The Correct Way

One of the great economists says, "Financial institutions and factories manufacturing various items decline due to their tendency of maintaining their original position."

Intelligent people believe that to remain in the same condition is a kind of downfall. But is this law only for factories? Or is it a common law applicable to all categories of every kind and every field?

In this respect Ali (A.S.) says, "If a man passes two continuous days in such a way that from the material and spiritual viewpoint the latter day is just like the former one, then that person has suffered a great loss in his life."

Man’s greatest capital is the life span gifted to him. This precious capital is being spent gradually. If its return is not of the same value then it means that we have lost our capital and have not been able to make any profit by it.

As a principle doing new things is a part of human nature. Man becomes bored doing the same work continuously for a long time. Even the most delectable things lose their taste if they are consumed daily.

Shopkeepers and departmental stores owners, in order to avoid monotony, rearrange their materials every now and then even if the profit from both the settings is same.

Newspapers having large circulations, in order to avoid similarity, change printing or color every day or every week, so that it may not appear awkward.

Similarly the decorations of dining halls in big restaurants are changed often so that they appear attractive and people may not be bored.

But is every kind of change and novelty a sign of progress? Is it so even if good thing turns into bad ones? Never!

While the great economists consider changelessness a kind of decline they also consider it suicidal to change a good thing into a bad one. From this viewpoint, every change should be proper and it should be better than earlier. When we make an improvement we should not concentrate only upon its outer change, but we must also pay attention to the original aim and make changes accordingly.

The main defect of our eastern factories is that when once the masses like their products they never think of making any changes and if they ever do so they do not do it in a nice way.

The Holy Prophet always liked regularity, discipline and aptness in every work.

When a military officer Saad bin Maaz died and his coffin was lowered in the grave, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) observed that people are dropping dust in it in an inappropriate manner, which made him sorrowful. He sat down near the grave, leveled the earth of the grave with his own hands and then said to his companions, "I know that this grave will soon become old. But God likes a slave who performs his work nicely and perfectly."

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his household) knew that this mismanagement and irregularity could enter every walk of life. He did not like that even a minor and ordinary work should be done haphazardly even if it was not to last long.

Any young man or woman that desires appreciation of his deeds and one who aims for permanent success should perform today’s work in a way better than yesterday.

* Secrets of Success, by Ayatullah Ja'far Subhani, translated by: Al-Qalam Translators and Writers Bureau. Published by: Knowledge City Books 501, Sanghvi Tower, Chulna Bhabola Road, Vasai (West), Dist. Thane- 401202, India, printed in 2004, chapter 19.