Judging, Judging and Judging

I find it really concerning how we as humans find it so much easier to point out the flaws of an individual rather than what's truly amazing about them. We seem to have given ourselves the right to look a person up and down and start assuming. Before a word even comes out of a persons mouth we already have a image in our heads; an image purely based on assumptions. We all see materialism as something we should not base our lives round. But why is it that the first thing we judge a person by is their materialistic appearance? If we were to see a man with shaggy hair, ripped clothes, a shoe missing we immediately assume him to be someone you wouldn't want to associate yourself with. This man is immediately below you. You see yourself as better. But if we were to see a man dressed in a designer suit coming out of a Mercedes we would think of him as a man of class, a man of status. What have we come to? What happened to judging a person from the inside, judging them on their character, their manners. That homeless man who struggles to even afford a piece of bread may have the best of hearts, whilst that man with the wealth and power may have a stone for a heart. But this seems to slip our minds when meeting people.

Judging starts of with false assumptions and most of the time we let it get the best of us. Judging people seems to have a become a norm in our society. We know it's wrong, so why do we still do it? I want to address an issue in our Ummah with regards to judging. Again its based on their appearance. If we were to see a man in a short Thobe and a beard and a woman covered from top to bottom they are labelled as being pious. They are seen as the ideal Muslim, a Muslim who spends their whole day praying and doing Adkhar. Maybe even a Hafidh. Now thinking about it, How are we able to assume soo much? We don't know what their true intentions are, we don't know if they are being sincere or whether it's for show. May Allah purify our intentions and make us sincere. Allahumma Ameen.

My Niqabi and Hijabi sisters we shouldn't look down on sisters that don't cover.. They may not dress appropriately, they may not cover, but we are not aware of their inside. Their Imaan levels maybe be soaring whilst we are struggling to increase ours. If Allah has guided you and provided you with the knowledge you shouldn't use it as an excuse to see yourself as being superior in any way. Instead of thinking of wrongly of that person it would be in your best interest as well of that sister to advise her. Maybe that sister you look down upon may have no knowledge about the Hijab. Even if you are not able to approach the sister at least keep her in your Ad'iyah.
My brothers in Islam this is not only an issue of the sisters, but also with you men as well. If a guy was to come into the Masjid with tattoos all over and covered with piercings, you do not have the right to chase him out whilst whispering "Astaghfirullah, Astaghfirullah ". That's not the way to do it. That is not the way of sharing the beauty of our Deen. Alhamdulillah we are part of a religion that teaches to love all. If we are chasing out the misguided, how are we able to unite our Ummah?
To those of my Brothers and Sisters that Allah has blessed with knowledge, we should use it to help those that need it, we should use it to bring our Ummah together. We shouldn't look down on the misguided with pride and arrogance but rather use our knowledge to guide them and bring them back to the straight path.

Judging people does not benefit us, neither does it benefit the people around us. No one and I mean NO ONE is perfect. Each and everyone of us has flaws; some more apparent than others.Everyone is different in their own way, everyone is SPECIAL in their own way. Allah created us to be unique, Allah created us this way. We are the way we are because this is what Allah has planned for us. Who are we to criticise this? Who are we to question this? Just remember the next time your about to judge a person, they are human. A human with flaws, a human who makes mistakes, a human just like YOU. If the Almighty is judging us on our sincerity, on our intentions and our actions who we are to judge a person on assumptions? You don't like to be judged do so don't judge others.

Our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said “Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but rather He looks at your hearts and actions.” (Saheeh Muslim) 

I want to end of by saying that this is a reminder first of all to myself and then to my Brothers and Sisters. May Allah keep us sincere and may He allow us not to think wrongly of people.

اللهم امين