Page 38 - Quick Grasp of Faith 2

one He wills or restricts it. But the majority of man-
kind do not know it." It is not your wealth or your
children that will bring you near to Us—only in the
case of people who believe and act rightly; such peo-
ple will have a double recompense for what they
did. They will be safe from all harm in the high halls
of Paradise. (Surah Saba': 34-37)

32. How does one avoid the dangers of self-
exoneration?

The self commands man to do evil. This fact is related in
Surat ash-Shams as follows:
By the soul and the One Who proportioned and in-
spired it with knowledge of depravity and with its
sense of duty, he who purifies it has succeeded, he
who covers it up has failed. (Surat ash-Shams: 7-10)

Another verse pointing out the capacity of the soul to
command to do evil is about the Prophet Yusuf (peace be
upon him), It is told in the verse that when a lie was forged
against him though he was innocent, he said:
I do not say my self was free from blame. The self
indeed commands to evil acts—except for those my
Lord has mercy on. My Lord, He is Forgiving, Merci-
ful. (Surah Yusuf: 53)
As it is told in the verse, the self always commands to
evil. For that reason it would not be appropriate to try to de-
fend oneself or to prove one's rightness immediately, for one
might have momentarily and unawares followed what the
self desired. What should indeed be done in such a case is to
stop and reflect first before acting. When a person reflects

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