DAY 25: AVOID SOCIAL COMPARISON
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ انْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَلاَ تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ لاَ تَزْدَرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ”
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Look to one who is lower than you, and do not look to one who is above you. For indeed that is more worthy (so that you will) not belittle Allah’s favors upon you.”
[Source: Jami’ At- Tirmidhi, Book 37, Hadith 2703, Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)]
The way we reflect on ourselves by looking at the lives of others can heavily influence our self-esteem. For the most part, this process can be an unhealthy one for a number of reasons.
The main reason is that we only see the good, especially on social media. A lot of us may also come from a culture where using someone else’s achievements as a measure for our own success has become a norm, this then causes us to try and seek validation from others.
Our thought processes, our level of imaan, level of anxiety, level of stress, level of confidence and our physical and mental endurance are unique to each and every single one of us. This means the tests we go through in this life will be unique . There is simply no use in using someone else’s life as a template for your own. ‘’Why can I not be like such and such a person?’’ This is the meaning of looking down on the blessing you have.
However, if you look at the person below you, you will be grateful because your situation is better than that of many. Therefore, the one in good health should look at the sick person and then praises Allah سبحانه و تعالى for granting him (or her) good health.
May Allah سبحانه و تعالى grant us the understanding to believe in who we are and truly reflect on our own strengths and weaknesses than be lost in comparing ourselves with others, اللهم آمين.