It
is quite clear that this proverb was very much talking about the
recipient of the good deeds, you agree? The recipient should always
remember the person who had done the good things for them. This is
called gratitude.
Just like how we should be thankful to our
parents who had raised us up, teachers who taught us A-B and C to the
ones who taught us wisdoms in life and friends who woke up middle of
the night to listen to our songs of joys and sorrows relentlessly.
Of
course we should always thank them for what they had done for us. In
fact, Prophet Muhammad (may Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
had asked us all to thank the favour done by others for us.
He (may Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said,
Whoever
does you a favour, then reciprocate, and if you cannot find anything
with which to reciprocate, then pray for him until you think that you
have reciprocated him.( Narrated by Abu Dawood :1672)
So,
yes, we should reciprocate equally. If we could not find a way to
return the favour equally, then Prophet (pbuh) said that we should
thank him by praying for goodness for this person, inshaAllaah.
But this is not the point in this story.
The
point here is this- What if the ones who did the good deeds are the
ones who reminded us of their own good deeds? What if they are the ones
who constantly and repeatedly demanded that we should remember their
deeds? What about the people who are given the responsibilities to
perform those so-called-deeds and then, demanded that others thank them
for doing their job and responsibilities?
It made me question their sincerity and honesty in performing those deeds.
I could not help but wondered if they knew the consequences of reminding others of their good deeds.
A hadeeth from our beloved Prophet Muhammad (may Allaah's peace and blessings be upon him) crossed my mind,
Muslim
recorded that Abu Tharr, may Allaah be pleased with him, said that
Allaah's Messenger (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:
There
are three people that Allaah will not speak to on the Day of Judgement,
will not look at them, will not purify them; and for them is a painful
punishment: one who lets his Izar hang below his ankles, the Mannan
with what he gives, and the Munffiq who does his business with false
oaths. (Muslim no. 106)
(A mannan is one who always remind others of the favours and good that he has done for them)
Our
beloved Prophet Muhammad (may Allaah’s peace and blessings be upon him)
has said that Allaah would not speak to 3 types of people on the Day of
Judgment.
He, the Al Mighty will not speak, will not look, will
not purify and will punish these 3 types of people on the Day of
Judgement.
And one of these 3 is the people who always reminded others of the favors and good they had done for them…
Astaghfirullaah, this very statement made my tummy squirmed.
Just look at what Allaah has said.
Isn’t it scary when the only One that could help us on that Day refused to not only speak; but He would not even to look at us?
Imagine Allaah turning away His face from us. Na’uzubillaah….
It
felt bad enough if our parents, friends or even stranger turned their
faces away when they saw us, right? What more if it was Allaah, our
Creator, who turned His face?
Ya Allaah, I beg and seek protection from such behaviour.
I felt sad thinking of the deed-reminders. Do they know and are aware of the severity of their acts?
Don’t
they remember that they are able to do all the good deeds just because
of Allaah’s blessings on them? Don’t they feel that instead of asking
human to thank them, they are the ones who should be thanking Allaah
instead? Don’t they feel that instead of reminding their good deeds to
others, they should remind themselves of the goodness in life and
favours that Allaah has given them? Do they actually think that they
could perform all their so-called good deeds without Allaah’s
Permission? Don’t they, instead of being proud and announcing to the
world their good deeds, be humble and make sincere prayers that Allaah
accepts their good deeds as a preparation for their hereafter?
I
wondered what are they actually looking for when doing good to others?
Perhaps name and fame? Maybe honor and respect? What about recognition,
credit or admiration? Could it be for appreciation and acknowledgement?
Or possibly be for influence, control and power?
Astaghfirullaah, astaghfirullaah, astaghfirullaah…
Let me share with you this one powerful quote by Shaykh Muzaffer Ozak for us all to think, reflect and ponder upon….
If
someone gave you a beautiful, expensive new hat, wouldn’t you be
grateful for the generous gift? But shouldn’t you be even more grateful
for the One Who gave you the head to put that hat on.
Shouldn’t we, my brothers and sisters?
More importantly, shouldn’t they too?
Think about it…
Copyright © Sis Zabrina 2008
Sis Zabrina
Life Storyteller
Author of Life is an Open Secret http://www.lifeopensecret.com
-18 Inspirational Stories from Ordinary life experiences-
Now blogging at http://www.wisdomthruwords.blogspot.com
~ Life Storyteller Blog: Your Source for Islamic Motivational and Inspirational Stories~
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