Bearing another's load.

A very popular song, that was remade and whose message was made into a movie, communicates the importance of being a Good Samaritan, and lending a helping hand to the degree of bearing the burden of another. Does kindness like this get exploited? Does Allah in the Holy Quran offer protection or justice from being manipulated in this form of courteous behavior? Does dissenting in one's opinion to this popular song make a person selfish, ego-centric, self-centered or not a person of God? How can one be of help without crossing the line of what is acceptable by Allah?...as in Wazirat or Viziers? A Vizier is: "To bear, carry (a burthen). A burthen, heavy weight, load; at HQ 47:5 it means "Arms, or other burthens imposed by war." An inaccessible mountain, and hence an place of refuge. One who bears a burthen. A counsellor or minister who bears the burthen of state commonly spelt Vizier" ~ John Penrice. Nevertheless, this is the main reason that I shy away from poetry in music. The song goes:

Bill Withers - Lean on Me Lyrics

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain We all have sorrow But if we are wise We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long 'Til I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride If I have things you need to borrow For no one can fill those of your needs That you don't let show

Lean on me, when you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long 'Til I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear That you can't carry I'm right up the road I'll share your load If you just call me

So just call on me brother, when you need a hand We all need somebody to lean on I just might have a problem that you'd understand We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong And I'll be your friend I'll help you carry on For it won't be long Till I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on

Lean on me...

All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners. All lyrics provided for educational purposes only.

Some verses below from the Quranul Kareem on this issue. I guess that, in truth, there is a limitation here on this concept articulated by Bill Withers in his song, "Lean On Me". The below verses should be viewed in light of the verses: 1. Surahtul Anfali 73, "The Unbelievers are protectors, one of another: Unless ye do this, (protect each other), there would be tumult and oppression on earth, and great mischief."; and 2. Surahtul Nisa 29, "O ye who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: But let there be amongst you Traffic and trade by mutual good-will: Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves: for verily God hath been to you Most Merciful!" [See the blogs Theoretically versus Actually, and Wazira or Vizier Abrogations.]

And the Unbelievers say to those who believe: "Follow our path, and we will bear (the consequences) of your faults." Never in the least will they bear their faults: in fact they are liars! ~ Surahtul Ankabuti 12

They will bear their own burdens, and (other) burdens along with their own, and on the Day of Judgments they will be called to account for their falsehoods. ~ Surahtul Ankabuti 13

Lost indeed are they who treat it as a falsehood that they must meet God,- until on a sudden the hour is on them, and they say: "Ah! woe unto us that we took no thought of it"; for they bear their burdens on their backs, and evil indeed are the burdens that they bear? ~ Surahtul Anam 31

Say: "Shall I seek for (my) Cherisher other than God, when He is the Cherisher of all things (that exist)? Every soul draws the meed of its acts on none but itself: no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. Your goal in the end is towards God: He will tell you the truth of the things wherein ye disputed." ~ Surahtul Anam 164

"Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the law and the Gospel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosper." ~ Surahtul Araf 157

When it is said to them, "What is it that your Lord has revealed?" they say, "Tales of the ancients!" Let them bear, on the Day of Judgment, their own burdens in full, and also (something) of the burdens of those without knowledge, whom they misled. Alas, how grievous the burdens they will bear! ~ Surahtul Nahl 24-25

Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss: No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent an apostle (to give warning). ~ Surahtul Isra 15

Nor can a bearer of burdens bear another’s burdens if one heavily laden should call another to (bear) his load. Not the least portion of it can be carried (by the other). Even though he be nearly related. Thou canst but admonish such as fear their Lord unseen and establish regular Prayer. And whoever purifies himself does so for the benefit of his own soul; and the destination (of all) is to God. ~ Surahtul Fatir 18

Further expansion on the communal concept of living together (which has intrinsic in it the reality that there will be occasions that call forth the need to act and reflect upon being a good neighbor; Good Samaritan; and the extent to which one assists others without crossing the line (Wazira) of what is acceptable to Allah) can be found in the Book of Acts.

"40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this generation that has gone astray!" 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church -- about three thousand in all. 42 They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity -- 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved." ~ Acts 2

"1 There was also a man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, but he claimed it was the full amount. His wife had agreed to this deception. 3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren't lying to us but to God." 5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men wrapped him in a sheet and took him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, "Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?""Yes," she replied, "that was the price." 9 And Peter said, "How could the two of you even think of doing a thing like this -- conspiring together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Just outside that door are the young men who buried your husband, and they will carry you out, too." 10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and all others who heard what had happened. 12 Meanwhile, the apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon's Colonnade. 13 No one else dared to join them, though everyone had high regard for them. 14 And more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord -- crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result of the apostles' work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter's shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. 16 Crowds came in from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed." ~ Acts 5. See blog on Healing in Religion.

Further, the Messiah did communicate that if anyone wanted to walk with him that they must be willing to bear their own burdens. This can be interpreted as burdens of adherence to the Commandments of God, as well as, the individual responsibilities of life in community.