DAILYREFLECTION
It is by mercy from Allah that you were gentle with them. Had you been harsh or hard-hearted, they would have dispersed from around you.
Most people rush to explain what they think is happening in a situation. Much fewer pause long enough to ask the simple question:
“What is this like for you”
When someone goes through a hard experience, they often do not fully understand what they feel. Sometimes there are so many emotions at once that everything feels blurred. Other times, there is only a loud stream of thoughts with no clear name for the feeling underneath.
Instead of guessing, or assuming they feel what you would feel, it helps to slow down and gently ask:
What was that like for you
What is happening in your body as you talk about this
What thoughts keep coming up when you remember it
Two people can live through the same event. One feels deep sadness and loss. Another feels anger and wants to break something. A third feels numb but cannot shut their mind off. The only way to know which heart is in front of you is to ask.
Islamically, this is a form of raḥmah and ḥusn al-ẓann. A believer does not rush to judge the inner state of a brother or sister. The Prophet ﷺ gave space for people to express themselves, even when they said clumsy things or reacted in unexpected ways. Only after understanding would he guide, correct, or comfort.
In relationships, advice often fails not because the words are wrong, but because the person never felt understood. To be truly helpful, it is not enough to know what happened. It is necessary to know what it felt like from the inside.
Next time someone shares something heavy, try pausing after you reflect their story back, and ask: “And for you, what has this been like” Then listen all the way to the end.
May Allah make hearts soft enough to hold each other’s pain, and tongues wise enough to speak only after understanding.
Reflect On This
How often do we assume we know what someone feels without asking them directly?
Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.
WATERMELONWATCH
A Palestinian man, next to a child, displays the aid supplies he received from the U.S.-supported Gaza Relief Organization, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.
Israeli defence officials signaled they intend to keep troops in Gaza despite the October 2025 deal calling for a phased withdrawal, deepening uncertainty for civilians trying to rebuild routines. Even so, local volunteer networks and aid workers are continuing day by day with food distribution and basic services where access is possible.
UN, aid groups warned that restrictions and a looming de registration deadline could force dozens of NGOs to halt work, threatening health care, water and sanitation, and nutrition support. The same statement is also a push for continuity: hundreds of organizations are coordinating to keep lifesaving programs running and to get stuck supplies moving.
UNRWA teams have been clearing floodwater, repairing damaged tents in school shelter sites, and distributing tarpaulins and winter items as storms and cold worsen displacement conditions. Between mid November and early December, they reported reaching more than 82,000 households with winterization support, a practical lifeline as families try to stay safe and warm.
QURANCORNER
Malak (مَلَك) — Angel
Malak comes from the unseen, created from light, moving without pride, obeying without hesitation. In the Qur’an, angels are messengers, guardians, scribes, and soldiers of divine command. They never disobey, and they never sleep. Malak reminds us that while we live in the visible world, we are always surrounded by the unseen, by those who record, protect, and glorify Allah without pause.