How should we treat other people?

"Samer, an eighth-grader, is notorious in school. He frequently quarrels with other pupils and after school he continues his quarrels with the children in his neighborhood. He does not allow the teacher to complete a lesson, punches his neighbors in class, vandalizes school property and deliberately turns on faucets. Yesterday he chased another pupil and tried to pour Coca Cola over him, and then he dragged a large garbage container to the middle of the road so that the teachers could not drive past. His class teacher and the principal asked his parents to come to school for a discussion. His mother came alone and told them that she was helpless because Samer cursed her and refused to listen. When his father comes home from work and hears about Samer's conduct, she said, he beats him savagely. But next day Samer reverts to his bad behavior as if he had not been punished.

The principal decided to invite the whole family including Samer for a talk in her office. When they came in, she asked them to sit down and noticed that Samer sat down at a distance from the rest. She asked him to come closer. "I want to read you an important Quran verse", she said. "It is intended for all of us, including me and the teacher and for Samer and his family as well". Then she read out: " and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet)". "Do we all observe this verse?" she asked. "I invited you here. Do you feel that I am respecting you?" The parents and even Samer nodded. "Samer, do you abide by this verse?" Samer sat in embarrassed silence. "No, I know that I don't", he finally replied and then his father added: "To tell the truth, I don't always abide by it because I often beat Samer". "There is no more to be said", the principal declared. "From today on, all of us promise one another to abide by the verse and not only to do good to one another but also to those who are strangers to us. And if any of us has a problem we can always talk about it without hurting others"."

-How should we treat other people?. Retrieved January 10, 2009, from quranet.net Web site: http://www.quranet.net/en-quranet/33-chapter-11/522-how-should-we-treat-other-people.html

This story seems a little bit cheesy, but it does have a good meaning to it. No matter who we meet or know, we should always be kind and do good to them. Especially our elders and parents and friends. The Quran : "Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: For Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious;" (Surah 4, Verse 36). Allah (swt) will love those who are kind to others. I'm pretty sure everyone wants to do their best to do what our Creator has told us to do.