The Five-Minute Conversation That Changed a Father’s Life

Fourteen months ago, after Maghrib salah at a mosque in London, an uncle (Adeer) approached me – “my son, can I speak to you for five minutes? We often pray together, and you are like a son to msomale.”

He was emotional and deeply worried. Some of his children had stopped practising their deen and become involved in harmful activities, including drugs and smuggling. He had advised them repeatedly but felt hopeless because nothing seemed to change.

During our conversation, an unexpected question came to my mind.

“Uncle, have you (and your wife) been claiming unemployment benefits while you were both healthy and working?” Regretfully, he said yes. They had been doing it for about twenty-two years and that money had helped provide for their children.

I reminded him that although we cannot say with certainty why Allah tests someone, income gained through dishonesty has no barakah. Receiving benefits when genuinely entitled is not wrong, but claiming them through deception is.

I advised him to stop immediately, make sincere tawbah, seek qualified advice about repaying what was taken unlawfully, and ensure that only halal income entered his home. I also reminded him never to lose hope in Allah’s mercy.

Last week, I met him again after a long time.

“My son, I have good news,” he said. “Alhamdulillah, some of my children have returned home. They have left those activities and returned to work, university, Islamic studies and regular prayers at the masjid.”

Only one child was still struggling, but he remained hopeful that she would also return.

Wallahi, I could not hold back my tears.

This experience taught me that a small conversation can become the beginning of a great change. We never truly know what someone is carrying, even when they appear strong and religious.

If you can help someone, even with one sincere word, please do it. Listen to them, comfort them, give salam and direct them to trustworthy people when you cannot help personally. Allah may make you a means of healing a person or an entire family.

This story is not about judging struggling families or assuming that every hardship comes from a particular sin. It is a reminder to examine ourselves, protect our homes from haram income, repent when we fall short and never lose hope in Allah.

The uncle gave me permission to share this story, and some details have been kept general to protect his family.

May Allah protect and guide him and his family, purify our earnings, accept our repentance and make us a source of goodness for others.

Ameen.