Tuesday 12 May 2009

Small Kindnesses

As Muslim’s we often talk about good deeds and the small things we can do to make a difference and that also act as dawah.

It’s nice though when someone also does this for us. I was reminded today when I had a nasty coughing fit that ten minutes later was still going strong ( I should have gone for a walk and coughed somewhere else, but have been hacking away for the last few days, so just gave up and sat there).

One of my new colleagues who I haven’t really gotten to know brought over a mug of hot water and a box of herbal teas and urged me to choose one. I was a bit embarrassed, but rather moved at her very sweet gesture.

Then on the way home today, I got on the bus only to realise I had forgotten to put money on my pass that morning and was stranded in the middle of no-where with no cash, no shops and no cash machine. Luckily the bus driver was Muslim and quietly waved me on so that I get off near civilisation and put money on my pass.

Sometimes all it does take is a very small act – a smile, an offer of tea or coffee, stopping for a moment to ask how someone is, a small compliment.

One of my dearest colleagues has just returned from nursing her seriously ill mother and mentioned that she hadn’t laughed in a long time. I realised after I had been ill for months and my sisters made me laugh myself silly, how medicinal laughter is. So I think I will be taking her for a walk and a good laugh tomorrow. What small gesture will you make today?

"(Each one) of you should save himself from the fire by giving even half of a date (in charity). And if you do not find a half date, then (by saying) a pleasant word (to your brethren)." ~ Bukhari (2:394)

“Your smile for your brother is Sadaqah. Your removal of stones, thorns or bones from the paths of people is Sadaqah. Your guidance of a person who is lost is Sadaqah” ~ Bukhari


7 comments:

  1. MashaAllah, good post sis, beautiful reminder. May Allah reward you, Ameen!

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  2. Assalamu Alaikum sister,
    Hope you're doing good. Nice reminder...small kindnesses do go a long way. I remember once I made a call to one of my teachers to clear a doubt in a sum [or something like that]...I remember I was really stressed then...anyways I seemed to have dialled the wrong number and the person at the other end was really so polite...I can't seem to remember what he said exactly but I do remember how he made me feel good. I know it's not a big thing but still for some reason, his good manners made me smile and I felt better.

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  3. Wa alaikum assalam,

    I always seem to wonder why people can't just be nice, simply nice? Is a smile too much to ask? I agree with Alisha: small kindnesses do go a long way...at least in my book!

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  4. Hello, MashaAllah a very nice reminder. The little things that people do can make a big difference in another person's life...and the recipient will always remember the kind gesture. SubhanAllah.

    A good thing to take for a cough is a half a teaspoon to a teaspoon of tumeric in a mug of hot water sweetened with honey. Let it set for a few minutes. And drink.

    Or boil a tablespoon of barley in some water and then drink the barley water.

    These will get rid of your cough quicker, InshaAllah.

    Hope you feel better, InshaAllah.

    MaryAnn

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  5. Salaams Dear:

    I ask Allah (swt), Lord of the Worlds, to cure you/Ameen!

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  6. Aslamu alakum ukti
    what a lovely post, sweet reminders and good etiqute, i am so sorry you have been so ill. Sometimes when you feel so low and feel it can't get any more bad, often along comes that reilf in the form of a simple gessure of kindness and it makes an impact!

    Hugs xxxx

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  7. Assalam-alaikam,

    Sister JA,
    thank you for your dua's.

    Sister Alisha,
    sometimes our smallest deeds or just good manners mean so much to another - yourexample shows that.

    Sister Nassim,
    the smile thing!!!how many sisters have raised this?

    Sister MaryAnn,
    thank you so much for youe good deed. I've been kept awake by this cough for a week and now my little sister has caught it (she is fuming). I don't have any barley, but I have turmeric and honey, so I want to try the first one insh'Allah. may Allah (SWT) reward you.

    Dearest Sister Safiyyah,
    Ameen and I hope you are well. (all my sisters dua's are truly precious to me).

    Sis rainbow,
    I agree, the thing that kept me going and kept the depression at bay was knowing that Allah (SWT) promises ease after every difficulty. And seriously that might have been a small gesture for the bus driver, but I would have been stuck in the middle of nowhere, hoping my husband was at home or on a job in London and could come rescue me, so may Allah (SWT) reward that brother.

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