April 08, 2011

Understanding Allah's mercy


If it’s not because of this single beautiful verse from Quran, we would think that this world is way too cruel and unfair.

“Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of your Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their work. But the Mercy (Paradise) of your Lord (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) is better than the (wealth of this world) which they amass.” [Az-Zukhruf : 32]

Having a chance to live in Egypt brought me to a sight I’ve never thought of regarding the meaning of this verse.

****

Fresh morning breeze stirred through my hair as I sat in the red bus, 926, from my place to Abbasiyya. Almost daily routine now, the bus will pass through several stations before it reaches Abbasiyya, where I would stop and take a microbus to Darrasa, where my university is.

As the bus stopped in front of the junction of Awwal Sabi’, a man with crippled foot found his way up.
I would guess that this man may be a war veteran surviving life asking for money from people. Somehow it’s common to see that in Egypt. Normally they would just sit at any corner, make a cup of shai, and wait for people to throw one or half pound, while smoking cigarettes.

I was wrong about this man.

He didn’t ask any money.

He went to each passengers and give them a small card of daily prayers and dhikr, if they want to buy it. He walked to and fro inside the bus, passing the cards and recollecting it back from those not interested to buy.

The bus stopped again, and this man struggled his way again down the bus stairs, and waited for another bus to come, to continue his job.

I stared at this man as the bus moves on, knowing that this man do the same thing every day to buy breads for him, and maybe his family. And I know, despite the obstacles he met, he could still smiles at you and replies your salaam with a content heart.

****

I don’t know why exactly but in Egypt you could find so many people suffering from rickets (or maybe osteomalacia, I’m not so sure). You know, it’s when your bones are somehow twisted and deformed. Normally, you can see it happening on legs. People suffering from this problem will have troubles to walk and run.

I blame the Egyptian Health Ministry under Mubarak’s regime for this widespread problem.

Anyway, the thing is, adults having this problem will also end up with another problem; they’re not fit for any professional jobs. A teacher maybe, and that’s the best they may try.

Walking all the way from Rab’ah to An-Nasr street early in the morning, I observed what’s happening around me. At this time most people are getting ready to work, rushing for the bus and microbus to their workplaces.

As I reached the end of Tayran street, where the area was a bit packed with people waiting for microbus, I saw a short man with twisted legs wandering the street. Each step was a struggle for him, and no one cared to pay attention to this short man. I wonder what is he doing at this kind of place.

I saw him holding packets of face tissues in both of his hands. He would wave to people occasionally, asking them if they need tissues. He is selling tissues.

One pound or maybe a half pound per packet wouldn’t give this man so much profit. With his disability to move too far, I doubt that he could even make 20 pound a day. Just good enough to buy foods for some four or five children waiting at home in the end of day.

Yet this man still asked people with sweet smile in his face, and talked to his friends as lively and humorous as Egyptians normally are.

****

Stories of struggles of people always make me think deep.

And Allah's words in surah Az-Zukhruf came to my attention, unwinding my puzzles. His mercy is so vast and wide one couldn't afford to understand it entirely. And this preserved mysteries of His mercy is what make us feel so small and weak in front of Him, and grateful that at least, we have His mercy just to breath and live on this earth.

Alhamdulillah. Surely Egypt is 'the land that teaches'.
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Readers, if you happened to have any stories related, why don't you share it here and give us your thoughts on it. I'd love to hear them all.



12 comments:

  1. salam.
    yup,it's osteomalacia. Vit D deficiency.
    rickets occur on kids only. osteomalacia is an adult form of disease.
    barakallahu lak.

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  2. sama juga keadaan di Alex.cuma makcik2 tua yang jalannya dah x larat dan terbongkok2 yang edarkan buku2 agama kecil (kutaib) dalam tram.kesian memang kesian.tapi,selalunya kesian hanya tinggal kesian..hm..

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  3. A simple pray for them is the least we can do. Praying for other people without them knowing it creates a good feeling inside. Try it.

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  4. salam

    I've been in Jakarta once and I think the situation is the same where they’re singing in the bus, selling a small towel or tissue, from one bus or car to another and even small kids did. Actually, they’re very impressive. At least they do something to survive without asking from other people or even worse, to blame the destiny. Yeah, maybe a simple prayer is the least we can do and every small deed counts, right?

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  5. Salam
    I have been to a slum area before. I usually look at the slums from faraway wondering how would it look like inside. asking how do people live in the slums. But fortunately i was invited to spend a night there to accompany a friend.Its like a whole different Egypt which i have always imagined but never expect to actually experience it. It was one unbelievable experience. As we all know, Egyptians are super warm and tremendously hilarious . They cooked and served us and we ate like we will never eat ever again.While eating questions on like how could they afford to serve us this much and so on keeps popping in my head. But I found out is that they don’t really eat while serving. They ate very little.
    The house which we lodged in was a 1 room ,1 bathroom, a small kitchen house. The room was divided into halves. The first half is a small master bedroom and the other is for the kids. It was kind of awkward entering the kids room which we stayed in because we had to go through the so called “master bedroom”.
    Experiencing that kind of living makes me think doesn’t the upper-class Egyptians know what is happening on the other side of the grass. Or are they just too ignorant. I blame the Government who is such a cow listening to the Americans and the Zionist. The rich and the poor here are very contra in every way. What they eat how they dress. What school the kids go to etc. I have had lots of upper class Egyptians friends and the way they think of the lower class Egyptians are very cynical although they were all very Islamic in some sense I guess.
    Not wanting to write as much, seeing and experiencing the actual situation is a different story. This is only one tiny part the world. What is happening in Rwanda, Somalia, Nigeria, and other exploited African countries are just some more bad news. It is sad truly. But they always brings up my spiritual energy to work even harder for Islam so that the world could one day be better place.
    Allahu Must3an.Jazakummullah kher

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  6. Thank you so much to both our anonymous readers.

    Now that we have stories from Jakarta and the slums of Egypt (I'm not sure if the people living there would ever agree with the word 'slum', they consider it more as their 'heaven' I think), we can see much wider how Allah distribute His mercy among humans through out the globe.

    The one who gets His mercy is the one who feel it inside his heart, and live his life in bliss and peace. Normal people judge wealth and assets to measure how someone is lucky and been blessed with God's mercy, this is totally wrong.

    America and the European countries, I don't think they feel inside their heart His mercy, compared to common people here in Cairo slums or in Jakarta or wherever they are.

    The aayah from Az-Zukhruf if understood correctly will lead us to judge the world this way.

    Thanks again for sharing stories, and keep sharing in the future. May Allah bless us all.

    ReplyDelete
  7. True dat.
    i was once asked by a non muslim if there's God than why is there poor and needy in this world after 2 hours thinking(i guess) and making notes , i got the answer alhamdulillah.more of "dalil 3aqli" kind of answer i guess.

    Two weeks later a new semester started and i first open my book and its about Feqh Mu3amalaat. And the aaya in suraa Azzuhruf talked about it. slowy reading through it the aaya explains it all.
    If we really 'taddabur' the Quran with and open heart, there's nothing more beautiful and magical than It.
    May it be a shafa3a for us on The Day of Judgement.

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  8. Somebody shared me his story: While he was on his way to college, he saw at Metro station a blind man, swaying back and forth as if he was going to fall down. He quickly approached that man trying to help him. Actually the blind man heard a voice asking for alms, and he was seeking from where it comes and wanted to give the money. This story strikes my heart, I bet you've heard of it too.

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  9. @ Anonymous :
    It is how Sayyid Qutb felt on every word of God he read. Every words seemed to touch him, and he spent the rest of his life living with his soul 'savoring' the intricate thoughts behind each and every aayah of Allah.
    If I can make a wish, I'd wish I'm given the same feeling towards Al-Quran.

    @ Gerbera D. :
    Now this story touches even more. Though actually I've never heard of it before (or so I think). If only it happened right before my own eyes, so that the scene carved to my heart forever, and reminds me the value of Taqwa regardless of our wealth and position in society.


    Thank you so much for sharing. May it be counted as good deeds for us in the hereafter.

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  10. Assalamualaikum.
    Saya sangat sukakan artikel ni. Terasa dekat dengan kisah hidup sendiri.
    jazakallah untuk perkongsian ayat AQ di atas dan pengalaman anda. Artikel ini mendidik saya utk lebih bersyukur dgn nikmat yg Allah bagi.

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  11. salam. minta izin untuk share post ni, boleh ke?

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