Remember names

This is also a way of showing concern for people. How great

it is to meet a person on occasion, such as in a bank, or plane, or

a wedding party, and then be acquainted with his name; thereafter,

when you see him on a different occasion, you go up to him

and say, “Hello, so-and-so!” Undoubtedly, this would implant in

his heart love and respect for you.

For you to remember the name of the person in front of you

shows him that you have concern for him. There is a difference

between a teacher who remembers the names of his students

and the one who does not. For you to say to a student, “Stand

up, O so-and-so” is better than to say, “Stand up, O student!”

Even when responding to a telephone call, which is more

beloved to you? For one to respond to you saying, “Yes” or

“Hello”? Or for one to say, “Hello, dear Khalid!” or, “Hello Abu

‘Abdullah!”? No doubt, the fact that you hear your name rings

bells in your heart.

There are many reasons why some people cannot recall

others’ names. One of them is the lack of concern for people

while meeting them. Another is that their minds are preoccupied

whilst meeting and asking others’ their names such that they are

unable to focus when they mention their names. Another factor

is their own attitude towards the person they are meeting.

Because you believe that you probably will not meet him

again, you deem it unnecessary to remember the name. Or if

the person is very ordinary, and does not affect you enough to

catch your attention. Sometimes, you do not get to hear the

name properly, and feel embarrassed to ask him to repeat himself.

These are some of the reasons people do not remember

names.

There are several ways of curing this problem of not being

able to remember names. One is to realise the importance of

remembering people’s names, and to feel that once you have

heard their names, you would be asked to repeat them after a

few minutes. Another way is to focus on a person’s face while

listening to his name. Try to make note of the person in front

of you, how he talks and smiles, such that it leaves an impression

in your memory. As you speak to him, refer to him by his

name repeatedly, “…isn’t that right, so-and-so?”, “…did you hear

that, so-and-so?”, or “…do you follow me, so-and-so?” Repeat it

more than once.

This is very important, for if you were to contemplate the

Qur’an, you would find that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, refers

to His Prophets by their names:

“O Abraham! Turn away from them…”

“O Noah! He is not from your family”

“O David! We have made you a deputy on this earth”

In short

Show me that you have concern for me by remembering my

name, and refer to me by it... and I would surely love you.