A man whose heart Allah had unlocked when he accepted the faith would see his father or his son or his brother hardened in disbelief, and know that if he died in that state he would be in hell. He would experience no happiness, knowing that his beloved one is in the fire. This statement by one of the Prophet s early companions needs no comment from us. Those of us who have been brought up in Muslim families can easily overlook the point Al-Miqdad is making. A person can judge himself only in his present circumstances.
Man is influenced by a variety of motives, pressures and feelings.
When he travels from one country to another and lives there for a certain period, he is bound to be influenced by his new surroundings. When he goes back home, those who had known him well in the past can detect the change in him. On the other hand, he looks at the traditions and customs of his own society in a totally different light. When a new situation comes up his reaction may be very different from that of his closest relative. Indeed, it may be different from his own reaction had he not been influenced by another society.