The path between right and wrong

Have you ever been questioned with the thought whether something was wrong or right? I know that I have. I always have to think about something, before I do it.  Personally, I think that it your moral conscious helps you decide between what is right and wrong.  Most of the time though people chose to do the wrong, because it makes them feel better, it is more beneficial to them in the end.  Such as, cheating on a test, people know that it is wrong, but they chose to do anyway, because the outcome is more favorable in the end, the temptation was worth it.  The temptation usually looks appealing to the individual, but most of the time leads to regret and remorse about the decision. Choosing between what is right and wrong comes down the temptation, what do you do?

In Salman Rushdie’s novel East, West one of his short stories The Prophet’s Hair deals with the struggles of a man named Hashim. The story takes place early in the year 19-in Srinagar during a fierce winter when Hashim a moneylender and father comes upon a glass jar which contains a strand of silver hair from the prophet Muhammed. Upon finding this glass jar Hashim knows it was stolen only one day prior from the Hazratbal mosque. Because, he knows that he was stolen and he had founded it, he saw it as his possession. Hashim knows that he must return the hair to the mosque because this is the right thing to do. However, being a collector himself he wants to keep the prophet’s hair as he convinces himself by doing so he will become a better servant to the Prophet.  Hashim knew that it was wrong in the Muslim religion to worship an possession instead of their actual god.  He doesn’t want to keep the hair for the religious purpose, but more for his own greed. However with keeping the possession, he sacrifices everything including his family, his life, and his religious entities to keep this object. Hashim becomes violent and insulting towards his family and telling to his wife that their marriage had been the worst of his decisions. Hashim also insults his son and disowns his daughter and must do something before he loses his family completely, but Hashim is only oblivious by his greed and the curse that has been put on him by the sacred object.

Huma, Hashim daughter is left with only one option, to hire Sheikh “the Thief of Thieves” (52).  to steal the jar from her father. Because, she was disowned by her father, he fells as if the best option for the family would be to steal the sacred hair.  On the night of the burglary everything turns out badly, with the death of Atta and Huma, and the suicide of Hashim. The jar is found from the pocket of Sheikh and is returned to its resting place. Although the jar has caused much trouble for Hashim and his family it has brought a miracle to the least expected. Sheik’s children are healed with the ability to walk, but are upset because they can no longer receive income. His wife was blessed with the ability to see.   

Just like Hashim, he had to choose between what was right and wrong, but he chose to give into his temptations.  He let his greed get the best of him.  He chose what he thought was the most beneficial to him.  He didn’t think about his wife or his children, just about the prize possession that he had collected.