I was listening to a speaker on T.V. a couple of days ago while working. Initially it was just like listening to any other speaker, but by the end I had completely left my work and had my eyes glued to the screen, my ears attentive to what he was saying.

The speaker was most probably a psychologist. He talked about how people have started to HATE, and they are to be 'taught' how to LOVE otherwise they don't know how to!! He also talked about how people have stopped being tolerant towards the others. Then he gave the example of common man who has this most common complaint: "My problem is, I can't forgive my family. I can't forgive my friends. I can't forgive so and so. And because of this attitude of mine, the world doesn't like me". He talked about how people lose self esteem because of their hatred-filled attitudes, and eventually become regressed individuals whom nobody likes to talk to.

Speaking on changing attitudes and love-hate patterns, he narrated the story of a poor boy, who saw a beautiful car on the road. The boy admired the car, and was looking at its splendor when the owner of the car arrived...(The story below is my version of the story/real incident he quoted.)

A village boy was walking down the street one evening. Off the road, he saw a beautiful car. He was enamoured by its splendour. He walked around it, inspected it and praised its beauty. The owner of the car, a middle-aged man, soon arrived and observed the boy's fascination with the car.

"Do u like my car?" he asked in a friendly manner.

"Yes! It's very beautiful!" The boy exclaimed.

The owner said, "my brother gifted it to me", and he gave the boy a smile.

You know what the boy said? Can you guess? The most probable guess would be: "I wish I had a brother like yours". But you know what he actually said? He said, "I wish I was like your brother".

The owner was moved beyond words. Seeing the longing in the boy's eyes, the man offered him a ride in his car.

"Would you take me to my village?"

"Sure!", said the man. He must be feeling really proud sitting in the car, the man was thinking. Now he would gather his friends and show off that he's riding such a wonderful car. Off they went to the boy's village.

There was no sign of little boys playing in the street as the man had imagined.

"Would you kindly wait for me? Just for a few minutes, please?" the boy requested as they reached the village.

The man couldn't refuse. A few minutes later, he saw the boy returning. It seemed as if he was carrying something on his back. The man couldn't see clearly was it was until he came quite close.

He couldn't believe his eyes. He couldn't believe his ears.

The boy was carrying his brother on his shoulder, his brother who was crippled. And when he came to the car, he said to his brother, "One day I will get you a car similar to this one. You like it?"

"Yes!" came a small voice.

And he was happy.

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This is how a Muslim should be. The incident with the little Muslim boy made the man realize the worth of true love, a feeling worth appreciating, for it is fast vanishing from our collective behaviours; as nations, as countries, as families and friends.