'Goodness' on wheels…

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection
"Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80)

IN the middle of last year my family brought home five stray kittens and recently for an 'unavoidable reason' we had to give away all the five beautiful and cute creatures. 

I was sad and felt a great loss but fortunately an idea crossed my mind - why not I bring along cats food in my motorcycle's basket. Thus I could always feed stray hungry cats whenever I find them without taking them back home.

The 'idea' worked; nowadays I have 'befriended' some 'kittens' at two 'masjids' that I often goes - strangely they would run to my motorcycle whenever I arrived at the said premises. 

Based on this experience, I broadened my thinking that it is wise for us to carry along useful things or necessary equipment in our vehicles if of sudden there is an emergency. Yes, we needed to be ready to help others at all time, but one factor that hampered us from giving help is that we do not have the necessary and right equipment.

Discussing on this topic, I remember one of my best friend testimony that he always kept a motorcycle's tube, an air pump, spanners and other equipment in the boot of his car just in case he came across motorcyclists pushing their punctured vehicles along the road what's more on the highway.

Years ago I had the experience of pushing my punctured bike along the highway; I felt it was like an endless journey...I had to push the vehicle up and down the slopes and hills of the highway for more than 15 kilometers...yes nobody stopped to help me on the highway. While pushing the bike, my heart cried - Ya Allah, please help me, please help me! 

I exited at an interchange and after more than five kilometers only than I found a workshop and have my motorcycle repaired. On reaching home, I felt my body and bone ached - ooh, if only a good samaritan like my best friend who always carried the necessary tools had seen me on the highway! 

Perhaps in the past I was not good and fast in helping others, thus help was delayed to me! It was my mistake, I wowed to correct it. We must be ever ready to help those in distress.

Thus if we want to help others, always be prepared for an emergency. Be ready to render help just like my best friend who had motorcycle's repairing kit stored in his car boot!

It is good for us to have a car emergency kit which includes charged cell phone. Although this item will probably be on your person, it may make the difference between getting help fast and maybe not getting help at all. Make sure it is properly charged every time you get into your car.

We too should have first-aid kit, it should include adhesive tape, gauze pads, aspirin, antiseptic wipes, antiseptic cream or ointment, and anything related. Other items are fire extinguisher and warning triangles.

From experiences, I knew of some drivers carrying 'weapons' such as hockey sticks and iron rods in their cars in case they were attacked by road bullies but there are also 'some good souls' that carry with them 'parang' (chopper) and 'cangkul' (hoe) with a conscience intention.

Why carry a 'parang'...because when they come across felled trees they could help in clearing the branches and why carry a 'cangkul'...because they could removed carcasses of dead animals such as kittens on the road and then buried them. But to those good samaritans, be careful because carrying sharp objects such as 'parang' could land you in hot soup because it is against the law. 

Then when going to 'masjids' for your five times daily prayers or 'kuliah' (lessons), always be ready in your vehicles simple apparatus such as a brush and a small container for you to pick up and clear 'tahi cicak' (lizard's excrement) in the 'masjid'. You too could ready a 'penyapu' (broom) to sweep the floor or compound of the 'masjid'.

If you bring along brushes and detergents you could clean the toilets; but remember to bring 'pakaian basahan' (attires worn when doing dirty work) for you need to be in you best clothes when entering 'masjid' and performing our 'solat' (prayers). Then if you have a 'parang' and 'sabit' (sickle), you could clean and clear areas around the 'masjid' such as cutting grass.

To help 'needy' people or individual in distress perhaps it does not require much effort - drivers could give lift to people for example neighbours who are waiting for the bus or walking on the road. Stop and ask them; if their route match yours...then take them into your car; from my experience doing this, they were very grateful and said thank you several times!

Yes be kind to all including fellow human beings especially to those in need because whoever is kind to His creatures, God is kind to him; therefore be kind to man on earth, whether good or bad; and being kind to the bad is to withhold him from evil, thus in Heaven you will be treated kindly. He who is not kind to God's creatures, God will not be kind to him. 

The Qur'an states that whatever we give away generously (including help), with the intention of pleasing God, He will replace it. God knows what is in the hearts of men. Say: “Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and also restricts it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in God’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Qur'an 34:39) - ES