Having Time For Others - Part 4

The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam was a man who was busier than any other person to have stepped foot on the planet. The task that was bestowed upon him contributed significantly to this and one would imagine that a job so daunting would not allow a person to do much else. If we analyse our own schedules, we realise that time is something we hold in high regard. How many a time have we received a phone call and have made excuses in order to pursue another goal? However, the fact remains that our struggles and difficulties do not tantamount even to a single difficulty endured by the Prophet salallahu alahyi wa salam. What man could have been busier than the Prophet salallahu alayhi salam? What student could have more work to do than the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam?

Sometimes we are not even busy, we just be selective with who we speak to. We show kindness to those above us or equal to us in knowledge and actions but feel a need to ignore those wonderful souls who are still struggling on ‘Alif, Baa.’ This should never be the case. We must have time for everyone, even the worst of people. Hazrat Amr ibn al-Aas radiallahu anhu relates,

“The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam gave attention, spoke and showed love to the worst person of a nation so that, the person may feel he is being given special attention. He used to give me such attentions and spoke to me also in a manner that I began to feel that I was the best among the community.”

It is hard now to get even a handshake or a smile on the road. I find the state of business truly amazing while I am travelling by tube or bus to different destinations. I often peer out of the window and watch how people are running round, each person has a greater worry than the one before and I often wonder how far their awareness of other people is. Some people are so bad that if you greet them at the wrong time, you may end up with a strained relation! The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam, so beautiful was he, he would never be the first person to remove his hand from a handshake. When he would speak, he would turn his entire being to face that person and would not glance at them side on or show his back towards them. He, salallahu alayhi wa salam, would always have time for them – whoever they were.

May Allah Ta’ala give us all the ability to be considerate, compassionate and caring to others, May He forgive us of our indecencies towards other people and May He instil in us, the character of His Beloved salallahu alayhi wa salam. Ameen.