AFTER HAJ A Changed Personality

external world and forget all temporary enjoyments. In seeking higher purposes, we should forget our own personal desires and demands. While referring to Haj, the Quran says: Make provision for yourselves — but surely, the best of all provision is God-consciousness. Always be mindful of Me, you that are endowed with understanding. THE QURAN 2: 197 In pre-Islamic Arabia, it was thought that making material provision for Haj refl ected a materialistic outlook. If a person did not make such arrangements and set out for Haj, it was thought that he was very pious. Such a person would say about himself that he relied only on God. But the Quran does not consider this sort of external or exhibitionist religiosity as true piety. Religiosity has to do with the heart and mind, not with external demonstrations of this sort. True piety is not the mere lacking of material provision; it is a cleansing of the mind and heart of the fear of everything and everyone other than God. o Accept, Introspect, Make Amends There are diff erent kinds of bad deeds, but no matter what kind of bad deed you have committed, after each one you should feel repentant and try to erase the eff ects of your bad deed by doing a good deed. The fact is that every bad deed you commit can pollute your soul. Cleanse it by your tears, or by some other kind of penitent behaviour.