During the time of the British Raaj in India their was an English officer going on a journey,
during his travel he stopped at a predominantly Muslim town, being friday he saw the muslims heading towards the Masjid to pray jumah; The English officer was mesmerised by the beauty of the mosque, so he decided to follow the Muslims towards the Masjid and have a look inside;
After finishing his tour of the mosque the English officer was about to catch a carriage to continue on his journey. As he was about to enter the carriage a little boy, came running up to him he said: "Excuse me sir you dropped your wallet, and handed it to him.
The Englishman being mightily pleased said: "Oh young man I thank you profusely what is your name". The boy responded I am known as 'Chor' meaning Thief. The Englishman being confused asked; "Why do they call you 'Chor' for you are very honest"
the boy said: " Sir they call me a 'Chor' because I make my living by robbing people ,today I was waiting out side the mosque for some muslims to come out, so that I could steal from their pockets, by chance you came out as you were putting on your shoes, your wallet fell out, when I looked inside the wallet I could not believe my good fortune, for it contained more money than I could make in Six months, of stealing.
As I was heading home a thought pricked my conscience, I said to myself when you steal from the Muslims only you are labeled a Thief, but if you steal from this Englishman, he will leave this town extremely angry, he will then say that these followers of the Prophet Muhammad are thieves,
If I am labeled a thief I am not bothered for it is true, but I could not tolerate the name of our Prophet and his entire Ummah, being defamed as a result of my actions; Therefore I decided to find you and return your wallet."
Something to ponder.
I think it is perhaps human nature, that people often judge others through their personal experience , If we have a bad experience concerning a person from a certain race, then we condemn everyone from that race, similarly if we have a bad experience with someone from a particular religious background, we hold prejudices concerning all people who follow that religion.
So the question is if the conscience of a young thief could not tolerate the name of the Prophet being defamed as a result of his actions ,what has happened to our conscience, we have seen articles, and books being written attacking our Prophet
. Has our behavior not at least partly, been responsible for the reaction of the non-muslims and in inculcating a hatred in them towards Islam.
May Allah Give us the Tawfiq to Live and act, as sincere Muslims and Lovers of our Beloved (Sallallahu alaiyhi wasallam) Ameen.
by Julaybib