Let us look at ourselves first
Let us look at ourselves first
Of the deeds which might come under the name of hypocrisy, and many of us unknowingly do is for a person who is committing a big sin to be very critical or angered by minor sins of others.
May be that most of do not do this? Let us look at ourselves and those around us. How many of us do not pray the prescribed Salah and fast in Ramadan and criticize any one who does not fast even if has a legitimate excuse, knowing that the prescribed Salah comes before fasting in the order of obligations, for Salah is the first we have to account for on the Day of Resurrection.
One might cheat another out of his money or even take orphan’s money, in the mean time he does not a Salah, Fard or Sunah.
I will mention two historical incidents in which this behavior is shown:
The Indian Mutiny:
After the occupation of India by Britain, Britain started recruiting Indian soldiers into her army, and they were mostly Hindu and Muslims. Regiments of these soldiers were formed as part of the British army occupying their own country. A mutiny took place among the Indian soldiers, Hindu and Muslims against the British army and the British officers. This was because of a rumor spreading among the Indian soldiers that the army was giving them cow’s fat and pig’s fat to grease their rifles with. Cows are sacred for the Hindu and eating big if forbidden for the Muslims.
The soldiers were angered because of the cow and pig fate, yet they were themselves helping the occupying army, suppressing and humiliating their own people, and taking the wealth of their country.
King Edward VIII:
He became the king of Britain in the thirties of the twentieth century, after being a crown prince. He had an affair with a married American woman called Mrs. Simpson. This affair was public and well known. This affair continued after he became king.
Mrs. Simpson eventually had a divorce from her husband, and the king wanted to marry her, and this was the problem. The Church of England did not approve of divorce, and the British government did not agree. The Church and the Government did not move or voice an opinion against the king’s sinful relationship, but did when the king wanted to marry.
The King decided to abdicate to marry the woman he loves, and so he did and lived with her in exile in France until he died.
Allah this shows us how many of us would turn a blind eye on great sins; in the mean time condemn and mount an opposition to minor sins particularly if others commit them. This shows lack of principles and malady of one’s soul.
We should be caution about criticizing and condemning others before looking at ourselves. It is possible that our errors are bigger and our sins are greater.
Dr Ahmed Saafan
