Emphatic in the Survival Mode

The meanings that most of us attach in our daily activities such as social gatherings are seen invalid today, and this is one of the things that depresses us the most. While it is not too much to say that we have switched to a survival mode, our coping methods to survive varies depending on our surroundings, especially on the economic factor. In making sure that we provide a conducive space for everyone to survive today, I think it is crucial to be emphatic. Empathy is different comparatively to sympathy, and it takes some training to successfully see through people’s emotions. At the end of the day, we are all full of armour which we handmade and specially crafted to hide our sorrows and the vulnerability side of us. People who have their life and personal matters centred will struggle to view others in a rahmah way.

Being empathic is a critical character in living in a society that consists of diverse individuals with far more diverse personalities, especially when there is nothing that is constant in a society. Every society is revolving and moving to different changes without us even bothering to observe. The ability to pick up the hidden emotions and feelings of the members in the society is not that simple to do. This reminds me of the beautiful hadith whereby Rasulullah mentioned that the believers are as if living in a same body that if any parts of the body is in pain, the whole body is designed to aching as a response (Bukhari). This signifies that the society, should it be in mutual understanding, will be able to intensely feel and understand the emotion of others as if they have walked in the same shoes.

I think that one of the enablers for people to be emphatic is to have a heart that allows them to do so. To explain this, I remember the story of prophet Musa that particularly makes me value the kind and noble character of him. When he was forced to leave his country in order to secure his safety, it is assumed that he was carrying the name of criminals. He accidentally killed a person and he had to run for his life. While walking away from his country, he stumbled upon two women who are struggling to do a task that is considered challenging to be done by a woman. Musa, without knowing who the girls were, not understanding what is happening with his own life, offered help for them. Because he felt the heaviness for them to complete the task and he understood that if he himself, would appreciate some help. It is empathy that made him able to see through their emotions and needs while quickly acting upon it.

With the aim to move forward, I believe that it is fair to say that these kinds of lenses are able to help us in achieving a sustainable society. Emphatic, is the future to produce a society that is rahmah.

Written by:

Izzah Binti Muhd Fadhil