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Inshallah Inshallah - amma - 02-09-2004
A few years back, I came across a children’s book entitled Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss that left such an impact on me that I wrote an article about it. The book is available in the children’s section of most public libraries; however, for those of you who may not be so inspired as to actually look for it, I will briefly summarize it here.
Horton, the elephant, is convinced by a lazy, ungrateful bird by the name of Mayzie to sit on the egg she has recently laid in her nest so that she might take a break. She promises Horton that she’ll be right back, and although he initially thinks it quite ridiculous that as huge as he is, he could actually climb a tree to sit on a tiny egg, being the kind, considerate, helpful elephant that he is, he finally consents to helping her out — trusting that she’ll keep her word:
“Very well,” said the elephant, “since you insist... You want a vacation. Go fly off and take it. I’ll sit on your egg and I’ll try not to break it. I’ll stay and be faithful. I mean what I say.”
On the other hand, Mayzie has other things in mind...
“But, Mayzie, by this time, was far beyond reach. Enjoying the sunshine way off in Palm Beach, and having such fun, such a wonderful rest, decided she’d never go back to her nest.”
That night, Horton sits on the egg through a terrible thunderstorm. The summer passes by, autumn comes and goes, and soon it is winter:
“With its snow and sleet, icicles hung from Horton’s trunk and his feet… But Horton kept sitting, and said with a sneeze, I’ll stay on this egg and I won’t let it freeze. I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful one hundred per cent!”
When spring rolls around, all of Horton’s friends come to get him to play. Finding him still on the egg, they taunt and tease him, saying he thinks he’s a bird...
“They laugh and they laugh; then they all run away. And Horton was lonely… He wanted to play. But he sat on the egg and continued to say: “I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful one hundred percent.”
Then fate has it that three hunters sneak up on him, but Horton maintains his post — even in the face of their intimidating weapons. Thinking him quite odd, they decide to spare his life, but they cart him off to a traveling circus in a faraway land where he becomes quite a popular spectacle and brings in quite a sum of money for the circus owners.
One day, believe it or not, Horton and his egg that he has been faithfully guarding end up in Palm Beach and who, of all birds, passes by but Lazy Mayzie. Before Horton can admonish her, the egg that he’s been sitting on for 51 whole weeks starts to hatch. And Mayzie, being the lazy and ungrateful bird that she is, actually tries to reclaim the egg. But fate won’t have that and when the egg hatches, it has ears, a tail and a trunk just like Horton’s. It’s an elephant-bird. The audience cheers, and they send Horton and his new baby back to his faraway home.
How many lessons from the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) can we find reinforced in this simple children’s story (incidentally, written by a non-Muslim author)? Most of us could learn a thing or two from Horton’s faithfulness, steadfastness, and sincerity.
First, Allah (swt) says in Al Qur’an, Suratul Kahf, (18:23-4): “And do not say of anything, ‘I will do that tomorrow,’ without adding, ‘If Allah wills.’ And remember your Lord when you forget, and say: ‘May Allah guide me and bring me the truth’.”
In today’s world, I often find the flipside of this injunction to be the case. How many times do we, without the least bit of sincerity in our hearts, answer, “Insha’Allah,” when we are asked to do something? Instead of being honest and straightforward, or making a genuine effort to honor our word.
When we are not sincere in answering, “Insha’Allah,” chances are that we will end up doing nothing — or perhaps quite the opposite of what we are asked to do.
So why is it that we respond with “Insha’Allah” over and over again — without sincerity in our hearts? Wouldn’t it be so much more honorable and pleasing to Allah to simply say that we are unable or unwilling to comply?
A Muslim’s word should be his bond. Truly, it is in Allah’s hands that anything happens and, truly, we should not commit to anything without uttering, “Insha’Allah.” But “Insha’Allah” should not be an easy way out of (and “Masha’ Allah,” the excuse for) what we don’t have the slightest intention to even try to do.
The Believer is faithful, reliable, and trustworthy, and honors his/her covenants. In Suratul Maida (5:1), Allah says, “O ye who believe! Fulfill your obligations and covenants.” Again, in Suratul Muminun (23:8), we find one of the characteristics of the Believers: “Those who faithfully observe their trusts and covenants.” And in Suratul Saff (61:2-3): “O Ye who believe! Why say that which ye do not? Grievously odious is it in the sight of Allah that ye say that which ye do not.”
We all should take a moment and reflect on how true we are to our word. If asked, would most of our acquaintances describe us as faithful, loyal, reliable and trustworthy?
Our practice of Islam has to be more than a mere profession with our lips. Our actions must be consistent with what we say we believe. If we indeed believe in Allah and have submitted ourselves as Muslims, how can we say one thing and do another?
Do we simply forget our promises, or do we somehow feel that it doesn’t really matter when we do not fulfill them? We should put ourselves in others’ shoes more often, and consider how we feel when people do not honor their commitments to us.
How do we feel when our spouses do not fulfill their responsibilities to us as laid out in our marriage contracts? How do we feel when our employers do not pay us on time, or at a lesser rate than agreed upon?
Are we not disappointed or even angry when someone does not repay a loan according to the terms we set? What about when someone does not show up or is very late for an appointment?
It is very important — in Allah’s eyesight and in relationship and community building — that we learn to honor our commitments. Because the first question in the matter really is, “Who do we choose to emulate, Horton or Lazy Mayzie?”
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Inshallah Inshallah - Muslimah - 02-10-2004
Sobhan Allah, very true amma, and nice avatar u have here Alhamdulelah