The light in others

On a crisp morning, a congregation of 300 or so students was lined up in a school ground. The person responsible to conduct the assembly was absent today. A teacher with a sense of humor asked a junior student to carry out the task. The student was baffled.

“But I have never done this before!” She exclaimed.

“And I trust you can do it confidently. I see it in you.” the teacher affirmed her.

The student got up on the podium and went through the motions, a bit hesitantly at first, but gradually finding pleasure in it. The student secured the job for her remaining good four years of secondary school.

That student was yours truly and my teacher (May Allah place her in the highest ranks of Jannah) was a gem of a person. That day she saw in me what I didn’t know I could do or be and from henceforth I would come to wallow in stage appearances.

Once my daddy casually remarked, while we were watching the Olympic Games, “You can be a marathon runner- you have the stamina and the mindset.”

I didn’t become a marathon runner per se, but I did build the tenacity and determination to go through life’s challenges and never give up.

Oh, one more affirmation that I took to my head rather seriously.

My Ammi, when I refused to budge from my position, let out a frustrated sigh, “bus tum apni derh inth ki masjid bana kar rehna!” (You stay in your one and a half brick masjid you create)

From that day on I have never paid heed to social or societal norms, just for the sake of it. If it doesn’t hurt anyone or anything, I have remained comfortable in my own space.

Kudos to my amma for giving up on me!!!

When Hazrat Yusuf (a.s) told his father about his strange dream, Hazrat Yaqoob (a.s) didn’t deride or made light of the matter. Instead, he listened attentively, endorsed, and inspired the child to endure his unforeseeable trails, to ultimately become a powerful prophet.

The words that we utter have an impact on those around us. A carelessly passed comment can be a devastating blow to someone, or a meaningful affirmation can lift someone up lying in trenches.

Nobody is without faults yet everyone has some good inside her. Proclaiming what’s good in him, the potential he has, his successes, can do wonders in making a person realize what he can be.

But in today’s ever-connected age it has become somewhat of a challenge.

Sure we like someone’s Instagram or Facebook post, but are we doing it out of genuine regard or is it mundane and meaningless flattery?

When we don’t even bother to read the whole post - just dole out a suitable emoticon

When we don’t bother to send a personal message- it’s just forward all or sends all about how wonderful they are

When we offhandedly remark, oh you look so fresh or fit or fat – with no thought

Then it’s better to keep our thoughts to ourselves.

Are we helping people to envision a better them?

“Allah does not forget the good you do nor does He forget the good you did to others and the pain you relieved them from. Nor will He forget the eye which was about to cry but you made it laugh. Live your life with this principle. Be good even if you don’t receive good not because of others' sake but because Allah loves the good-doers.” Ibn ul Qayyim

Choose to put the good on the table.

Choose to inspire someone with our words or actions.

Choose to be attentive and genuine to the people around us.

Choose to validate and instill optimism in our friend, spouse, child, family, or a stranger.

Choose to affirm what’s worthy in someone.