The Man Who Helped Me: A Reflection on Kindness, Community, and True Wealth

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Last night, a simple act of kindness reminded me of the kind of world we once lived in—or perhaps, the kind of world we still hope for. I had parked my bike and returned to find that someone had carelessly placed a GN motorbike right on top of my handle. On the other side, an Airblade was so tightly parked that I could not  move either vehicle. I stood there, struggling. I was in pain due to a hand injury, unable to lift or shift the bikes.

I looked around, hoping someone would notice. I even asked one person, but they ignored me. My daughter, standing beside me, said, “Don’t ask strangers for help, let me try.”  I told her it was too heavy. We stood there, waiting. Countless people walked past. They saw me struggle, but no one stopped. No one even smiled.

Then, just as I was about to give up, someone in a WAMCO uniform approached and helped without hesitation. He smiled, gently moved the bike, and went on his way. I did not catch his name, but his face—humble, kind, and quietly dignified—stayed with me.

The Psychology of Bystander Apathy

Psychologists call this phenomenon the bystander effect—the tendency for people to be less likely to help someone in distress when others are present. It is as if responsibility gets diluted in a crowd. Each person assumes someone else will step in so, no one does.

However, beyond that, there is a growing social distance among us. Urban life, digital distraction, and fear of the unknown have created emotional walls. Smiles are rare. Empathy is buried beneath the rush of daily survival.

Islamic Perspective: Kindness is Worship

In Islam, even the smallest act of kindness is seen as an act of worship. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Every act of kindness is charity." — Sahih Muslim

Helping someone move a bike, smiling at a stranger, removing something harmful from the road—these are not trivial in the eyes of Allah. They are deeply meaningful. They are signs of a pure heart.

The man in the WAMCO uniform did not just move a bike. He moved my heart. He reminded me that goodness still exists, even if it sometimes feels rare.

True Wealth is of the Heart

Over the years, I have noticed a pattern. The most generous, humble, and kind people are often those with fewer worldly possessions. They may not have much materially, but they carry a richness in their hearts—a wealth of empathy, integrity, and humanity.

Islam speaks of this too. The Prophet (ﷺ) once said:

"Shall I not tell you who will be forbidden from the Fire? It will be forbidden for every gentle, soft-hearted, and kind person." — Tirmidhi

In Jannah (heaven), these are the qualities that matter—not bank accounts or property portfolios, but how we treated one another.

A Prayer and A Thank You

To the man who helped me last night—I may not know your name, but I pray that Allah knows your intention, rewards you in abundance, and makes your life easy. You reminded me that there is light in our community, even when the world seems dark.

Your one act made a deep impact. It was not just about moving a bike. It was about restoring my hope in humanity.

A Reminder to Us All

Let us look up from our phones. Let us be the person who notices, who smiles, who steps in without being asked,  because, what we do in these small, unnoticed moments might be the very deed that earns us a place in Jannah.

And perhaps, as we walk through life, we will find that the richest among us are not the ones with full wallets—but the ones with full hearts.

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