Omar and Hassan entered Ali’s house, fuming at him. Ali followed shortly with a grim face. Dad was setting out for some work. Sensing the tension among the friends, he casually offered: “Guys! I need some help with hardware shopping! Come along.”
The boys exchanged uneasy looks. Ali faintly murmured: “Okay, Dad.”
Hassan and Omar stepped out and silently climbed into the back seat of Ali’s Corolla, still glaring at him. Ali quietly sat next to his Dad, looking ahead and ignoring his two buddies.
“Ali, we need to get some wooden planks, nails, hammer, paint and other stuff to build the chicken coop.” Dad glanced in his rearview mirror to address the boys at the back: “Boys, you are welcome to help. But there seems to be some bitterness here. What’s wrong?”
Omar blurted out: “Ali was nominated as the school’s football team’s goalie, but he has been neglecting his practice every Saturday, which can cost the football team.”
“Yeah! He needs to focus on his goal keeping!” Hassan piped in.
Dad nodded towards Ali: “Well… have you explained your reasons to your friends for not attending the practice?”
Ali replied demurely: “I would, if they give me a chance.”
Dad smiled as he drove into town. “Boys, who knows Saeed ibn Amir al-Jumahi (rtam)?”
The boys shrugged their shoulders ignorantly, wondering why Dad was telling a story all of a sudden.
Dad continued: “Well, it just so happened that Saeed (rtam) was a young boy living in Makkah as a disbeliever. He was among the thousands of onlookers, who witnessed the crucifixion of a brave Sahabi Khubaib al-Ansari (rtam), who had been captured by the polytheists.”
Omar and Hasan did not like the cruel idea of crucifixion, while Ali squinted his eyes not to imagine how it must have been for Khubaib (rtam).
Dad went on: “Saeed (rtam), being tall and well-built, pushed through the crowd to stand at the forefront. Khubaib (rtam) calmly prayed two Rakahs of prayers as his last wish and was tortured and martyred by the Kuffar to avenge Muhammad (sa) for the Battle of Badr, before Saeed’s (rtam) eyes. This had an impact on Saeed (rtam), who later converted to Islam and migrated to Madinah. Saeed (rtam) fought next to the Prophet (sa) at the Battle of Khyber and many others after that.”
The boys’ curiosity mounted gradually: “What happened next?” Hassan asked.
“When Umar (rtam) was Caliph, he appointed Saeed (rtam) as his governor of Homs. Homs was also known as Al-Kuwayfa (the smaller Kufa). The town earned this title, because its people used to complain about their leader, as the people of Kufa did.
One day, Umar (rtam) greeted the people of Homs and asked them: “How do you find your Ameer (leader)?” He was referring to Saeed (rtam).
They immediately conveyed four grievances about him.
Umar (rtam) said: “I brought them together (Saeed [rtam] and his people) and prayed to Allah (swt) that He does not disappoint me in Saeed (rtam), because I had a great deal of trust in him.”
Umar (rtam) had Saeed (rtam) confront his subjects: “What is your first complaint?” The people replied: “He does not come out to us, until late morning.”
Umar (rtam) asked Saeed (rtam): “Please explain.” After some hesitation, Saeed (rtam) responded: “By Allah, I would hate to say this, but now I have to. My family has no servant, so I wake up every morning and knead the dough for them. I wait till it rises and then I bake it for them. Next, I make ablution and go out to meet the people.”
Umar (rtam) demanded an explanation about the next complain Saeed’s (rtam) people had against him: “He does not respond to anyone who calls on him at night.”
Saeed (rtam) replied: “By Allah, I would hate to mention this, too. I have devoted the day to (serving) them and the night to (worshipping) Allah, the Glorious and Almighty.”
“What other complaint do you have against Saeed (rtam)?” Umar (rtam) continued.
The people spoke up: “On one day out of every month, he does not come out at all.”
“And what is this, Saeed (rtam)?” Umar (rtam) asked.
Saeed (rtam) responded: “I do not have a servant and no clothing other than what is on me now. So, I wash it once a month and wait (at home) for it to dry. I go out to the people at the end of the day.”
“And what is your last complaint about him?” Umar (rtam) inquired.
They replied: “From time to time, he loses consciousness and becomes unaware of those he is sitting with.”
Saeed (rtam) explained: “I witnessed the killing of Khubaib Al-Ansari (rtam), while I was a young Mushrik.”
“I saw the Quraish cut up his body and ask him: ‘Would you like Muhammad (SA) to be in your place and you to be saved?’ Khubaib (rtam) responded: ‘By Allah, I would not like that I be secure with my family and children, while Muhammad (sa) is pricked with even one thorn.”
“By Allah, there is not one day that I remember this and how I did not help him, except that I think Allah (swt) will not forgive me for it and that is when I lose consciousness.”
At this point, Umar (rtam) exclaimed: “Praise be to Allah (st) that He did not disappoint me in Saeed (rtam)!”
The boys in the car gazed at each other. “So what is the lesson in this for us?” Dad challenged them.
“We should not assume stuff about people, without giving them a chance to explain themselves fully,” Omar looked at Ali with a smile.
“Also, that the early the generations of Muslims were very God-fearing and hid their good deeds from the people,” Ali said thoughtfully.
Hassan spoke excitedly: “They loved the Prophet (sa) dearly and could not see each other suffer.”
“Alhumdulillah! This ride has proven how smart you all are. You have figured it all out. Well then… friends?” Dad winked at the boys. “By the way, Ali, you still need to explain your reason of absence from the match practice.”
“Yes, Dad!” Ali smiled cheekily. “While we all build the chicken coop with you.”
Hassan and Omar rolled their eyes. “Oh, no! Hard work coming our way!”
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[Set of Four Tiles] Raised to Respect
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