Righting a Wrong

I moved through the parking lot. I had been late for my early morning final and that I had been prepared to compromise speed limitations, particularly if there were just a small number of cars at parking.

I neared a parking place and saw another person getting out of the vehicle. As I parked and began walking, I realised it had been my classmate. I greeted enthusiastically. She stared at me with a feeling of anger, she retorted,"You nearly hit my car!" Initially, I thought she was kidding; I had not pushed close to her vehicle. Then I realised she was serious, and I hung my head in pity

This was the 2nd bad incident this girl had with a Muslim. Only a week ahead, another Muslim woman in our group had behaved extremely rudely with this classmate. I wasn't there, but had been informed of this happened, and that I confronted the sister that had committed the offence of dreadful da'wah(calling to Islam) through horrible behaviour. However, the damage was done to our classmate and I'd hoped I could introduce another picture of Islam.

However, I'd lost my chance. I chose driving in an illegally quick speed over improving this lady's perception of Islam. I racked my mind about what to do, making Istighfar (asking for God's forgiveness), trusting Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He) would forgive me and direct me.

The final to that I sped comprised of dropping a job/project and coming within a few hours to recover it and get the grade. I realised that I might have some opportunity to generate something happen, together with Allah's Help. I discovered the closest popular juice location and I purchased a gift card to my classmate. Then I started writing a true apology letter, hoping to compensate for my immense shortcoming in her step. I returned into the class, worried for her to return, hoping I had never missed her.

Finally, I noticed her walking and that I immediately went to approach her.

“Excuse me?” I started. She turned around and stared at me, annoyed possibly, apathetic at best. "I just wanted to apologise for you for now," I started. "You are right, I shouldn't have been driving that fast." She scolded me and that I accepted complete responsibility; she had been completely at the right and that I was totally to blame. I then offered her gift; I informed her that I know she had an unfortunate experience with a different Muslim in our class, which she had an unfortunate incident with me, a Muslim girl, that very morning. However, I needed her to understand that we're both simply humans who make errors; what we'd done wasn't condoned by Islam, what we'd represented was not the perfection of morals, morals and personality taught to us by the Qur'an and the example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him). We just slipped; we are human.

The girl was clearly moved by my actions. She accepted the present and slowly replied,"that I am so happy you stopped me and talked to me. I'm one of those people who try very hard not to hear the stereotypes from the media. But after what I experienced with you both, I believed, possibly Muslims are that way."

People are closely watching our moves so as to create a determination on their particular theories of Islam and the Muslim community--that includes Muslims who believe they've been pushed or turned off from other Muslims. Should we cut corners and try to eliminate things that exude sub-standard personality, why would our fellow citizens would like to be like us? Who would you obviously lean towards? Somebody who's upright in character, who acknowledges fault and attempts to fix their errors? Or a person who, when they're caught red-handed, blows off you and cusses out you?

We frequently make excuses for our own lapses in nature; we occasionally compromise things we view as non-issues from the larger picture as it will benefit us. But, let's recall our lapses affect our own lives and the lives of those around us. The next time we make a mistake, let us consider ways we could fix it. With repentance, always seeking forgiveness and trying to compensate for our shortcomings, maybe we are the reason somebody reconsiders their negative perceptions.

And Allah Most High knows best.

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