that what lies ahead is far greater than what we are chasing in this Dunya.
It was a heartfelt conversation and I felt so bad for visiting them after so long. It’s really good to have these conversations as they are not reminders for others only but for us too to focus on what truly matters.
