How to rectify a mistake

An honest person always likes transparency. That is why when he comes to know of his mistake, he does not hesitate to acknowledge it and rectify it. When he rectifies his mistake, he does it with the same magnitude that he had committed the mistake. Let’s say that he said something bad in public, then he ought to rectify it in public also. It is not sufficient to acknowledge it secretly among a small group of people. He must not wait for someone to pressurise him in order to accept his mistake. This is contrary to honesty. An honest person make amendments of his mistake when he finds out about it even if no one comes to know of his mistake. He must not ignore it. He must be honest to others and he must not keep them in the dark. He must inform them if he has taught them wrongly. He should not feel disconcerted. Why should he feel disconcerted when the honour of a person does not decrease in acknowledging a mistake. On the contrary, he obtains a special dignity that he would not have acquired by remaining quiet. But one should not admit one’s mistake with arrogance or pride. For example, if a person draws one’s attention to a mistake regarding which one cannot say anything, then one puts off, procrastinates, and beats around the bush to accept it. This way of acknowledging one’s mistake is a proud way which is very bad. It is more simple that one accepts that one has committed a mistake and one corrects it, and one informs people that one did a mistake. And it is best that one thanks the person who drew one’s attention to one’s mistake. Similarly, if one has a certain shortcoming in terms of behaviour or practice and someone draws one’s attention to it then one must accept it instead of presenting futile excuses to justify one’s mistake. Maybe, one will be able to camouflage certain things to some extent but on the day of Qiyamah, everything will be exposed.

[English version of "Couma rectifié ene erreur" – Al Jamiat – Vol.4 No.11]