NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER
Earlier today, I encountered a student who was not wearing his ID card. As a member of the dress code committee, part of my duty is to ensure that everyone was properly dressed, including the use of ID cards. Usually, when students like that see me from afar coming towards their direction, they hurriedly use their ID cards to avoid being reprimanded. However, this particular student seemed not to care, as he breezed past me.
Curious to know what gave him such an audacity, I called him back and asked him to identify himself. His response was so sluggish that I could barely hear a thing that he said even when he repeated himself thrice. In addition, he wore a long face which reeks of irritation with the conversation, and had one of his hands in his pocket.
“Remove your hand from your pocket and follow me,” I sounded.
When we got to the office, I was already boiling inside because of what I considered to be a rude behaviour from the young man. By that time, he already brought out his ID card and wore it.
“Can you identify yourself and explain to me why you have such an attitude at your age?”
Before he could put two words together, he broke down and said with a cracked voice and tears rolling down his cheeks, “sir, my mom had just died of cancer.”
I lost my mind for a moment as I jumped from the couch to hold the young man before he lands on the floor.
Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhir rāji’ūn!
My brother who was with me helped to guide him to a chair, as we both consoled him helplessly.
Family members were specifically instructed to not inform him about the demise of his mom lest it affects his performance in the ongoing examination. His guardian who had heard the news earlier told me that despite seeing him this morning, he didn’t alert him at all. Somehow someone from home managed to break the protocol and told him.
It was a humbling moment for me. Sometimes, the problem that people carry with them is bigger than whatever courtesy that we demand of them.
May Allāh forgive Alhaja Afusat Mojisola Ajose and console her family and loved ones.
