By: Samsul Nizar
Professor & Head of STAIN Bengkalis
Who is unfamiliar with scavengers? He is a person who collects used goods that have been dumped by others and then utilised for sale, recycling, or personal consumption. There are millions of scavengers worldwide, particularly in developing nations. In reality, the number continues to rise in post-industrial nations. In addition, in response to the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic (covid), scavengers have become a viable option for meeting basic needs.
However, only a few people have the opportunity to take credit for the figure of a scavenger. Even though his figure is “underestimated”, dirty, low level, and other skewed judgments. The Messenger of Allah once warned through his words: From Abu Hurairah said: The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu ‘alaihiwaSallam said: “Indeed Allah does not see the shape of your appearance nor your possessions, but He sees your hearts and your deeds” (Saheeh Muslim).
The above hadith warns individuals not to judge based on external appearances. This is due to the fact that external appearance is frequently confined to lipstick, which deceives the eye to conceal one’s shortcomings. There is a dimension to the life of scavengers that becomes a message of introspection. Because, in reality, scavengers contribute to the development of a circular economy. Circular economy or circular economy is an alternative to the development of the linear economy, in which economic actors maintain that resources can be used for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from use, and then recover and regenerate products or materials at the end of each service life (benefit).
Apart from the circular economy aspects above, the side of scavengers as self-learning (i’tibar) can be seen in several factors, including:
First, sorting out the excellent waste and disposing of the harmful waste. While some humans choose the bad and “throw-away” (abandon) the good, make the good bad and make the bad “as if” good. Alternatively, mix up the good and the bad as long as it benefits him. Indeed, a scavenger can quickly break down useless items into useful ones, not wasting what is helpful into something useless. If humans can place their “useful” (intelligent) fellows and discard those that are not “useful”, this is a normal thing and not an achievement that should be proud of or a standard of evaluation.
In addition, it is a frequent aspect of human civilization to eliminate intelligent individuals so that they become useless. Human greatness arises when it is able to transform “unqualified” individuals into bright, innovative, and exceptional characters. At a bare minimum, rank individuals according to their ability without considering colour, shape, and other subjective factors. Scavengers have intelligent in selecting and classifying ordinary objects into those of remarkable worth, let alone placing extraordinary objects in their right location.
Second, Minimize the volume of scattered piles of garbage. When scavengers can do their work, it is genuinely noble behaviour. It helps to make nature and the environment clean of dirt, not polluting pure nature. While some humans appear clean, they often make the environment dirty and damage the environment.
Third, open employment and economic intelligence. A scavenger opens up many job opportunities and new economic sources. It takes high social intelligence to see the opportunities offered by nature to meet the needs of life. Circulation of scavengers, reservoirs, transportation, the recycling process and the presence of various goods of economic value sold at high prices. All require several jobs that require many workers.
Fourth, achieve halal sustenance. Even though what is done in physic is “dirty”, it produces clean (halal) sustenance. A slap for the owner of the mind and heart when present in a clean environment from clean work activities, but it produces dirty (haram) sustenance.
Fifth, the symbol of tenacity and perseverance to pick up sustenance, not waiting for sustenance to come to him. A scavenger teaches perseverance, never gives up, picks up sustenance and does not beg. Just shake hands. Before the sun rose on the eastern horizon, he stepped foot without hesitation, looking for something useful in the pile of garbage. Without a doubt, he scavenged the trash to find something useful. He returned when the sun was setting on the western horizon, bringing a glimmer of hope with the coins he brought home to present to his family. His eyes were trained to see “something good” amidst the pungent smell of garbage. What is done is sometimes different from what other humans do, eyes that are used to seeing “a little bit of bad” in a mountain of goodness. The eyes of the scavengers are awake and noble, but how the eyes that consider themselves to be nobles who are only sharp see a speck of evil but do not see a good mountain. Who knows, right?
Sixth, Jobs are “slums” in human eyes, but not necessarily in God’s eyes. What scavengers do is often considered “disgusting” by some people. Amid dirty garbage with a pungent odour amidst crowds of disgusting flies with the threat of spreading disease, they intend to seek sustenance to support their family’s life. While a handful of people in the sustenance field are clean, cold, and smell good, the intention is to enrich themselves (or the group) without knowing halal and haram. The scavenger seeks sustenance to fulfil the Creator’s mandate for his family. In contrast, a handful of humans seek sustenance to perpetuate power, satisfy their desires, and meet several demands for the results obtained. When scavengers are looked down upon by humans, they may be noble in the eyes of the Creator.
There may be groups considered noble by humans, but lowly in the eyes of the God. Allah stated this through His word: “Dear you who believe! Let not people make fun of other people (because) they may be better than them (who make fun) and do not also women (make fun of) other women (because) it may be that women (who are made fun of) are better than women (who make fun of). bad. The worst call is (call) that is bad (wicked) after believing. And whoever does not repent is the wrongdoers “(Surah al-Hujurat: 11).
In verse above, Allah forbids a people to reveal the disgrace of another people. Because it will destroy human values and brotherhood, all creatures have weaknesses and need to complement each other, not hurt and oppress each other. Self-glory is not in the breadth of knowledge, the amount of wealth, the high position, the greatness of power, and so on. Nobility is present when you have high manners (morals). Only through behaviour will humans become noble, which distinguishes them from “predatory” creatures who do not know civilization.
The figure of a scavenger should be used as a reflection of self-see. He is able to see a speck of good in a pile of ugliness. Unlike humans, they feel holy, able to see a speck of ugliness in a pile of goodness. Even if it is not found, it will spill dirt so that ugliness is found. An objective assessment is present for the owner of the heart, who always remembers Allah and longs for the Messenger of Allah. However, if the remembrance of Allah and longing for the Messenger of Allah is limited to words, it will result in a barren heart. As a result, the heart can no longer feel the cool dew of divine love that appears in various variations.It is a shame to proclaim yourself noble. Because bad behaviour when judging yourself is the most appropriate and great, scavengers are nobler than those who feel noble, even though they are despicable. Then, how about us? Of course, only the self who can present God can feel and answer it.
WaAllahua’lam bi al-Shawwab
Published in the daily Riau Pos Online dated. 20 June 2022
Translated by Riska Saputra, S.Pd
Alumni of the English Education Study Program of STAIN Bengkalis
Master Student at Graduate Institute of Network Learning Technology in National Central University, Taiwan
