The Teachings of Islam
Setting Oneself Right
~ 75 ~
SETTING ONESELF RIGHT
A traveller buys a ticket for a certain destination,
then boards a train bound for another. He does not
realize his error until the train has left the station.
Imagine how he feels! The seat in which he was
relaxing now gives him nothing but discomfort. As
soon as the train reaches the next station, he will get
off in order to return and catch the next train.
A believer’s attitude to his eternal journey is the
same as this traveller’s. Whenever anything
happens which will divert him from the path to his
eternal destination and will adversely affect him in
the next life, he is extremely ashamed of himself. He
wastes no time in admitting his mistake. He gets his
bearings and immediately starts travelling in the
right direction.
The true believer may err, but he turns away from
his wrongdoing. He may be angry for some reason,
but then his anger cools and he becomes forgiving.
Self-respect does not prevent him from admitting
his mistakes. If, however, a person persists in his
evil ways; if he is not ready to forgive others on
