Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 160
! ! 160 poor and the needy and r elate incidents where someone had the opportunity to help someone and did not. For example, if a small child is standing whe re a cow is pass ing by and a n older child who is standing nearby does not move the smaller child away from the cow, that older child should be questioned and reprimanded for his actions. Another example is of a burqa - clad woman , who is about to be attacked by an animal and a boy, who is standing nearby, does nothing to help but only laughs. He needs to be disciplined and reprimanded and made t o promise that he will never act in this way again. Children learn when given practical examples. They are akin to parrots who say, “ Sir Mithoo , [a generic name given to parrots in Indian culture, much like Polly] I would like to eat choori [sweet or bits of bread] ’ but they do not know what ‘Sir Mithoo ’ is or what ‘ choori ’ is. Teaching G ood Conduct t hrough Practical Examples If in general, children are told to help the needy they will agree to do so. H owever, they will not know what to do , unless g iven practical examples. W hen the wiser children relate how they help the needy, others will learn how they too can help. To train a boy scout, a toy house c ontain ing all the furnishings is set on fire. Thereafter, they are taught to put out the fire and save the items in the house. T hus, t he children should be instructed of t hese matters in regular lessons, and w e can only do that with in groups. It cannot be done individually. Similarly, teaching them to save someone from drowning should be taught in a group setting, where they should be made to practice. If other people take interest, it will be more helpful. Unfortunately , in our society , it is con sidered odd if an older man wishe s to j oin in a game of young people, even though it is related that our Holy Prophet sa used to join in [ with children ]. The parents should also participate in some of their children’s activities and teach them to h elp the poor and the needy. It is not necessary for our pockets to be filled with money to help someone. For example, if you see a woman in trouble, who may be blind and she cannot pick up her child , a young boy can help by lifting her child for her. If someone f alls , assist them up. There are many more examples like th is. Since now it is getting very late, I shall speak more on this topic at another time. ( Al - Fazl , July 10, 1923)