Meeting with Friends - The Habits of a Housewife 2

One habit that most housewives in the societies of ignorance could not live without is what they call their “day out,” when they meet together with friends for a meal. Surely it is a blessing for a person to come together with her friends and host them. However, it is very important that these gatherings become the times during which love and respect are expressed, friendships are solidified, and the name of Allah is remembered. However, they turn out to be meetings in which just a contrary morality is displayed. Usually at such gatherings, it is sufficient for women of the ignorant society to lift their spirits merely to receive a compliment about a cake they baked, but, if their husbands do not give them permission to attend one of these meetings, they would stay miserable for weeks. This demonstrates just how petty and narrow is the world of these people in question. The kind of conversation, and other things that happen during this kind of meeting, is far from being of any use to them for the Afterlife. In fact, such meetings usually draw them towards this world. Instead of reminding them about the world to come, the greatness of Allah Who created all things, and to live according to the moral standards commanded in the Qur’an, these meetings are full of idle chatter, arguments and banal criticisms. They do not judge what is good about each other according to the Qur’an; on the contrary, their praise for one another is usually insincere, far removed from their genuine convictions. They do not judge others according to how well they practice the moral teachings of the Qur’an.

Usually, among the more important topics talked in these gatherings is either gossip or what happened on the last episode of a television soap opera, or sharing recipes.

However, if the same meeting were composed of individuals that feared Allah, and were making their preparations for the Afterlife, then their conversation would instead be edifying and good for everyone. Believers are commanded in the Qur’an to refrain from idle talk, and non-productive activities, but to spend every moment towards doing something useful and thinking about how they may be helpful to others. This is emphasized in the following verses:

[T]hose who turn away from worthless talk. (Surat al-Muminun, 3)

[T]hose who do not bear false witness and who, when they pass by worthless talk, pass by with dignity. (Surat al-Furqan, 72)

When they hear worthless talk they turn away from it and say, “We have our actions and you have your actions. Peace be upon you. We do not desire the company of the ignorant.” (Surat al-Qasas, 55)