Shifting From Takers to Givers

then returned to his tribe to convey the message of the One God. However, his people refused to accept it. Tufayl ibn Amr later returned to the Prophet and said, “The people of my tribe are rejecting the truth.” He asked the Prophet to invoke a curse upon them. But instead of cursing, the Prophet raised his hands and made a heartfelt supplication, saying: “O God, show the tribe of Daws Your way. O God, enlighten the tribe of Daws with Your way.” He then advised Tufayl to go back to his people and continue his efforts—but this time with kindness and gentleness. (Seerah Ibn Hisham, Vol. 1, p. 382–384) This supplication and advice were not ordinary responses. In truth, the Prophet was helping Tufayl ibn Amr shift from a negative mindset to a positive one. Where Tufayl had developed frustration and hopelessness, the Prophet instilled goodwill and hope. He helped him move beyond present disappointment and instead focus on future possibilities. Supplication is, on the surface, a request to God—but at a deeper level, it serves as a way to refine one’s inner self. It strengthens the soul and nurtures spiritual resilience. Tufayl returned to his people with this renewed mindset, and it was as though he had become a new person. With this transformed approach, he was now able to present the message of truth far more effectively. As a result, the entire tribe eventually embraced Islam. In any society, when people genuinely care for one another to the extent that they pray for each other’s guidance