Sweltering temperatures in Lahore, Pakistan. Onset of extreme humid weather.
The laborer spend their whole lives manually excavating the foundations of
houses in Lahore. They work on daily wages. From one house they hop on to
the next house. And keep hopping from one to another from their early teens
till their last day on earth. No retirement. No reprieve. No rest. No break. They
have lunch. No sumptuous food, ever. No cold water. No fan. The shade of a
house under construction suffices for them. Or the shade of a tree.
30-minute break. They'll have their fag after meal. Lie down a bit. Then back
to the old grind of manual excavation under the merciless sun. No wages if
they fall ill. Their accounts are strictly administered. Principles of
accounting are in full force here. Work, you get paid. Period.
I want to make a point.
Are these laborers destined to live with their predicament? Their fault is
they've opened their eyes in abject poverty? Is it now for them to live in this
ruthless world without any hope of respite? Will they ever be compensated? When
I look closely at them and talk to them my conviction in this worldly life
being fleeting and temporary becomes ever strong. It makes me think. It makes
me ponder.
Yes! When I think, when I ponder this makes perfect sense as I pair this world
with another world. The world of Hereafter. As Jesus Christ narrates in his beatitudes in the famous Sermon of the Mount in
the New Testament; I feel God Almighty, the Creator and Sustainer of the
Heavens and Earth speak to His servants. This is what God said through
Prophet Jesus (may peace be upon him):
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will
inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you".
Yes! It makes sense to me now! It is now clear like daylight to me! It is now
as tangible as myself, my presence! We shall all gather one day in the
Hereafter. We shall have to own the talent, the potential, the Bounties of God,
the lack of Bounties of God, the humbleness, the arrogance, the murderers, the
murdered, the rapists, the raped, the good souls, the evil souls, the devil may
care behaviours, the cautious behaviours, the atheists, the believers, the non-believers
in front of God, the Majestic, the All-Powerful, the All-Wise.
The Qur’an (81:14): ” On that Day˺ each soul will know what ˹deeds˺ it has
brought along”.
Anon!
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