GOOD CHARACTER CONQUERS ALL

GOOD CHARACTER CONQUERS ALL PERSONAL EXPERIENCES G OOD deeds never go unrewarded or unnoticed. The people who at first appear to be antagonistic turn out to be friendly and appreciative sheerly owing to the force of excellent moral behavior. At a meeting on February 19, 1990, Dr Abu Bakr of Mumbai told me that there had been a large religious gathering of Tablighi Jamaat (an Islamic reformation movement) planned at a place in Maharashtra. The police reached there to review the situation and keep order. At the end of the meeting, when the congregation had dispersed, Dr Abu Bakr met the Police Officer in charge of the party and had a talk with him. The latter explained to him that they had come there to keep a sharp look-out for any unruly behaviour, but after seeing and hearing all that had passed during this meeting, he felt that if other people could only be like the people associated with this organization, there would never be any need for police surveillance. The Police Officer added that he had not formed this opinion by just listening to the speeches delivered on this occasion, but rather by watching how the people behaved. He said that, for instance, a member of the congregation forgot to pick up his watch after performing his ablutions. The Officer waited quietly nearby to see what would happen. Other people soon arrived to perform their ablutions and one of them, spotting the watch, picked it up and made off. The officer then followed him at a discreet distance until he reached a tent set up as a temporary office for lost property. The man handed over the watch without a moment’s hesitation, then he went away to say his prayers. Good character conquers all. The reason is that human beings are endowed with moral sense as a matter of birthright. Consequently, no man can witness a truly moral act without being deeply influenced by it.