Jerk!

Salaam dear brothers and sisters, it's been a while no? Alhamdulillah, i've been busy with my parents coming here for my graduation alhamdulillah. Anyways, I just want to share my experience which happened last week if it's alright with you.

I was at the central mosque bookstore in london when this man appeared before me." I just gave da'wah to a drunken man, isn't it our duty to give da'wah? For he will drag me to hell with him if i didn't?" he stuttered to the shop keepers. He had a worried looked as though he had just committed a heinous crime, justifying his actions.

I was taken aback, there he was openly telling people this. At a first glance, he was this mad preacher, the clothes of a beggar, foul stench emanates from him, sweat dripped down his face, mangly, scruffy untidy,dirty, strange. Astaghfirullah, how i judged this man before knowing him. I nervously turned away in fear, disgust and reproach astaghfirullah.

I went into the prayer hall and sat in the corner, beside this egyptian brother. Lo and behold, a few minutes later, to my horror, there he was sitting down and facing me. I sat there awkward and uncomfortable. The whiswhas of shaitan, whispering into my ears, telling me to stand up and walk away.But alhamdulillah, i stayed.With a sincere smile, he gave salaam. "wa'alaikumsalam" i replied timidly. He had this permanent look in his eyes that you get when you are struck with a brilliant idea. Like the eyes of a mad scientist. Scary yet brilliant, astaghfirullah.

He and the other brother beside me began sharing beautiful stories about islam, about the Isra' Mi'raj, Prophet Adam As, Prophet Salleh AS, Rasulullah SAW. How he aspired to go for Hajj, how he yearns to read the qur'an excellently and understand it. How he cries every time he listens to a beautiful recitation. I listened intently, only to butt in with my little knowledge that i have.

But MashaAllah, this brother, a revert, was so enthusiastic, so sincere and pure that i asked myself,How dare i judged him by his exterior, how dare i think that i was better than him, when in fact he is pure of heart, what an evil person i am. Subhanallah. Uncontrollable tears flowed down my cheeks. Constantly wiping it off and putting on a smile while i continued listening to him quietly.

After an hour of sharing stories, it was time for the azan. We both got up, and i gave him a big mighty hug. No smell, honest. "I am sorry i talk too much akhi, thank you for listening, i usually drive people away you know" he apologised. When really, i should be apologising.

I performed the salah in self reflection, asking for Allah's forgiveness for my pride and judgement. Astaghfirullah.

(10) O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; Nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, Nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: "O sinner", or "O wicked"]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zâlimûn (wrong-doers). Al-Hujurat 49:10.

Sometimes we have to ask our selves, are we really better than other people? Do we really have the right to scoff and ridicule our brothers and sisters? Regardless of their appearances and actions.

May Allah forgive me.