If You Look Above Then Look Below


Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When one of you looks
at one who stands at a higher level than you in regard to wealth and
physical structure he should also see one who stands at a lower level
than you in regard to these things.” [Muslim]

Comparing ourselves to people whom Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has given
better looks to, more money to, nicer possessions to, better education
to, higher status to, etc., is a common cause for our showing
ingratitude to Allah. We then automatically discard the blessings that
Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) has bestowed on us and can think of only
that which we are lacking and someone else has. There will always be
something more that we could have.




However, Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) is the Originator of all
Good/Khair. Nothing comes from Him that is not good. Therefore, we
should not have the attitude, that when we see ourselves having the
blessings of this world we say, "Rabbi akraman" (Allah has
blessed/honoured me) and when we face anything lacking in our lives we
say, "Rabbi ahanun" (Allah has humiliated me). A believer always says
"Rabbi akraman" only, since in his or her every affair Allah is
honouring them.

Human beings are greedy and ungrateful by nature. Rasul Allah (sal
Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told us that even if we were given two
valleys full of gold we would wish for a third and there would be no
end to our greed till we died. Therefore, the advice of the Prophet
(sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) makes perfect sense that whenever we get
to see people who have more or better than what we have, we should
immediately look at those people too who have less or worse than what
we have. Only then will we be able to remain thankful to Allah
(subhana wa ta’ala).

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