Wait a minute! Don’t rush to complete the saying without first giving it a very deep thought. Of course we all have ears; they come in different shapes and sizes big, small arid even what we may even call moderate! Do we all have ears that function? The answer is NO! While some of us may have very sharp ears that can pick conversations that go on several rooms or even houses away from where we are, others are only able to hear what is being said only in the vicinity (place) where they are. Some people are not so fortunate; they cannot even hear the loudest sounds, so it is totally impossible to hear what is being said right in front of their noses. Have you ever had the cause to ask someone for the directions to a place and felt that you were being ignored you repeated the same question over and again until you got very angry and decided to ask someone else only to discover later that the first person you asked was deaf?! You would feel very bad for misjudging him or her, probably even wish you knew a little sign language with which to communicate with that person and apologize for your attitude.
The truth is that some people have been created like that by Allaah. Some are born deaf while others become deaf later in life as a result of one thing or the other. Just think about it, being born that way and having to learn sign language to be able to pass messages across and attending special schools because of this situation! Think about being in the company of people and not knowing what they are discussing except they make gestures at you. What about not being able to hear the Adhaan when it is being called or the Quran when it is being recited? Have you also thought about how you would follow the Salaah when you cannot hear what the Imam or the Muadhin is saying? Our mobile phones that are so precious to us may not be as interesting as they are when we cannot hear them ring or speak to others on them. How would it also feel to be born with our ears in good form but to later lose our hearing and have to start learning how to communicate with others? Of course, we would survive but then, we would really appreciate what Allaah has done for us by making it possible for us to be able to hear. We would also have warmer feelings for those who are deaf and still make good use of whatever other senses they have. Would you not agree with me that the saying should be "those who have ears, let them hear and let them give thanks!" "Which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?" -Soorah 55 (Ar-Rahman).
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited