DAILYREFLECTION
Those who listen to the word, then follow the best of it. It is they whom Allah has guided, and it is they who are people of understanding.
When someone we love is struggling, most of us rush to fix, explain, or advise. In tough family moments, friendship drama, even business conflicts, the urge is the same: jump in and talk.
But one of the most powerful skills in relationships is much quieter: to reflect back what the other person is saying before offering anything of our own.
That means listening carefully, following their story, then gently saying something like, “So this happened, then you felt this, and then you reacted like that… is that right?”
It sounds small, but three important things happen:
The other person feels seen and cared for
Our own ego, which wants to interrupt and preach, is forced to calm down
Both sides begin to share the same understanding of what is actually happening
Islamically, this is adab or good manners.
The Prophet ﷺ was described as turning fully to the person who spoke to him and not leaving until they were finished. He did not rush people, even when their words were clumsy or their questions were uncomfortable. Many came to him in pain or confusion, and before he corrected them, he let them speak their full story.
Our Lord is As-Samīʿ, the All-Hearing. Of course, His hearing is nothing like ours, but one small way of walking toward His pleasure is to be people who hear others before judging them.
If the goal is to help someone change, the first step is to make them feel that their experience matters, that their pain is not dismissed, and that their side of the story is safe in your presence.
Next time a tense conversation begins, try this: pause, listen without planning your reply, and reflect back what you heard. Advice can come later. Mercy starts with listening.
REFLECT ON THIS:
Imagine if I consistently listened this way for six months. Which relationship in my life would be transformed the most, and what might that transformation actually look like?
Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.
WATERMELONWATCH
Buildings lie in ruins amid the rubble in Rafah, in southern Gaza.
Storm warnings in Gaza say flash floods, strong winds and hail are already flooding tent camps, cutting off roads and leaving hundreds of thousands of displaced people exposed as winter hits. Local volunteers, civil defence crews and aid workers are racing to reinforce shelters, pump out water and move families, especially children and elders, to slightly safer ground where they can access basic services and psychosocial support.
Ceasefire talks remain stalled, with Hamas saying the Gaza truce cannot move to a second phase while Israeli violations continue, including hundreds killed since the October 10 ceasefire began. At the same time Qatar, Egypt and the United States are still pressing for full implementation of the deal and an international stabilisation force, while Palestinian and global grassroots groups keep campaigning for a longer, more durable peace.
UNRWA report on Gaza and the occupied West Bank warns that, despite the ceasefire, most people in Gaza still rely almost entirely on aid as access remains heavily restricted and core services are near collapse. Egypt has dispatched its 90th aid convoy and UN officials are both condemning Israel’s raid on an UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem and appealing for new emergency funds so schools, clinics and food distributions for displaced families can keep running.
West Bank violence continues as a 21-year-old Palestinian died in Israeli custody and dozens were detained in new raids, adding to a sharp rise in killings, arrests and settler attacks since 2023. Médecins Sans Frontières mental health teams describe families “preparing themselves for loss,” yet they also see communities sharing food, checking on neighbours and attending group counselling sessions to cope together with fear and grief.
World leaders such as Türkiye’s president are again denouncing what they call genocide in Gaza and warning that global human rights norms are being hollowed out by the ongoing siege and mass killing. In parallel, UN agencies and humanitarian charities report that international donations, advocacy campaigns and local Palestinian initiatives are still funding food parcels, maternity care, schooling and safe spaces for children, keeping small but vital rays of protection and dignity alive amid the devastation.
QURANCORNER
Kitāb (كِتَاب) — Book / Scripture
Kitāb comes from kataba, to write, to record, to decree. But this isn’t just ink on pages, it’s divine speech, preserved and protected. The Kitāb holds guidance, mercy, and light for hearts willing to read with more than eyes. It reminds us: the truest words aren’t just read, they’re lived.