Can you actually remember how many times, as a driver, you took a left turn without switching on the indicator light? Chances are, many times.

In the same breath, how many times have you cursed another driver when he fails to give such indication? Can't remember?

Well, picture this: You emerge at the top of a T-junction, and you want to turn right. There is a string of vehicles coming from the right and of course you have to wait until all of them pass before you can actually turn right.

Then, suddenly one of the vehicles simply turns left, leaving you with a gap but not wide enough for you to pass, which you could have taken advantage of had that particular driver given a signal that he intended to turn.

So, deep inside, you curse him, in your own sweet way, not quite realising it is a mistake which you are also occasionally guilty of committing.

Human nature

So, why the double standards? Why are we irate at something that we ourselves habitually do? This was what came to my mind yesterday afternoon when I desperately wanted to turn right from Jalan 4K, Ampang Jaya to Jalan Kolam Air Lama towards Kelab Darul Ehsan for my usual Sunday afternoon jog.

Scores of cars rushed by, then one or two simply turned left without any indication. Only the fact that I tried to put myself into their position restrained me from sticking up my middle finger at them.

Perhaps they simply did not notice. Perhaps they were oblivious to the fact that they were causing other drivers some difficulty. Perhaps again, it is human nature. Why do something when you don't really have to?

Oh yes, incidentally, the list that we put under the title 'human nature' would make any alien think that humans are indeed the ruling generation of gorillas. It would always be something horribly negative. I can't for the life of me remember anyone, for example, saying it's human nature to be compassionate.

I had a power luncheon with the directors of my company recently, and the CEO was telling us of a book full of short stories extracted from the Bible.

It was entitled something like 'Fifty-two Good Values', meaning there's a good value to be inculcated in your child for each week, narrated in a very simple, yet interesting manner. Very nice and practical.

Understanding the Quran

One of the remarks that came out was of the unfortunate dearth, or even total absence, of such stories when it comes to values gleaned from the Holy Quran. Come to think of it, how many of us actually know what the Quran talks about?

Most Muslims, as children, would have undergone the Khatam Quran , a ceremony which is in essence signifying that we have perfected `learning' the same which, in actual sense, is merely completing `reading through' the same.

Thus, more often than not, it was left at merely reading through all the 30 chapters of the Quran, in its original Arabic language. In actual fact, we don't know what it means. In comparison, how many of us have actually gone further to read through the whole text translated in a language with which we are familiar?

Reciting the Quran in its original form without least knowing what the verses means is akin to singing Hindustani songs without understanding the lyrics. Maybe one or two words would strike you as familiar, but the rest are as good as Double Dutch to you.

So, what can we hope to achieve by reciting the Quran daily, without knowing its meaning? Like a Hindustani song, if we sing it well enough, it could bring one to tears; but only because of its melody, not because of its content.

What do inconsiderate motorists not giving signals have to do with Quranic recitals?

It's another classic example of a major digress in my periodical ranting, but in the midst of all this reigning confusion over religious issues, deviant teachings, new world order and the like, it's time to go back to basics. After all, can anyone point out a religion that doesn't teach morality?

It is a sad enough story if you don't get the message. But to get the message and not try to understand it is a tragedy

ZAIM AL-AMIN is a lawyer by profession. Currently attached to an oil, defence and aviation company, he retains his childhood passion for writing, often contributing to magazines, bulletins and journals. He jokes that writing boring articles is his way of overcoming bouts of insomnia.