June 16, 2007

“Hey Hammad! Preparing for the finals?” Mohsin enquired. “Yeah, you didn’t call me, is there any kind of work you’ve come for?” Hammad replied to Mohsin, who had arrived at his house unexpectedly.

“Yeah, I was getting bored. Mom and Dad are out shopping so I came here, should I go? Are you busy right now?” Mohsin asked Hammad.

“No, not at all. But let’s check the syllabus for the final examinations.Exams start next week. So we should better be studying hard,”

Hammad said to Mohsin. At this Mohsin made a face and shook his head, but at Hammad’s insistence, he agreed.

Hammad and Mohsin were, best friends. Hammad was an intelligent and quick-witted boy. He was always concerned about his studies. His only aspiration was to please and satisfy his parents who were always ambitious and concerned about their son’s career. Hammad proved to be a bright and brilliant student and excelled in his studies. On the other hand, Mohsin was an average student. As he was pampered by his parents very much, he became spoilt. He indulged in the luxuries and pleasures that money brought with it, and did not take studies seriously. He studied less and wasted most of his time.

Both Hammad and Mohsin were in the same class. As their final examinations were nearing, Hammad spent much of his time studying and preparing for the exams. As usual, his target was to come first in class, and please his parents as well as the teachers. However, Mohsin was not serious. He spent most of his time shopping, playing, or going to Hammad’s house. But as Hammad was a sensible boy, he advised Mohsin to study and he did not play with him whenever Mohsin came over.

It was Friday morning, when Mohsin called Hammad. Hammad took the call and started enquiring about Mohsin’s preparation for the final exams. Bored and tired by Hammad’s talks and advices for the preparation of exams, Mohsin finally revealed his main objective in calling him up. Mohsin asked Hammad if he would go with him to offer the Friday prayers and to take Tawiz from the Maulvi Sahib to ensure good results in the upcoming exams. At this, Hammad again told Mohsin that good results depended only on hard work and nothing else. At Hammad’s reply, Mohsin appeared to be upset and disappointed. So, to comfort his friend, Hammad agreed to go with Mohsin.

Both Hammad and Mohsin got ready and together they went to the mosque. They offered the Friday prayers. When the prayers were over, both of them went to the Maulvi Sahib. Mohsin asked the Maulvi Sahib to give him a Tawiz and one to Hammad in order to obtain good results in the final exams. So Mohsin and Hammad paid for the Tawiz and both of them wore it around their necks as the Maulvi Sahib had told them to do so.

During the exams, Hammad worked very hard, and made a diligent effort to achieve straight As in all his subjects, and rank first in his class. Mohsin, on the other hand, spent very little time on his preparation for the exams as he thought that the Tawiz would surely bring him good results anyway. Even during the examination period, he wasted his time doing silly things and not studying.

Well, the finals were over and Hammad was anxiously waiting for his result. He prayed to God incessantly to bless him with a marvellous result. Mohsin, however, immersed himself in the luxuries of life once again, playing, and chatting on the Internet. He was least bothered about his result. He truly found consolation in believing that the Tawiz would bring good luck and an excellent result.

Finally, the results day arrived. No different from any other year, Hammad came first, and Mohsin failed because of his stupidity and lack of hard work, or motivation to achieve his goals.

Mohsin was furious and enraged at his result and at the Maulvi Sahib, too. He went to the Maulvi Sahib and demanded to know why he did not get a good result despite wearing the Tawiz, and how it came to be that his friend, Hammad, got first position. Maulvi Sahib laughed and told him to open the amulet (a sealed pouch) up and to read what was written in it: “If you’ll work hard, success will be yours. Surely, hard work is the key to success.” Now Mohsin understood what it meant. He was regretting those times when he had paid no heed to Hammad’s priceless advice.

From then on, Mohsin vowed that he would work hard, and make a great effort to achieve his desired results. He promised never to waste his valuable time again. And due to his hard work, like Hammad, Mohsin proved himself to be one of the most assiduous students.