By Muhammad Haji
To the taxi driver, whom I have had an argument about money who left without taking the fare. I am sorry my friend and I hope you will get my apology although you live far away in Jeddah.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) didn’t only reveal his stomach for the man asking him to forgive him. He also asked Allah saying: “O Allah, bless those who I talked bad about”. Even Omar apologised on the platform to Khaled for exempting him.
Apologising is an international culture. The Emperor of Japan, the Presidents of the United States, Nixon and Clinton, apologised to their people.
The Arab people received an apology with the word I got you. We always see and read the road signs reminding of temporary interruptions that say: sorry for any inconvenience caused to you.
Apologies are nice but harsh when I bring painful memories back and repeat the same mistake. Over time, I realised that apologising doesn’t cause me to lose my respect. I make the best apologies when I am in a stronger position, when I apologise to my parents, brothers, sisters, students, servant, other people as well as myself.
The player offers an apology to his friend and also the club president apologises to the crowds. But many people who are in place of authority refuse to apologise for their misdeeds. Floods kill many helpless people, but those in charge don’t have the courage to admit it. I am sorry Allah for things I did away from people, forgetting that you are watching me.
I’m sorry my father for not being at home and far away from you. I’m sorry my mother for being late, letting you wait for me behind the door and for coming late many times. I’m sorry that sometimes you prepared food for me and I wasn’t around. I am sorry for everything.
I say sorry to the man who I waved when he couldn’t pass the street because of me. I think waving for him wasn’t enough. I say sorry to the sheikh when I believed what was said about him and realised it was all lies. I say sorry to the teacher, who taught me the first letter and I forgot to thank him.
Sorry to the one who I met in a gentle manner, to the policeman who I yelled at on the street. Sorry to my friend who I couldn’t offer help. Sorry for saying or doing something without thinking well. I apologise so late, but it is still better to apologise than to keep my mistakes without apology.
I apologise again my friend, the taxi driver.***
Photo of V3 Teletech