Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover (part 1)
Many interesting and wise stories can be drawn from the Qur'an and hadith. One of them follows the story.
One day, in Mecca, a blind man, Abdullah bin Ummi Maktum came to the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam . At that time, the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam is calling on the nobles of the land of Mecca/Quraish, so that they convert to Islam. His hope is that with the entry of these dignitaries, his followers will be attracted.
Umi Maktum's son said, "O Messenger of Allah, recite the Qur'anand to me, teach me what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has taught to you. "
Umi Maktum's son repeatedly said that, while he did not know the Prophet was calling on the nobles. This made the Prophet feel irritated and sour and turned away from him. This incident led to the revelation of the letter 'Abasa (80), which is basically a rebuke to the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, not to turn away from everyone in need.
"He (Muhammad) turned sour and turned away.(Surah Abasa: 1)
The lesson of the story is that we are not deceived by one's appearance, wealth, and social status. As Tukul often said,Don't judge the book by its cover,' or 'underestimate', we may often scorn someone because of their appearance and social status. In social life, we are often dazzled and deceived by appearances. Yet often what is hidden, is something very valuable.
The 49th Surah Al Hujurat warns us not to humiliate other people because it may be that those who are insulted are better than those who humiliate. And in the letter it is also clearly stated that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala indeed created humans with different conditions, but these differences are not a determinant of the superiority and glory of a person or a people in view Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, but his piety. We can see this from the following verse:
"O you who believe, let not men humiliate (other) men, for perhaps the humiliated people are better than the humiliating people, and let not women humiliate (other) women, because So a woman who is humiliated is better than a woman who humiliates. Do not reproach your neighbor and do not call him by a title (which is not good). The worst of calls are (calls) that are bad (wicked) after faith. And whoever does not repent, then they are the wrongdoers….O mankind! Indeed, We have created you from a male and a female, then We made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is most pious." (Surat al-Hujuraat: 11 and 13)
Difference is not to bring down and humiliate each other. Difference is intended so that humans can learn from each other and help each other. Especially for the problem of mere appearance differences. We will not be able to see a person's spiritual depth just from his appearance.
May we be kept away from condescending and humiliating others. Amen.
Author: Dr. Gancar C. Premananto*
*Coordinator of the Master of Management Study Program FEB Universitas Airlangga Surabaya
source: https://suaramuslim.net/dont-judges-a-book-by-its-cover-1/
