Compassion & Judgment

There are some things in life that seem too simple and easy. Yet, in our deen, they are valued a lot. That is the Mercy of Allah SWT. However, what we don’t realize is that even the simplest of things can drain our energy if we have to do them continuously without a break. So even if we find an action simple, we should not advise or expect someone to do it on a continuous basis, just because we know of its virtue.

One particular virtuous deed mentioned in hadith always caught my attention: removing a thorn from the path. It seems so simple, yet it’s mentioned so much. One of the reasons could be that compassion for the creation of Allah SWT is the crux of our deen.

So yesterday, while I was walking towards my daughter’s favorite playground, I found many thorns and broken branches on the footpath. I started picking each one of them and throwing it on the side. Eventually, I got tired. When the next thorn caught my eye, I thought of letting it be. I was tired of bending again and again; I was also tired of stopping the stroller repeatedly and hearing my toddler whine. I decided to carry on. Although I missed out on great reward, I simply practised my free will to prioritize what was more convenient to me. And since it did not result in a sinful action or deliberate stepping on someone else’s rights or feelings, I rightfully did it guilt-free. That is when I realized that we should let people make their choices guilt-free as well, as long as they are not crossing their boundaries with us.

It is easy to advise someone to be compassionate to others, but when they are in a situation constantly, for example, in a single house with many people, it can get physically, mentally and emotionally draining. It is okay and in fact advisable in that situation to sometimes prioritize ones own self. Allah SWT has Allowed everyone to do that, and we should respect their free will in a non judgmental way. That is also compassion for others!