Be kind to others, kindness is contagious
Not only will our good deeds make an impact on others, but they will also encourage others to pass them on.
FLIPPING through the pages of newspapers seems to be a devastating ordeal nowadays. Stories of abuse, bullies, rage and killings dominate headlines, which leave us with feelings of sadness, fear and anxiety.
On top of these stories, how many times have we actually found ourselves absolutely flabbergasted by the lack of civility of people around us?
The world that we live in today is full of individuals who lack an important criterion of the heart, which is kindness.
Kindness is a behaviour marked by principled traits, a pleasant temperament and a concern for others.
The problem with unkind individuals is their failure to nurture their hearts to value the life and well-being of others.
They also lack empathy. Due to this, they resort to immoral and unacceptable behaviours, and take actions which are unjust, disrespectful, inconsiderate and rude.
Kindness is not just a matter of the heart. Prophet Muhammad said, “Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever is not kind has no faith.” (Narrated by Muslim.)
In another hadith, the Prophet said to Anas Ibnu Malik: “Try to pass your mornings and evenings in a state where your heart is free from all ill-feelings, jealousy and hatred for everyone, and remember that this is my Sunnah, and he who loves my Sunnah will be with me in paradise.” (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi.)
When people are kind to one another, it will create a society that is selfless and compassionate.
The survival of humanity is dependent upon human kindness, as acts of kindness encourage altruism and benevolence.
Our fixation with the material world and the fatigue that we feel during our daily routines actually strains our emotional and mental conditions.
This necessitates us to pause and reflect on the purpose of our actions and also our lives, whether for individual gains or in relation with the people around us.
The principle of kindness rejects conditions such as hypocrisy, feeling of superiority, narcissism and self- indulgence.
In the context of the larger social setting, individuals are the main components of society.
Thus, for society to be able to live in harmony and co-exist peacefully, we need to have people who treat others with respect, despite differences in religion, culture or social standing.
It is wrong for us to mock other people or degrade them, just because we fail to acknowledge the differences that exist among us. Even if there is disagreement, it must still be dealt with reverence.
The precondition for a strong society is not economic progress and material well-being, but it is more about the composition of ethical values such as justice and kindness that characterise individuals and groups in society.
Only by having such values would society remain resilient and would harmony become a permanent condition.
When we read in the news about actions of bullies and aggressors, we wonder about the absence of patience, kindness and respect that is supposed to be their mental guide during those events.
In the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty says: “Kind speech and forgiveness is better than charity followed by injury; and Allah is Self- sufficient, Forbearing.” (Chapter 2, Verse 262)
This verse serves as an important reminder that it is always best to consider the feelings of others in any particular situation, by being more empathetic.
We never know what life challenges other people might be facing at a particular point in time.
We must realise that just as we struggle through tribulations, other people also experience similar ordeals.
Our friendly gestures, smiles and simple greetings could be enough to significantly improve someone’s day.
Unfortunately, there are people who are insensitive, which leads to the devastating existence of incivility.
To make things worse, with the prevalence of technology and social media platforms, some individuals have no hesitation about being less polite virtually.
Rudeness on social media and other forms of technology is becoming a huge concern in our society, which can be tackled through education and campaigns.
The challenge for social media users is to always be mindful of what we post, share and comment.
Even if we feel that we are alone when using the technology irresponsibly, as people of religion, we need to realise that God sees every little action and what lies beneath our hearts. Allah the Almighty reminds us in the Quran:
“On that day men shall come forth in sundry bodies that they may be shown their works. So, he who has done an atom’s weight of good shall see it. And, he who has done an atom’s weight of evil shall see it.” (Chapter 99: Verses 6-8)
Kindness is actually contagious. When we make just one kind gesture towards others and it has a significant impact on them, this will lead to ripples of other kind gestures passing on to others.
Therefore, we should always start with the intention to do good deeds and be kind to others.
It sounds like wishful thinking, but if we are sincere in making the world a better place for everyone, we should look within our hearts and start from there.