In the spirit of Jum’ah/Friday (the Sunday of muslims) I want to share a couple of Qur’aanic verses with you.

I read chapter 14 today, Suuraatul Ibrahim (Abraham), and there were some verses that really got to me, for instance, Allah says in verse 7:

And when your Lord proclaimed: If you give thanks, I will give you more, but if you are thankless lo! my punishment is dire.

Ungratefulness is a terrible thing.

We muslims take things for granted. We take for granted that there is food on the table, nice clothes in our cupboards and good company around us. Some of us don’t even take a second to reflect on how fortunate we are. There are about 6 billion people that share Earth with me, and almost all of these people live in worse conditions  than mine. And I have the nerve to splurge to satisfy my desire for material things, insignificant material things and raise my fist against heaven when the last pair of (gorgeous) boots, on sale, were bought.

I say Alhamdullilah (praise be Allah – thank Allah) but how often do I sincerely mean it?

 

Last part of verse 23 and verse 24:

(..) their greeting therein will be: Peace! See you not how Allah sets forth a parable? – A goodly word as a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches reach  to the sky.

I love this verse, I truly do. Basically what Allah is telling you to do is show kindness to human beings, not necessarily by giving out charity or reaching out a hand, but through a more effective method. A method that is applicable to all beings; regardless of creed, ethnicity, financial capacity, gender and age. Through greeting one other, through meeting one another with a cheerful face and proclaiming “Salaam” – Peace!

I really do try to greet people, not often through words, but through a discreet smile or a nod. Often I’m just exhausted after work or school, that uttering words seem difficult for me, and that’s when I let my body talk. However, I try as often as I can to say “as salaamu alaykum” to muslims and “salaam” to non-muslims.

My weekly challenge, greet five strangers. Are you up for it?