Do What You Are Best At… Let’s Complete One Another (Reflection)

Alhamdulillah… I praise and thank Allah infinitely. I also send peace and blessings upon Ḥabībī Muḥammad, his household, his companions and all those who follow his guided path till judjement day.

SubḥānAllah… Allah has created each one of us with significant talents and capabilities packed inside him. These aptitudes may be similar to other people’s. However, in normal circumstances, they differ from many others’ aptitudes. Moreover, these differences indicate and reflect our limitations, as humans, as well as our imperfection. Therefore, your strength (knowledge) highlights my weakness (ignorance), and perhaps, my strength highlights someone else’s weakness. Your strength can’t be of use, if no one recognizes it. People can recognize your strength only when you are able to do what I can’t.

Naturally, Allah has created the male and female genders differently. The male gender has its special qualities, but is genetically unable to contribute to the expansion of mankind if it remains alone. Similarly, the female gender, despite the wonderful qualities it possesses, is unable to be genetically productive if it lives and dies alone. However, when they come together and form a lawful family, they are able to reproduce and bring additional life to the life.

I still don’t make sense. Right? Let’s look at the head. It’s designed to comprise eyes, nose, tongue and ears. The eyes have the capability of granting you sight, but not hearing. Ears enable you to hear but not to see. The same thing applies to nose and tongue. Imagine if all these were to have the same function. This would have meant you could only see with your eyes, ears, nose and tongue, but couldn’t hear, smell or taste. None of these senses competes another or undermines it. Instead, together they do a great job for each one of us, and make us feel good about ourselves when we look in the mirror.

Synthetically, think of a nut and bolt. The bolt is useless without the nut. Likewise, the nut is useless without the bolt. But when they are combined as nut and bolt, they execute impressive jobs. Neither the bolt can look down at the nut, nor the nut will ever do that.

What is applicable in the differences between male and female in gender, between nut and bolt in functionality, as well as in the differences between the eyes and the other organs, is also applicable to the differences of the efforts we undertake to contribute to the progress of the Ummah. Thus, when someone is recongized as better at acting (operating) than in talking, then it's likely a waste of his life to be engaged in talking and debates. This is because it’s going to be counter-productive. Likewise, the one who is better at talking is ought to focus on what he's best at. The two should complete one another, rather than competing each other and highlighting their weaknesses or undermining their capabilities or talents.

Sayyidunā Abū Hurairah, raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu had a very good memory, and thus, he invested it in memorizing the Prophet's sayings, ṣallā Allāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam. With that, he tops all the companions in hadīth narration. Sayyidunā ‘Umar raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu was visionary, charismatic and had leadership qualities. With that, he emerged as the strongest support for the caliphate of Sayyidinā Abu Bakr raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, and eventually, he became the chaliph whom the hypocrites disgracefully feared throughout. Sayyidunā Khālid ibn al-Walīd raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu was a great warrior. And with that capability, he led the Muslim troops to behead Musailimah (the Liar).

This is how the companions of the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam completed and complement one another. Following their guided path; that is how he and she, they and we, and you and I should collectively look at each other, and only then, we can make wonders, inshā Allah.

It doesn’t help, when Allah has perfectly bestowed upon each of us such good qualities, according to our individual readiness and circumstance, yet, we use it in issues that disunite the Ummah rather than uniting it. Let’s stop the competition (and the accusations) and focus on what each of us is best at. And together, with the progress of the Ummah at heart, we shall revive the spirit of the Ummah and lead the world. A medical doctor doesn’t undermine a teacher. A teacher doesn’t think of his superiority over a farmer. A farmer doesn’t discriminate a trader. A trader appreciates the worker. And this is how we should look at each other, with appreciation to collectively uplift the Ummah. The rainbow may be called differently, if one of its colours is undermined or eliminated. This is in addition to losing its magic beauty.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that, focusing on one’s strength in order to contribute effectively to the progress of the Ummah doesn’t excuse any of us from learning and mastering the basics of his religion and then building on it, towards his success. Acquiring the basic knowledge regarding one’s religion is a prerequisite in determining the identity of every true Muslim.

Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂