Cherished Memories of Africa — Page 221
203 Truthfulness of a Mauritanian Youth Mauritanians are generally obstinate and ignorant people. Being Arabs, they regard themselves to be the only true and strong Muslims. However, there are some virtuous and noble-minded people amongst them who do not hesitate in calling a truth a truth and do not make it an issue of their ego. This episode pertains such a youth who when he discovered the truth admitted it in very beautiful words. There was a young man named Muhammad living in Dakar. He was a Mauritanian, studying at Dakar University. He lived in the same locality as me. He was a thorough gentleman. He used to visit me frequently and we spoke on various topics. Once I wrote two booklets for religious knowledge in a questions and answers style in Arabic and French languages. I said to Muhammad: ‘I have written this Arabic booklet. I am not an expert in Arabic language. By the Grace of Allah you are a Hafiz of Quran, an Arab and an educated person in secular matters as well. Please review this booklet to see if there is any error that may be corrected’. He took my notes with him. Next day, he came to me and said: ‘Ustaz there is one major error in this booklet’. I asked him to point that out. He replied: ‘You have written one question asking if a prophet can come after the Holy Prophet (saw) and replying it said: yes. That is absolutely wrong. ’ I said, ‘it is not wrong, it is absolutely correct. ’ He was perplexed. I said: ‘My friend, you are an Arab, your language is Arabic and you are Hafiz of Quran and all your relatives, according to you, are scholars and Hafiz. What we do is that I recite a verse of the Quran and you translate it. ’ I recited the following verse: