42 / 54
39
Spirit of Islam Issue 35 November 2015
THE MOST DIFFICULT,
AND THE MOST EASY
Character Building
T
HERE appears to be only a minor difference in these two phrases:
“You are wrong!”
and
“I am wrong!”
, but in reality the difference
between the two is immense. There are millions of people in the
world who will readily accuse others of doing wrong, but almost none
who willingly acknowledge their own.
When you accuse others of doing wrong, you negate or put
them
down,
while when you admit that you’ve done wrong, you negate
yourself
.
Negating others is easy, while negating
oneself is the most difficult.
Many movements in recent times have
mobilised vast numbers of people based on
the slogan
“You are wrong!”
The sole reason
for the popularity of these movements and
their ‘big’ leaders is that they have targeted
some external person or community, accusing
them of doing wrong. Had they emerged to
negate themselves, they would have won no
supporters at all!
“I am wrong”
are words of wisdom. They help develop your character,
and take you from a lower to a higher plane. In contrast,
“You are
wrong!”
is a superficial phrase and of no help in inner realization.
Accusing others of wrongdoing entangles you in matters of no benefit
whatsoever to you. Saying
“I am wrong”
helps you reform yourself,
while the
“You are wrong!”
approach only promotes destruction.
“I am wrong”
reflects devotion to, and worship of, God, while
“You are
wrong”
reflects worship of the ego. Admitting that one has done wrong
is a meritorious thing, while accusing others of doing wrong is only
a cheap way of asserting yourself over others. Not hesitating to say
“I am wrong”
is piety, while condemning others for having done wrong
is worldliness.
o
“I am wrong” are
words of wisdom.
They help develop
your character,
and take you from
a lower to a higher
plane.