Truth Is Bitter Series (Ep 9)
Short satirical reflections on faith, society and the uncomfortable truths we avoid. First published in the Rabi’al-Awwal/Rabi’al-Thani 1441 AH (2019) print edition of The PEACE Magazine.
By Abdulfattah Abdussalam
Beware of that Bearded Man
Perhaps one of the symbols of a good Muslim is growing and nurturing a beard in line with the practice of the best teacher of mankind, Prophet Muhammad SWA. Alch SWi admonishes mankind to follow the footsteps of the prophet and live by his example. Growing and nurturing a beard is a highly (makuruh) recommended sunnah of the Prophet. But across the lands in recent times, such has become a symbol of gangsters and social classification. In other words, not all bearded adults are Muslims or represent what the Sunnah suggests rather it has become a symbol of identification for different sets of people whose interests differ from Sunnah. In some cases, it has become an occultist symbol for some and is now rampant among the youth regardless of race, status, and education. Therefore, if a young man suddenly goes to the mosque with a weird-looking beard, it might not be out of place to put surveillance on such a person.
Be Grateful!
Have you thanked Allah recently for His countless blessings, both big and small? If not, let this picture serve as a reminder of how fortunate we are and the importance of never being ungrateful. May it inspire us to be more aware of the suffering in the world around us, rather than being blinded by our own selfish desires. The people in this picture live in extreme hardship, relying on camel urine and dung to survive. Yet here you are, with food to eat, a safe place to live, and many comforts, and still failing to recognize Allah’s blessings. As Allah reminds us in the Qur’an: “Which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?”
No!
No to time wasting in trivial pursuits, and love of revenge and futile arguments. No to giving priority to money and accumulation of wealth over one’s health, happiness, sleep, and peace of mind. No to seeking out other people’s faults and backbiting about them, whilst forgetting one’s own faults. No to indulging in physical pleasure and giving in to every whim and desire.
No to wasting time with shallow people and spending hours in idle pursuits. No to neglecting physical hygiene and cleanliness in the house, and being organized at home. Not to haram drinks, cigarettes, narghile, and all foul things. No to thinking of past calamities and dwelling on past mistakes.
Editor’s Note: Truth Is Bitter is a weekly reflective and satirical column drawn from the “Front of the Book” pages of PEACE Magazine. It seeks to provoke introspection, not hostility; reform, not ridicule.
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