Brighten your day with ‘half a meal’
Most Nigerians today have one thing or the other to complain about. Naturally, man would always have something to complain about. While some of these complaints are genuine, others are hypocritical and baseless. For example, the haves-not (including workers) complain about prohibitive prices of food items, high cost of transportation, as well as unpaid salaries […]
Most Nigerians today have one thing or the other to complain about. Naturally, man would always have something to complain about. While some of these complaints are genuine, others are hypocritical and baseless. For example, the haves-not (including workers) complain about prohibitive prices of food items, high cost of transportation, as well as unpaid salaries and allowances. As a worker or low income earner, you are most often under pressure to settle utility bills. You are also subjected to some financial trauma each time you attempt to reconcile between your salary (or income) and your domestic but essential demands of survival.
On the other hand, the well-to-do including highly placed public officers are bellyaching over some fiscal policies of government such as BVN, IPPIS, whistle blowing, as well as the offensive launched against treasury looters by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Both groups, however, have common issues they grumble about. These include unsteady power supply, bad roads, collapsed education system, limited access to primary healthcare, insurgency, kidnapping, armed robbery, etc. Indeed, many people live in fear, in disease, and in abject poverty. La Hawla Wa La Quwwata illa Bi-llah!
But even for those who are justified in their complaints, they must not despair. Allah (SWT) affirms to us in Qur’an 94:6 “Certainly, with every difficulty, there is ease”. We should therefore remember that ‘no condition is permanent’. We must not allow unpleasant events or issues which (as elements of destiny) are beyond the natural control of man to block us from experiencing the ‘scarce’ joyful moments of our life. No situation, no matter how bad, should supress a person from being cheerful and lively or from creating a friendly environment for others to be happy.
Some adverse situations that could make a person unhappy and perhaps psychologically devastated include illness, demise of a beloved family member, loss of job, failure in business, destruction of farmlands and crops by flood or insects, loss of property to fire or other forms of natural disasters, etc. Allah (SWT) already prepared our minds for these forms of trials as stated in Qur’an 2:155 “Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and huger, some loss in gods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere”.
What is expected of man when a calamity of any kind befalls him is to patently persevere. That is simply a practical expression of belief in destiny, which is one of the fundamental articles of faith in Islam. As believers, we must all the time strive to make life worth living; our predicaments notwithstanding. When we meet others, let us smile or at least remain cheerful. The smile on our faces is a strong mechanism that could brighten the day for several others and make their day. A Latvian proverb says, “A smiling face is half the meal”. A smile is ‘a curve’ that can set many things straight; for you or for others. There are many ways by which we can do that. And like courtesy, it actually costs nothing to so as it functions with no financial liability.
When we meet people, let us greet them pleasantly and with a sincere sense of humility. Islam looks at the act of salutation as a matter of responsibility and not just a mere social function. The goodwill inherent in the exchange of greetings when people meet has the capacity to change the emotional state of an individual from sadness or depression to happiness. Imam Muslim relates on the authority of Abi Dharr (RA) who said the Prophet (SAW) exhorted him to meet people with a face that is contempt-rid and scorn-free. Our greetings should be warm enough to brighten the day for others. It should not be scornful or supercilious as to spoil their day.
The Prophet (SAW) said “the person riding should first greet the one on foot; the person on foot should first greet the one sitting; the seated should first greet the one lying just as a small group of people should first greet a larger group’. Abu Daud relates on the authority of Abi Amamah Sudayyi (RA) that the best of men in the sight of Allah is the first to greet the other. Abu Daud further relates on the authority of Barai (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said, “No two believers shake their hands to greet but Allah forgives them before they part”.
What we say to people and the way we say it matters in brightening or darkening the day for others. Let us use our tongues for speeches that will make people happy. Let us avoid making our tongues as sources of displeasure or unhappiness for others. You can make it a brilliant day for people by congratulating them over their successes, whether small or huge. By so doing, you may (Allah knows best) be unearthing the source of your own success.
The manner we part with people could also make or mar their day or ours. It is sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) to pray while parting with a visitor or a traveller. Our prayers when we meet or pat could be the source of great relief from our worries and the beginning of a lively day. We may be ‘adding salt to injury’ if, in spite of the hard economic situation in the country, we still do things to further displease ourselves or to the chagrin and provocation of our fellow countrymen and women. May Allah (SW7) grant us the will to be cheerful and the spirit to always brighten the day for ourselves and for others, amin.