The Differences between People Imam Sadiq (‘a) said, “If you realize the differences between people, you won’t blame anyone.”
Our preaching is usually mixed with blaming. Let’s not preach in such a way that anyone will be blamed and become disappointed. A sinful person should always be kept hopeful. We shouldn’t say, “You’re wretched, but there is hope that God will make you prosper!” It is possible that one may not be wretched although he or she sins.
Imam Sadiq (‘a) counted up to several hundred types of differences between people. If we understand these differences, we won’t blame anyone. One might say, “If we don’t blame people, how can we guide them?!”
People said, “O Prophet of God, that young person who prays behind you ogles women too.” The Prophet replied, “His prayer will fix him.” The Prophet didn’t deny his deed being bad. If that young person heard this, he would become very hopeful. It is very, very interesting. This was really, really interesting.
A person was sitting next to some women and chatting with them. He himself narrated the story like this, “I saw some women sitting close to a tent. I put on some good clothes to go and chat with them. I came and sat next to them to misuse this opportunity!” The Prophet of God (s) was passing by. He asked, “Do you need something there?” He wanted the man to say yes. The man replied, “Yes! I’ve lost my camel’s rope. I am searching for it.” The Prophet (s) said, “Come to me when you have found it.”
The man narrated, “I escaped from among them. Later the Prophet (s) saw me and asked, ‘Did you find your camel’s rope?’ I said, ‘I searched for it, but it wasn’t there.’ I didn’t go near the Prophet anymore so that he wouldn’t ask me why my camel’s rope was there! One time I went into the Mosque to pray and the Prophet (s) wasn’t there. Then, he came. Oh no! The rope and I! I lengthened my prayer. I lengthened it for the Prophet (s) to go and to leave me alone. He had asked me several times, ‘What happened to your camel’s rope?’
The Prophet of God (s) stood there and said, ‘No matter how long your prayer takes, I’m waiting here!’ I finished praying. The Prophet (s) said, ‘What happened to your camel’s rope?’ I replied, ‘There wasn’t any rope. Forgive me. I was wrong and I understood this myself.’ The Prophet said, ‘Don’t sit among the women like that and adhere to the boundaries.’”
This is really wonderful. Now transform this into a way of talking. A tradition says, “A person is hidden behind his tongue.” When you talk, people should say, “He is a kind person.” This is very exact! How should a person talk for people to say that he is kind? Or, how does he talk, saying the same thing, and people say that he is arrogant?
Our preaching is usually mixed with blaming. Let’s not preach in such a way that anyone will be blamed and become disappointed.
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