'Nasihah': Good Counsel in Islam

 

In the life of a Muslim, there is a very noble duty called “giving good advice.” In Arabic, this is called (giving) Nasihah. The Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Ad-Deenu an-Nasihah” (Muslim), which means, religion is based upon sincere advice.

 

But this advice must come with gentleness, with respect, with wisdom, and above all without arrogance or judgement. Giving advice in Islam is not merely words that come out of the mouth; it is a responsibility that comes from the heart, with the intention of helping a brother or sister towards goodness, towards the straight path that Allah has shown.

Gaza: 'Does God See Us?'

 

"Perhaps those outside Gaza are in greater torment, cut off from the spiritual outpouring and mercy that rains down in Gaza."

I attempt to process this vast devastation. I look out at these destroyed homes, the grieving women, widows, orphans, the oppressed, the displaced, the homeless, the hungry, the thirsty, those overpowered by their circumstances, and I ask myself: Does God see them?

I look at the bombed houses, the demolished schools, the burned hospitals, the bulldozed streets, and I ask: Does God see them?

I look at the children trapped under the rubble, while the civil defense men stand helpless before extracting them, as they suffocate and die, and I ask: Does God see them?

I look at those who cannot find their daily bread, those who sleep hungry and wake up hungry; I look at the forcibly displaced, whose bones ache from sleeping on the ground, whose skin has cracked under the burning sun, the bites of mosquitoes, whose muscles are torn from carrying firewood and water buckets, and I ask: Does God see them?

I look at the wounded groaning in pain, without medicine; at those whose limbs have been amputated without anesthesia, unable to move, crying out for medical referrals to restore their hope, and I ask: Does God see them?

The truth is: Yes. God sees all of this.