Those Brave Reporters

#smittened

Thirty

Sounds like teen spirit

11.11.11

Where do the children play

724

That time of the year again

Sister's walimah

Sedetik Lebih

I remembered listening to a Qur'anic surah that starts off with this recitation: عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ ('Abasa wa ta-wal-laa) read by Sheikh Mishary Rashed Alafasy some time ago and it was one of the verses that touched my heart instantly upon hearing its melodious sounding the first time. It was only much later that I realized the meaning of what that has been read.

The surah in the Quran was titled 'Abasa which literally means "He frowned" - with a reference to an incident in which the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w expressed discomfort and had frowned at a blind man by the name of Ibn Umm Maktum. Ibn Umm Maktum had came to the Prophet s.a.w to ask him a question while not realizing that he was actually interfering his conversation with another noble Qurasyh leader.The Prophet s.a.w who eventually informed Ibn Umm Maktum to wait for a while got slightly annoyed at his persistence questioning and inevitably 'frowned' at the blind man and turned away from him.

While the Prophet s.a.w may seem not to be at fault in the above case, Allah specifically pointed out his unwelcoming and unaccommodating body gesture and documented a lesson for all of us to learn in the Qur'an. The blind Ibn Umm Maktum obviously would not have noticed the expression on the Prophet s.a.w's face. But Allah saw it.

Linguistically, 'Uboos عبوس [noun] - 'Abasa عبس [verb] - A frown is described as the bulging of forehead only due to annoyance. It is perhaps the minimal form of expression to indicate anger and displeasure. Yet it only takes this minimum stretch of muscles expressing 'uboos (frown) on the Prophet's face that triggered Allah's admonishment.

The Prophet s.a.w upon getting revelation of the above surah, later on honored Ibn Umm Maktum by calling him (مرحبا بمن عاتبني فيه ربي ) ‘Greetings to him on whose account God reproached me!’, and would lay down his cloak for him.

In our everyday dealings with fellow human beings, we sometimes overlook the way we expressed ourselves in front of others. Without realizing, we might belittle, intimidate or even alienate someone through our small actions, such as turning our body away from that person or frowning.

In the recent Idris Tawfiq's 2012 series talk in Singapore organized by Darul Arqam, I encountered this experience of being 'ignored' by a fellow sister (whom I looked up to and know in person) while trying to buy a book at her booth. It hurts me deeply at the very moment of 'rejection' as she turned her body away from me and pretending not to notice.

I prayed for the sister's well being and her capacity to be very cautious of her own little actions.

- remykm

____________________

To the sister who frowned,
No prophet is worth your smile
Or perhaps you find it sinful
Even to cheer a blind man's heart

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