All of you here know prophet Ibrahim (as) (Abraham). He is as a whole a man with all humane qualities. Anyway, his life is full of kind aspects. One of that he was used to hospitalizing at least one person everyday.
One day he came back home and found nobody to entertain, but he was expecting someone to come. As the sun was rolling down to the horizon keeping one side of the world in the darkness just for 12 hours, a beggar, very hungry, came to prophet’s house.
Prophet Ibrahim cordially accepted him and arranged very delicious meal for the beggar. Once the food was presented in front of the beggar, he started devouring it without saying “Bismillah(with the name of Allah)”. So prophet Ibrahim(as) was shocked and he asked the beggar to say “Bismillah”. But the beggar refused to say showing the reason that he was not used to saying this. In addition, he said,” if food is available, I eat it, otherwise I don mind”.
Anyway, the beloved prophet was shocked and he said the beggar to stop eating and anyway the beggar found no way to get food back, so he left.
By this time, the most Merciful, the most Kind, the most Compassionate sent down message to our beloved prophet. He said, O Ibrahim, We have been feeding this atheist for 80 years, but you could not tolerate him for a single meal. Prophet was shocked and afraid of Allah(SWT). He went out to look for the beggar, but he could not get him.
Anyway, many men, many minds. So people can judge this story from different perspectives. So it’s our turn now to practice what has been established in Islam. If we can embody this virtual fact in our lives, people will again follow us. That’s to say, we should not take care whether someone is believer or not until one is eligible for the thing he needs.
Similar story happened to my maternal grandfather’s life who, with the grace of the most Merciful, was a very pious man. Anyway, he asked the beggar to lead the prayer thinking that the beggar was more knowledgeable than him, but alas! The beggar even did not know Surah Fatiha.
Anyway, one should not push someone forward to lead prayers since he may have some problems. Sometimes, I face this problem though I like it while I am afraid at the same time of torment for my mistakes and weaknesses.
May Allah(SWT) strengthen our hearts with IHSAN so that we can judge our souls properly and can act accordingly. Ameen