Don't Box Me In

85. Some Men

Some men are always sober

So that others might drink

Some men are always senseless

So that others might think

Some men are always beggars

So that others might be obliging.

Differences. We cannot all be rich. We cannot all be smart. And alas, we are not all sober ALL the time. There is a balance to be maintained, between the haves and have-nots, between the smart and smart-nots. And there is nothing better to maintain this balance and bridge the gap then empathy and charity. Charity not just in material terms, but through physical and spiritual aid, and perhaps most fundamentally, by investing your time - The only resource in the world that you cannot replenish by purchasing it from any one else.

Boxing Dreams. It is however wrong to box people in. People have a right to determine their dreams and no one should stand in the way of their ambition. So if you are poor, you might be rich someday, if you are uneducated, you might pass university one day, and if you have no property, you may own a house in the future, however big or small it would be.

Inequalities. There are structural obstacles in your socio-political and economic spheres. And that is already a difficult hurdle to jump - You come from the wrong neighbourhood, you are not educated in the 1st tier schools, you are unable to get into university or you cannot even get your foot in the job interview door, because of your religion, colour or ethnicity.

Society. The problem is often systemic and it is difficult to repair it. I hope that one day we will be able to say with pride that we are offering a fair and reasonable chance for every man, woman and child to achieve their dreams - not to be what society chooses for them, but to be the very best in the dream career / business that they choose to chase after, even if it means breaking out of the box that society constantly try to shutter them in.

Individuals. Big words, but as a fool myself, I rue the day when I first began to limit my own dreams and ambition, imprisoning my future, chaining my fortune to misconception of my own abilities. So I understand now that the change must happen both externally and internally. As God's wisdom is often quoted to me - Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts(extracted from Verse 13:11. Marmaduke Pickthall translation)....

Have a lovely Friday, sunshine.

wa min Allah at-taufiq

Hate has no place in Islam

Love will show the Way