Offering a Helping Hand

Intro | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

Contents

What could be better than I’tikāf?Action plan Coming up

15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26

Tests and trials are an inevitable reality we must face in this life. Some of us are currently going through financial difficulties, or dealing with mental health-related issues. Whereas, others are suffering the loss of loved ones or going through marital problems.

During these turbulent times, nobody wants to be left alone or abandoned. Understandably, nothing would be more meaningful than somebody offering us a helping hand. In fact, this would probably serve as a glimmer of hope during our anguish.

What could be better than I’tikāf?

The Prophet (ﷺ) said,

وَلَأَنْ أَمْشِيَ مَعَ أَخِيهِ فِي حَاجَةٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَعْتَكِفَ فِي هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ يَعْنِي مَسْجِدَ الْمَدِينَةِ شَهْراً

“That I walk with a brother in fulfilment of his need is more beloved to me than secluding myself in this mosque in Madina for a month.” [1]

From the above report, we learn that leaving off ritual acts of worship – in one of the most rewarding mosques – to selflessly tend to the needs of others is extremely commendable.

A person receives one thousand prayers’ worth of reward for establishing a single Salah in the Prophet’s Mosque (ﷺ). So how important it must be to help others, when a reward of that abundance is being sacrificed.

As we become more serious and focused in carrying out acts of worship this Ramadan, let’s take the Prophetic significance of assisting others into consideration, too.

Action plan

Here are some tips on how to offer a helping hand:

Make a conscious effort to lend an ear to those you know are going through troubles;
Reach out to family and friends during Ramadan, to see if they require any support.