Jihad from the eyes of our tiny but spritely spirited…

The apple of both our eyes…was very fast on her feet. Weaving her way in and out, between shoplots and along the corridor at a shopping mall last Sunday morning.

Pity her Grandad (whom she affectionately calls ‘Tok Wan’), who had to scamper here and there, panting away… A man, past middle age while the other..an energetic two and a half year old. How can one compare? Moreover, one cannot afford to be complacent these days. Too many stories. Too many incidents. Our little ones are no longer safe on their own.

The plucky, little girl stopped in her tracks at one of the adjoining corridors and said, “Hey Don’t fight!” There was a big frown on her face, one hand was on her waist while the other, finger pointing.

In front of her, were two burly five to six year olds, jostling each other and were definitely crossing their fists. Our pint-sized Nuha Inshirah's remarks must have been effective. For they stopped whatever they were doing and moved on…Our little bombshell was still giving them ‘her looks’ albeit sideways now…

I told myself, “Masha Allah! Small but brave enough to forbid something that is not right. Her act looked so natural despite it being spontaneous!”

My beloved and I exchanged glances and we could not hold back our chuckles.

Well! Isn’t it the duty of every Muslim (regardless of age and position) to forbid wrongdoings? In fact, it is a component of jihad.

Think! What are the things that we can do to make jihad as being part of our ritual in daily life?

Jihad should be seen as something very vast. An act of virtue that is not confined to only being involved with warfare. We are constantly being asked to fight against ill desire, not to succumb to the persuasions of the shaitan that comes to sway us from His path, in all shapes and forms. We are told to strive to give our utmost and strength to be near to Allah. To do whatever that He has asked us to do. To leave and put aside the things that He has stated as forbidden. To uphold the truth and fight for the sake of curbing and preventing falsehood.

The prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says, “The greatest Jihad to God is a word of truth before an unjust ruler.” [HR Ahmad].