There is a big difference between outward appearance and inner essence. While outward appearances often deceive people with superficial impressions, the inner essence reveals what truly lies beneath. Thus, the path to truth is difficult, yet it is a source of comfort. The following lines tell a story about discerning the truth and not being misled by appearances.
Once upon a time, a woman passed by a gathering and asked, “Who among you is the jurist?” They pointed to one of the men, and she asked him, “How do you eat?” He replied, “I begin by saying ‘In the name of God,’ I eat with my right hand, I eat from what is closest to me, I take small bites, and I chew well.” She asked him, “How do you sleep?” He replied, “I perform ablution before going to bed, I sleep on my right side, and I recite my daily prayers.” The woman responded, “You neither know how to eat nor how to sleep.” Everyone turned to look at her, and the man who had been identified as the jurist asked in surprise, “Then how do you eat and sleep?”
She replied, “Do not let anything forbidden enter your stomach, and then eat whatever you wish. Do not harbor malice in your heart toward anyone, and then sleep however you like. What you described to me was the method of action, and what I told you was the essence of the act.”
Many people place great emphasis on outward appearance, but neglect the essence, which is far more important. The Arabs were not impressed by the clothing, food, or drink of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), but by his noble character, kindness, humility, and gentle treatment of others. Through these qualities, he was able to transform the Arabs from a nation of shepherds into a nation that led others.
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Welcome to the 21st century. The late Egyptian writer Ahmed Khaled Tawfik once said, “Welcome to the 21st century, where what is forbidden is freely available, and what is permissible is unaffordable. A pizza delivery arrives faster than an ambulance or the police. Losing a phone feels more painful than losing one’s dignity. Clothes determine a person’s worth. Loyalty and faithfulness have become old-fashioned. Money has become the new symbol of liberty, justice, and equality. Welcome to this monstrous era, where lying is called genius, betrayal is seen as intelligence, and poverty is a source of shame. Nudity is now considered the height of elegance and freedom, while modesty is seen as backwardness. Superficial beauty is the main standard of attraction. Breaking hearts is called honesty, and mending them is seen as foolishness. Money earns you respect, even if gained through corruption. Commitment to principles and values is labeled as backward. Sectarianism is mistaken for patriotism. And the better someone is at stealing, the more skilled and ‘manly’ they’re thought to be. The more luxurious your car, the more respect you command. When you distance yourself from people and choose isolation, you are suddenly placed under suspicion – as if solitude itself is a threat to the nation. Welcome to the most deceptive era in human history, the worst of all ages.”
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Charlie Chaplin’s honesty. Charlie Chaplin once told a joke, and everyone laughed. When he repeated it a second time, only a few laughed. By the third time, no one laughed at all. He then said, “If you can’t laugh at the same joke more than once, why do you keep crying over the same tragedy again and again?” Chaplin left behind a remarkable legacy, without ever uttering a harsh word or hurting anyone’s feelings.
