FRIDAY
LEARNING
1st Dhul-Qa’dah 1427 AH /
“Indeed the
faithful are brothers (to each other). Therefore make peace between your
brothers and be wary of Allah, so that you may receive His mercy”.
(49:10)
REASONS FOR MOCKERY &
Why do people make mockery of
others and defame them? The Scholars of Ethics have given two main reasons for
this behaviour:
One is because of their
inferiority complex that drives them to claim supremacy by trampling upon the
honour and dignity of others. A person is not worthy of any respect. He sees
others being honoured and respected on account of their behaviour and services.
Therefore, he begins to suffer from inferiority complex and strongly feels that
the only way to get what others have got is by trampling upon their dignity and
honour. So he starts making mockery and fun of
them.
The other reason for mockery and
defamation is to derive fun. Some people simply enjoy making mockery and
defaming others. It is a good way to pass time for them. They don’t realize that
they are hurting the character and self-esteem of others. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir
(as) has said, “Treat your companions and friends
with kindness and never make face or show contempt towards them”.
(Al-Kaafi)
HOW TO STOP
MOCKERY?
One of the most effective ways of
saving oneself from mockery and defamation of others is to consider them better
than you in the sight of Allah (SWT). This is the reason why Allah (SWT) says:
“O you who have faith! Let not any people ridicule another
people: it may be that they are better then they are; nor let women (ridicule)
women: it may be that they are better than they are…”
The Holy Prophet (saww) has
said, “Do not consider any Muslim as insignificant,
sine in the eyes of Allah, he actually enjoys a high rank”. (Majmu’a
Warram)
THE COMPANION OF THE PROPHET
(SAWW)
The Holy Prophet (saww) once asked
Allah (SWT) to inform him about the person who would be his companion in the
Hereafter. A revelation reached the Prophet (saww) indicating that such and such
shoemaker would be his companion in the afterlife and that he was God’s
friend.
The Holy Prophet (saww) went to
that shoemaker and sat at his shop to observe what virtues he had that qualified
him to become his companion in the Hereafter. He (saww) could not make out
anything special.
Then he (saww) asked him some
questions to assess his knowledge and intellect. Still he (saww) could not make
out anything.
Eventually the Holy Prophet (saww)
asked him what virtue was in him? The man said that he was nothing – he
possessed no knowledge and that he was a simpleton.
After insisting for long, the man
finally said,
“I
have neither any knowledge nor perfection. My condition is that whenever I meet
anyone, I imagine that he has much higher rank in the sight of
God”.
The
Holy Prophet (saww) said, “This is the virtue, which has given you an exalted position
in the Hereafter”.