Correction

Abdullah bin Yahya was showing a manuscript, which be had written, to a visitor.

 

This man said: ‘But this word has been incorrectly spelt.’

He at once deleted the word and wrote it in the manner of which his guest approved.
When the man had left, Abdullah was asked: ‘Why did you do that, considering that the “correction” was in fact inaccurate, and you wrote the wrong word where the original one had been right?’

He answered: ‘That was a social occasion. The man thought he was helping me, and thought that the expression of his ignorance was an indication of knowledge. I applied the behavior of culture and politeness, not the behavior of truth, because when people want politeness and social interchange, they cannot stand truth. Had I stood in relation to this man as teacher to student, matters would have been different. Only stupid people and pedants imagine that their duty is to instruct everyone, when the motive of the people is generally not to seek instruction, but to attract attention’

~ by Shaykh on March 2, 2008.