In a residential area of Chattogram, Bimal-da sweeps the street every dawn. On his way to school Tanvir saw him daily but had never spoken to him.
One Friday the imam said in his sermon that honouring people and speaking kindly are part of the religion, and that the Quran tells us to speak good words to people.
وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِيثَٰقَ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ لَا تَعۡبُدُونَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ وَبِٱلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ إِحۡسَانٗا وَذِي ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَٰكِينِ وَقُولُواْ لِلنَّاسِ حُسۡنٗا وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيۡتُمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّنكُمۡ وَأَنتُم مُّعۡرِضُونَ
“And [recall] when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel, [enjoining upon them], "Do not worship except Allāh; and to parents do good and to relatives, orphans, and the needy. And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakāh." Then you turned away, except a few of you, and you were refusing.”
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:83
Translation: Saheeh International (QuranEnc)
Next dawn Tanvir stopped and said: 'Good morning, Bimal-da. Our street is so clean because of you. Thank you.' Bimal-da stopped sweeping and looked up, surprised. Then a smile spread over his face such as Tanvir had never seen.
From then on the two exchanged a few words every morning. Tanvir understood that truly seeing someone is a kind of charity too.