Undeniably, the year 2020 was not kind to most of us. The pandemic has affected our lives in many aspects and for many of us, the grey gloomy clouds still hang over our heads even when the new year 2021 was ushered in. Despite the worst that it has brought, the Covid-19 pandemic has also managed to bring out some of the best characters among mankind. There are many among us, either individually or in groups, who rise to the occasion and help those who have been adversely affected by the pandemic. These kind hearts reflect the positive in mankind, no matter how hard life challenges can be. Kindness as such, is not only the demonstration of sympathy as is often understood, but actually doing things in the best possible manner to help others.
In Islam, kindness is viewed upon as a great virtue. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) embodied kindness, mercy and compassion through his words and actions. The Quran mentions the characters of Prophet Muhammad:
So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. (Ali-Imran, 3: 159)
In a hadith narrated by Muslim, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) also said that “Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever is not kind has no faith”.
The survival of humanity is dependent upon human kindness as such an act actually encourages altruism and benevolence. As a virtue, the principle of kindness rejects conditions such as hypocrisy, feeling of superiority and any form of narcissistic behaviour. In the event of disputes or conflicts among individuals or groups, kindness and the feelings of respect must always lead the way. It is important to note that the precondition for a strong society is not mainly measured through its economic progress and material wellbeing, but more to the composition of ethical values such as kindness, justice and compassion that characterised individuals and groups in the society. When people are kind to one another, it will create a society that is selfless and compassionate. The society will then become more resilient and social stability will ensue.
When we encounter or are made known of people who are inconsiderate, lack sympathy and are aggressive towards others, we wonder over the paucity of patience, kindness and empathy that were supposed to guide them either psychologically or emotionally during those episodes of discontent. In the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty says: “Kind speech and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury; and Allah is Most Self-Sufficient and Most Gentle (Al-Baqarah, 2: 263).
The verse serves as an important guidance that it is always best to consider the feelings of others in any particular situation by being more empathetic and forgiving. During these hard times of economic hardship and the current pandemic grappling that is the world, many individuals are adversely affected by the problems that come with it. People are losing their jobs, businesses are incurring losses, social movements are restricted and health are at risk. It is a real life struggle for many. We can actually play positive roles to help those who are truly in need of support in our very own capacity and ability. Our meaningful contribution can even be in the simplest form of a friendly gesture, smile and humble greeting that might be enough to positively impact someone’s day.
Regrettably, there are also those who are oblivious towards the predicaments suffered by others, which lead to the upsetting presence of discourtesy. This is made worse by the pervasiveness of technology and social media platforms which sometimes cause individuals to become less polite and inconsiderate. Offensive remarks in the social media and other technology platforms are becoming a worrying trend. Responsible social media users are always mindful of what they post, share and comment. Though we feel that we are alone when using the technology recklessly, as people of religion, we must realise that God is forever aware of every little action that we do and even what rests in our hearts. Allah the Almighty reminds us of this in the Holy Quran: “On the Day of Permission, mankind will come forth scattered that they may be shown their deeds. So, whoever does an atom’s weight of good shall see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil shall see it.” (Al-Zalzalah, 99: 6-8)
We need to spread the message of kindness through our words or actions. Without us realising it, kindness is actually infectious in a good sense. When we act through a simple and kind gesture towards others and it impacts them significantly, we will see the ripple effect of other kind gestures onto others. Therefore, we should always start with the intention to do good deeds and be kind. If we are sincere in making the world a better place for everyone, we should first look into our very own hearts and begin from there. This is what the world really needs right now.