Doing One’s Duty
Al-Risala (English), August 1991, p. 13
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
Doing One’s Duty
1991 8 August 13 Doing One’s Duty (284) Zille Abbas Abbasi, a journalist who has worked for many newspapers, is now working for the Milap, Delhi. I had not met him, since 1982. Then last August I came across him again and he narrated his experiences to me. I felt they had a good lesson in them.
When Zille Abbas joined the Milap, a problem arose about the Friday prayer. He went to the 58-year old manager, Prem Nath Chopra, and explained to him that he wished to attend the Friday prayer, and that he would work extra hours to compensate for the’ lost time. Mr. Chopra gave him permission without a second thought.
Zille Abbas proved true to his word. Every Friday he went for his prayer and compensated for it by doing extra hours of work.
The arrangement worked well, and then came the time for Ramazan. A few days before Ramazan started, Mr. Chopra came to Zille Abbas’s cabin and said, “Ramazan is about to start and I know you keep your fast. You should adjust your working hours in such a way that you are not subjected to any inconvenience. You have full freedom to come and go as you like. The normal office hours are not applicable to you during the month of Ramazan.”
Just as saying our prayers is a duty, doing our job earnestly is also a duty. If the namazis realise this fact and perform both the duties with devotion, it will earn them rich dividends. On the one hand, it will enrich their spiritual awakening, bringing them close to God. While on the other, it will create in them such social qualities as will endear them to all those with whom they associate.
