Story: The Cute Student Counts the Apples

A teacher teaching Maths to seven-year-old Laiq asked him, “If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”Within a few seconds Laiq replied confidently, “Four!”

The dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless correct answer (three).  She was disappointed.  “Maybe the child did not listen properly,” she thought.  She repeated, “Laiq, listen carefully.  If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”

Laiq had seen the disappointment on his teacher’s face.  He calculated again on his fingers.  But within him he was also searching for the answer that will make the teacher happy.  His search for the answer was not for the correct one, but the one that will make his teacher happy.  This time hesitatingly he replied, “Four…”

The disappointment stayed on the teacher’s face.  She remembered that Laiq liked strawberries.  She thought maybe he doesn’t like apples and that is making him loose focus.  This time with an exaggerated excitement and twinkling in her eyes she asked, “If I give you one strawberry and one strawberry and one strawberry, then how many you will have?”

Seeing the teacher happy, young Laiq calculated on his fingers again.  There was no pressure on him, but a little on the teacher.  She wanted her new approach to succeed.  With a hesitating smile young Laiq enquired, “Three?”

The teacher now had a victorious smile.  Her approach had succeeded.  She wanted to congratulate herself.  But one last thing remained.  Once again she asked him, “Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple how many will you have?”

Promptly Laiq answered, “Four!”

The teacher was aghast.  “How Laiq, how?” she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice.

In a voice that was low and hesitating young Laiq replied, “Because I already have one apple in my bag.”

“When someone gives you an answer that is different from what you expect don’t think they are wrong.  There maybe an angle that you have not understood at all. You will have to listen and understand, but never listen with a predetermined notion.”

Compromizing on Ethical Values ?

Ethical values are the treasure of each individual regardless of his/her financial wealth. However these values are put on stake by pushing someone for specific immoral goals achievements. In this article, I shall cover the aspects which are to be considered while trapped in such circumstances. The article covers both professional and personal aspects.

First of all you need to ask yourself following questions in order to have thorough analysis of the situation:

1-    Who is getting benefit out of it?
2-   Why you (and only you) are being asked/pushed to compromise?
3-   What are the short term & long term personal consequences if you compromise?
4-   What are the risks/impacts on the project/task if you compromise?
5-   What will happen if you don't compromise? 
6-   Can I consult some other person for advice?
7-   Can I share the risks with other by involving other personnel/department on this task?
8-   What does the company policy say? Are my actions in-line with Job Descriptions?

Now that you have analyzed the situation, here are the guidelines which you need to consider for corrective and preventive actions:

1-    Sometimes the matter is not really an ethical issue, it's just a difference of opinion so carefully understand on what you are being asked for. Sometimes you are doing a healthy compromise in the best interest of all stake holders (off course within your ethical values and in line with company policies)

2-   If the matter is really critical, consider approaching the Fraud Management Team of your company. In some of the mature companies 'whistle blowing' or 'anonymous reporting' systems are set in place.

3-   Seeking advice from your colleagues/close friends broadens your horizon and expose you to more options for consideration. Be careful whom you consider to seek advice. Ask the one who is honest and fair with you and would keep the secret in the long run.

4-   Discuss the matter with your manager and document it, if possible. Make records for what you do, there is surely someone to ask later. 

5-   Define your principles to others quite often and show it time to time so that people know what type of person you are and what your ethical boundaries are.  This is required to portray the characteristics of your personality so that others can develop a mental picture of you in their heads.  This will prevent them approaching you for the wrong deeds.

6-   Not every ethical issue is to be taken too much seriously, consequently, allowing it to steal your peace of mind. Every problem has several solutions. Keep it cool, stay mentally healthy, analyze the situation based on 8 points mentioned earlier in the post and then do the right act.

7-   Sometimes a simple "No" helps. Just say so and put a full stop to the matter. Sometimes this is the most effective tool to use.

Muslim's approach to handle:

On top of the already explained aspects, a Muslim needs to understand the following as well:

1-    Have faith in Allah and do what your religion expects from you to do. Once done, leave it to Allah and He will turn the table for you. He is suffice for all your problems provided you have done the 'right'

2-   Seek wisdom from Allah. Pray for the right path and He will guide you.

3-   Whatever single deed you are doing is being recorded. You are answerable for what you have been doing during your life cycle. Good deeds result in good outcome not only in this world but also on the Day of Judgment; bad deeds bad results, here and hereafter! Be Honest and be fair. Do your self-audit quite often, in line with Islamic Principles. Insha'Allah you won't regret for any of your deeds if done within Islamic boundaries.

4-   Don't analyze the situation on political grounds which might divert your attention from the right path. Remember, Islam comes first. You should consider this filter for All of your problems. Anything which passes from this filter is the right thing to do.

Conclusion: Ethical Values (such as Truth, Honesty, Fairness, Transparency and self discipline) are unique treasure which you possess. Don't lose them at any cost. Your values are defining your character which is leading you towards your destiny. Sine you don't want to be a failure at the end of the day, so you need to stick to the humanitarian principles because the ultimate fact remains the same; 'As you sow, so shall you reap'. A Study confirms that the people who possess high ethical values are more happy than those who are engaged in fraudulent acts even if former earn less than the deceitful people. If you would like to read the types of Wealth.

She Spat in His Face

B. Hinn tells the following story about the days of slavery. "During the years when slavery was legal in the United States, a gentleman happened upon a slave-bidding in a crowed street. The man paused to observe the activities. As he watched from the edge of the crowd, he saw one slave after another led to a platform, their arms and legs shackled with ropes as if they were animals. Displayed before the jeering crowd, they were auctioned off, one by one. 

"Some onlookers would inspect the 'merchandise,' grabbing disrespectfully at the women, examining the muscular arms of the men. The gentleman studied the group of slaves waiting nearby. He paused when he saw a young girl standing at the back. Her eyes were filled with fear. She looked so frightened. He hesitated for a moment and then disappeared briefly. When he returned, the auctioneer was about to start the bidding for the young girl he had noticed beforehand. 

"As the auctioneer opened the bidding, the gentleman shouted out a bid that was twice the amount of any other selling price offered that day. There was silence for an instance, and then the gavel fell as 'sold to the gentleman' was heard. The gentleman stepped forward, and waited at the bottom of the steps as the young girl was led down to her new owner. The rope which bound her was handed to the man, who accepted it without saying anything. The young girl stared at the ground. Suddenly she looked up and spat in his face. Silently, he reached for a handkerchief and wiped the spittle from his face. He smiled gently at the young girl and said, 'Follow me.' She followed him reluctantly. As they reached the edge of the crowd, he continued to a nearby area where each deal was closed legally. 

"When a slave was set free, legal documents, called manumission papers, were necessary. The gentleman paid the purchase price and signed the necessary documents. When the transaction was complete, he turned to the young girl and presented the documents to her. Startled, she looked at him with uncertainty. Her narrowed eyes asked, 'What are you doing?' The gentlemen responded to her questioning look. He said, 'Here, take these papers. I bought you to make you free. As long as you have these papers in your possession, no man can ever make you a slave again.' 

"The girl looked into his face. What was happening? There was silence. Slowly, she said, 'You bought me to make me free? You bought me to make me free?' As she repeated this phrase over and over, the significance of what had just happened became more and more real to her. 'You bought me to make me free?' Was it possible that a stranger had just granted her freedom and never again could she be held in bondage and servitude to any man? As she began to grasp the significance of the documents which she now held in her hand, she fell to her knees and wept at the gentleman's feet. Through her tears of joy and gratitude, she said, 'You bought me to make me free. I'll serve you forever!'

Mind Changes

Em Griffin in The Mindchangers said, "Some early studies concerned with prejudice show that we're quite capable of reordering our perceptions of the world around us in order to maintain our conviction that we're right. 

"A group of white, middle-class New York City residents were presented with a picture of people on a subway. Two men were in the foreground. One was white, one was black. One wore a business suit; one was clothed in workman's overalls. One was giving his money to the other who was threatening him with a knife.

"Now as a matter of fact it was the black man who wore the suit, and it was he who was being robbed by the white laborer. But such a picture didn't square with the prejudices of the viewers. To them, white men were executives; black men were blue-collar workers. Blacks were the robbers, whites the victims. And so they reported what their mind told them they saw—that a black laborer was assaulting a white businessman.

"As human beings who desperately desire our lives to be consistent and untroubled, we'll go to great lengths to reject a message that implies we're wrong."

The more dishonest we are with our inner self, the more we will distort all truth—including God's Truth/ Word—to make it match our twisted perception of reality in a vain attempt to justify our every thought, perception, and action while totally denying our reality and real motives.  

Never Missing a Wrong Note

Before Ansel Adams became famous as a landscape photographer, he studied piano and showed some talent. At one of his first recitals he played Chopin's Nocturne in F Major. "In some strange way," he said, "my right hand started off in F-sharp major while my left hand behaved well in F major. I could not bring them together. I went through the entire nocturne with the hands separated by a half-step. The next day, someone walked up to him and jokingly commented, "You never missed a wrong note."

Such mistakes are easily overcome. But some mistakes we make in life can have long-lasting serious consequences. With these mistakes, however, the good news is that God's mercy is always available to all who confess their sins and failures and ask for His forgiveness.

Have you forgiven all who have ever hurt you ? And have you experienced God's forgiveness ? If not, why not do that today.