Edited by Dewi Saraswati
When we had to move to another country because my husband was offered a job there, I was hesitant. Doubts filled me with apprehension. If something happen to us who will help us? We would we far from anyone we know and love.
But my doubts were eventually evaporated when I recall the story of hijrah of Muhammad pbuh from his birth place, Mecca, to Medina. Imagine my surprise when it turned out that we were going to relocate to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Muhammad pbuh and the centre for the Hajj and umra ritual for every Muslim from all over the world.
So it would be easy for us when we want to perform either the Hajj or Umra since we were going to live there. We could maintain our friendship when our friends came to perform either ritual, and made new ones, hopefully , besides from our own home country also from Muslims brothers and sisters from different countries.
Subhanallah …
Whenever umra visa registration
opens, tens of thousands of people apply for it. If somebody back home has family members or acquaintances living in Saudi Arabia they would urge anybody to visit this person(s). This is God’s way establishing friendship among us Muslims. Therefore we can be friends regardless of race, colour and creed.
From Abu Hurairah ra he said: The Messenger of Allah said:
“من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليكرم ضيفه, ومن كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فليصل رحمه”
“He who believes in Allah and the Last Day let him honour his guests, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day let him connect great friendship relations”
Who wants to be eased (God) sustenance or stretched (God’s) age, then let him tie friendship (love relationship). “(Narrated by Bukhari)
It would be wonderful promise that God gave us in strengthening the ties between us Muslims.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) even given plenty of examples of maintaining friendship ties, be that person was a Muslim or not, by loving his uncle Abu Talib, the one family member who protected him when things became impossible, who remained steadfast in his conviction toward the religion of his ancestors. They loved each other till the day Abu Talib died.
“من أحب أن يبسط له فى رزقه وينسأ له فى أثره فليصل رحمه”
“Anyone who likes to be dilated his rizq and lengthen its life, then let it connect friendship relations”
Friendship, be that make one and/or maintaining one, is enriching our lives because not only we get to know different people but also we can share happiness and sorrow together. That is the essence of true friendship.
Word of God SWR:
“فهل عسيتم إن توليتم أن تفسدوا في الأرض وتقطعوا أرحامكم أولئك الذين لعنهم الله فأصمهم وأعمى أبصارهم“
“So is it to be if you’re in power you will make mischief in the land and sever your ties of kinship They are the ones who are being cursed by God and His deafened their ears and blinded their sight Him” (Surah Muhammad :22-23).
