Question: How would you correct someone doing something basic in the wrong manner?
Question: How dutiful are you to be straightforward when it’s a known matter?
Question: What’s the weighty consideration of diplomacy here?
*Pic source unknown.
Two youthful brothers once saw an older man in the mosque making wudhu’ (ablution) in an incorrect manner. This is serious as it means his diligent prayers are invalid.
They both noted their age difference and the natural human reaction of a typical elder being corrected or advised by those younger. They discussed a plan and went with it.
One brother went to the man and said, my brother and I are having a disagreement about the correct way to make wudhu’. May you please be the judge of this dispute? Watch both of us at wudhu’ and see who is correct.
Like anyone hearing such an invitation, he gladly agreed.
The elder brother went first with care and detail. Then the second performed his wudhu’, in the same exact manner. After which he asked, now tell me, which one of us did it correctly?
The man replied, both of you did the exact same way and it is clear to me that your knowledge supersedes mine by a great deal for I am the one who is incorrect. May Allah reward you both. End.
Perhaps the question not asked above is what ought to be our intention and care in correcting others? And in what wisdom can we conduct our thoughts and actions?
Because you see, those two boys learned far more than the correct way of making wudhu’ from the one who taught them.
Their grandfather.
His name was Muhammad bin Abdullah, the Messenger of Allah and His Most Beloved. And their name was Hassan bin Ali and Hussein bin Ali.
May Allah be pleased with them all. A thousand times over.
