HONESTY

By

Ummu Abdurrahman Kifaayah Bukky

Few years ago, my daughter represented her school in a mathematics competition and she qualified for the final round. Whoejver won that round would represent Kwara state in the national competition. At the end of the round her scripts were returned to them and she scored 10/10. 

While looking through, she discovered that she was supposed to get 9/10 and the examiner mistakenly marked the wrong answer correctly. Then she raised her hand to get the attention of the non Muslim woman. The woman was surprised and happy at her honesty. She praised her, and prayed for her. Then she changed it to 9/10. The school head who went with them was proud of her and reiterated it to everyone that that is what Islam taught us. 

As Allah would have it, the highest mark was 9/10 and she was still the one chosen to represent Kwara state at the National level.

When the news got to me of her honesty, I was so happy. I was happier for the honesty, than I was of her emerging best in Kwara state. I felt successful and I expressed my gratitude to Allah for crowning my efforts. For helping my daughter to fear Him even when no one was looking. 

When she returned and I asked her about it, she said she actually knew the answer but missed a digit while writing it. So when she saw it, she was surprised that she made a mistake. Then she first thought “but I know the answer” then she thought “I already made the mistake” Taking the mark would be like cheating and “من غشنا فليس منا (Whoever cheats us is not of us)” so she raised her hand. Gaskiya,I was happy that Allah guided her. 

As parents, and as a society, I believe we should emphasize less on the grades, the one that gives us that bragging right, rather more on the application of knowledge. 

We should help our children to excel academically(conventional & Islamic). We should help them to learn school work, memorize Quran and Hadith, speak Arabic&English. However, we should not forget the essence of all these things is to make them distinguished individuals,  that will set new paces in all areas of life, and  will fear Allah, deal with people justly, show mercy to the weak, respect others irrespective of their class, always remember that they will meet Allah one day and let that guide their lives. 

We should remain focused. Eyes on target! We should refuse to be distracted by the need to brag or belong. The need to brag makes parents place unnecessary pressure on the innocent children, even if they are moving at a good pace.

COMING SOON IN SHA ALLĀH