The worst poverty is loneliness

"The worst poverty is loneliness". This is a quote not from some famous personality with a great legacy. Rather this is the statement of a regular Hamiltonian resident when talking about facing poverty.

Living a life of riches we often turn to the impoverished we see around us in moments of altruism. Some of us may even feel a duty to help them out with the hopes that they would do the same if we were ever in that situation. We shower these people with money and gifts, hoping that they would enjoy it and be happy. Yet in all of this, we tend to forget that money and gifts do not bring happiness. It is the meaningful relationships that we make, that bring us joy and contentment.

How often have we ignored a friend in need of some company to be with popular people for whatever reason? We are so involved in helping the needy...well why limit that to those who need money? Why not help those that need company? I have seen relationships blossom and relationships sour. The reason for all of them have been company - excess or the lack of it.

Next time you see a friend or family member looking a little disconnected, or a little subdued and you have something else to do like an assignment to hand in, or a meeting to go to, take the time out for your friend. Trust me; the relationship that you will uphold will sooner or later be much more valuable than the late penalties for the assignment or a little slump in your work.

Life's too short. So give your best shot where it really counts.

Never look down upon someone

As the title aptly puts it, one should never look down upon someone. This is more general than the prohibition of looking down at someone due to his or her genetics, mental and physical faculties, beauty etc. This includes not looking down at someone who seems to have lesser emaan(faith in God) than you do and is prone to falling into sin.

This realization actually struck me when two of the people that I used to look down upon(or atleast not view them in the same light as most others) turned out to be the greatest support during my time of need. Perhaps this was a humiliating punishment that Allah gave me that the ones I looked down upon became my strongest support. Or perhaps it was the ease that follows the hardship such that upon losing my dear father, I found support in even those that I had looked down upon - so much so that I derived the greatest support from them.

I had seen one of them doing something reproachable(perhaps out of ignorance?). That led me into thinking less of that person and in general being awkward around him and avoiding him. He probably didn't even realize it since we really didn't have too much interaction to begin with. Yet when I was at my most vulnerable, grieving over my father's passing away, he was sent as a support by ArRahmaan(the Most Merciful). I shall make du`a that Allah increase him in good and have him live upon Islam and not let him die except as a believer.

The other person I have wronged much and I have much to atone for. This person indeed was a good person and showed signs of increasing emaan, yet I remained contemptuous. Perhaps it was the general attitude of this person that I had been exposed to that made me so reluctant to accept that this person had actually become a better muslim. It was only another brother reprimanding me and exhorting me to think good of this person that made me not say further bad against this good person. This person was another pillar of support send to me by Allah that strengthened me and made me look past the loss of my father but rather at the big picture that everyone has to leave this world - atleast my dad left it in an honorable state.

The support from both of them has humbled me and I pray that my father is granted entry into Jannatul Firdous.

I also pray that both of these people who were my support enter into paradise.