If a person shows us kindness and generosity out of affection and love, for example, by giving us valuable gifts, saving us from the hardships and difficulties of life, or showing kindness and mercy to our children or close relatives, how should we respond to their kindness and affection? Regardless of our religion or beliefs, what does our humanity dictate in response to such a person? If, after all their kindness, this person asks something of us, how should we respond to their request?
Imam Hadi (peace be upon him) narrates from his noble ancestors, quoting the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Allah the Almighty says: ‘O child of Adam, you do not deal with Me justly! I shower you with My blessings, yet you respond to Me with ingratitude and sin. My goodness and kindness flow toward you, yet your evil and wrongdoing ascend toward Me. Every night and day, a noble angel records your foul deeds and brings them to Me. O child of Adam, if you heard of these deeds from someone else and did not know who they belonged to, you would quickly harbor hatred toward that person.'”[1]
Everything that Allah the Almighty has granted us is limitless and boundless. The least we can do in return for all this kindness and generosity is to not misuse what He has given us in ways that do not please Him, and to fulfill whatever He has asked of us.
(Taken from the book “The Life of Imam Ali al-Hadi (peace be upon him)”, by Baqir Sharif Qureshi)
Footnote:
[1] Al-Amali, p. 278, Hadith 532