WAYS OF SELF-CORRECTION

The Prophet announced, “Anyone who meets this man, bring him to me.” After a few days the Prophet was able to meet him again. The Prophet said to him, “I asked you to stay with Ali ibn Abu Talib for your further training. Then why did you leave Ali?” He replied, “You asked me to take training from him and I did so and then I went away.” Replying to a further question, he said that Ali had taught him chapter Al Zalzalah of the Quran, which says: “Whoever has done the smallest bit of good will see it; while whoever has done the smallest bit of evil will see it.” (99: 7-8) Quoting these verses of the Quran, the man said that from these verses, he had found the complete message; so there was no need to stay on any longer with Ali. The Prophet asked: “How did you find the complete message in these verses?” He replied: “These verses tell us that man is accountable to God and every deed of man, big or small, will be evaluated by God. Then he will be rewarded for good deeds and will be punished for bad deeds. Now I always keep this in mind. I always do what is right and I always refrain from what is wrong." This story explains very beautifully how the Quran develops a self-correcting mechanism in each human being. The Quran wants everyone to be on their guard all the time. This concept is bound to make everyone conduct themselves properly. It is the basis of character building system. This concept inculcates a very strong incentive to always behave well and to refrain from bad behaviour in every aspect of life. This incentive works not only in public life but in private life as well. o On Judgement Day, whoever has done the smallest bit of good will see it; while whoever has done the smallest bit of evil will see it. Idle Mind When one has no work to occupy oneself, one falls prey to morbid brooding.