In the light of the Holy Hadith

Leave that which does not concern you

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Part of the perfection of one’s Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi?, Hadith – 2318)

Dear brothers and sisters,
This hadith outlines a valuable approach to be happy in life, especially in our age of information overload and constant connection. This hadith explains an important but often overlooked aspect of completing and perfecting our practice of Islam. We should not concern ourselves with matters that are none of our business, but should stay focused on the priorities that do concern us. When our practice of Islam becomes more complete and more perfected, the good deeds we perform are multiplied to higher and higher exponents. By instilling this quality of focusing on what is of concern to you and disregarding what is not, deeds may become more weighty and valuable in the sight of Allah swt.
There are three recommendations that can help someone stay focused on what is of concern to him or her, and not being distracted by superfluous issues. Firstly, exercise a degree of shyness and modesty, as rare and endangered as these qualities are today. Haya’, the qualities of humility, shyness, and modesty before Allah, is a valuable possession that the Prophet (sas) praised very highly.
Secondly, control your speech. Once a man noticed the Prophet Luqman surrounded by his followers and asked him, “Weren’t you the slave of so and so? Didn’t you used to be a shepherd for so and so? How did you get to such a respectful position among people?” Prophet Luqman answered, “Truthful speech, and long silence upon what does not concern me.” Thirdly, think about how you spend time. Al-Hasan al-Basri once said, “You are nothing but a compilation of breaths.” Every time you exhale, a piece of your life, a part of you, is lost. How many of our interactions are worthwhile and how many are useless? Allah says, “Most of their discussions do not contain any good, except of the one who enjoins charity or goodness or peace-making among people.” (4:114)
Jobayer Al Mahmud, Student, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey