أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَاتٍ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُ وَأَن تَصُومُواْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
سورۃ البقرة, آيۃ 184(Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed number (Should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (With hardship), is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him. And it is better for you that ye fast, if ye only knew.
Surah 2, Verse 184
Ahmed, who is in the tenth grade, always helps his teachers. He tidies the classroom and cleans the blackboard, brings in chalks etc. He helps his classmates with their studies. He is the kind of boy who never refuses a request. But again and again he is surprised when the class teacher praises another pupil and not him. Feeling hurt, he went to the counselor one day and told him everything. He added that he had decided that from now on he would not do favors for anyone and would worry about himself alone. The counselor listened to Ahmed as he gave rein to his feelings and then suggested that he goes to the teacher and share the feelings with him. Ahmed refused and said that he expected the teacher to understand for himself how hurt he was. Then the counselor read him the Quran verse: “But he that will give more, of his own free will,- it is better for him“. He added that he had no doubt that in the end the teacher would notice Ahmed and give him the praise he deserved.
A teacher who has a large class finds it difficult to pay attention to all his pupils how ever hard he tries. Often a pupil can feel neglected. The same is true of a large family. It is hard for parents to give attention to all their children all the time. Often one of the children can feel slighted. Thus, the counselor is right to advise Ahmed to go to the teacher and tell him how he feels. Sometimes, if we fail to tell the other how we feel, he simply does not notice. But Ahmed may be right in thinking that the teacher will interpret his remarks as an accusation that he is discriminating against the boy. It is hard to ascertain the truth. We don't know Ahmed or the teacher well enough. The counselor acted wisely. He examined with Ahmed what suited him and found that a verse from the Quran would equip the boy with the strength to continue acting generously and wait patiently until the teacher and the classmates eventually acknowledged his conduct.