A few years later, when I was working in Fort Worth (in my early
20′s), there was a supervisor who usedto harrass me. He was abusive
toward everyone, but he seemed to have a particular dislike of me. I
don't know why. Well, I had been experimenting with meditation, and
had been reading a few books about spirituality. One day I decided
that I would go about my day trying to seethe soul within each person.
With each person I met, I would look past the exterior appearance,
past the external behaviors, andtry to perceive the soul inside.
It may sound silly or new-agey, but I noticed a difference
immediately. I was able to see things in people that I had not
previously perceived. In particular I saw a lot of fear. As I was
walking toward the cafeteria, I saw the abusive supervisor standing
near the door. I tried to forget everything I had experienced at his
hands, and look to his soul.I can't say exactly what I saw, but as I
approached him, he smiled at me. This was so unexpected and
incongruous, that I didn't know how to react and I continued on my way
without response.
After that day, I noticed a change. That supervisor and I certainly
did not become friends, but he stopped being hostile toward me. I
cannot really explain this, except to speculate that the act of
looking to a person's soul is a form of love, just as listening
deeply, without judgment, is an act of love. We are so unaccustomed
inthis life to people regarding us in a pure way,without judgment,
withoutresponding to our appearance or dress, without resentment for
past mistakes, that when someone does it, it's disarming. It
transforms.
This is the power of love.
I'm not suggesting that all oppression in this world can be overcome
with a look. There is evil in the world. There are times when we must
fight to defend our lives and our families. Certain entities areimmune
to the power of love (the current murderous regime in Syria is not
going to be overthrown with love). Buteven in the context of conflict,
love and faith are powerful. Some Russian soldiers in Chechnya
embraced Islam after beingcaptured by the mujahideen and treated with
kindness. Some soldiers in Egypt who wereordered to fire upon
civilians refused to do so after being embraced or kissed by
protesters.
The Prophet Muhammad (sws) himself was a reluctant warrior who
disliked fighting except as a last resort. He was one of the first
military leaders in history to lay down stringent rules for humane
warfare, prohibiting even the killing of animals or burning of crops.
He was a champion of faith, not fighting. His mission was one of
compassion. The most powerful tools in his arsenal were the Quran and
the testimony of "Laa ilaha il-Allah" (there is no God but Allah).
That is how he changed the world.
--
:-> :->
'' Our Lord ! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire '' [Ameen]
-
{in Arab} :->
Rabbanaa aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanatan wafil aakhirati hasanatan waqinaa 'athaaban-naar/-
(Surah Al-Baqarah ,verse 201)
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