The Tale of Two Irons: A Lesson in Honesty

The Tale of Two Irons: A Lesson in Honesty

BY:Khan

Fraud and deceit have become so common in our society that it is often impossible to know whom to trust. Instead of building our community on the noble teachings of faith, many of us prefer shortcuts, deception, and dishonest gains. As a result, we have weakened the moral fabric of our nation.

In contrast, Western societies have nurtured ethical values, turning their communities into places of peace, fairness, and justice. Over there, people truly believe that morality is the true beauty of human society. Sadly, we seem to have forgotten this lesson.

One day, an incident took place in my own home that reflected this difference vividly.


---

A Surprising Gift

My husband came home one afternoon while I was busy with household chores. He stood in front of me, smiling, with a cardboard box in his hands.

“What’s this?” I asked curiously, quickly putting aside the work I was doing.

With a grin, he handed me the box. “This morning the maid mentioned that our iron is broken. I found this one at a good price. You know, when men shop, they think carefully and spend wisely. Not like women, who buy everything at a high price.”

I opened the package eagerly. Inside was a brand-new automatic iron of a famous brand. It looked shiny and impressive.

“You’ve started taking an interest in household matters today,” I said teasingly. “That deserves some celebration.”

I unwrapped the iron completely, admiring its sleek design.

“How much did you pay for it?” I asked.

“Oh, I got it cheap,” he replied proudly.

“Cheap? It must be at least twenty-five hundred rupees,” I guessed.

He looked me in the eyes, still smiling, and said, “Shopkeepers fool women easily. I bought it for just seven hundred rupees.”

“Seven hundred? From which shop?” I asked, surprised.

He chuckled. “Not from a shop. A man stopped me in front of my car. He said he was in desperate need of money. He begged me to buy this iron from him. Looking at his sad face, I felt pity and decided to help him. Anyway, since our iron was broken, it seemed like the perfect solution.”

At that moment, I felt a mix of surprise and admiration. Perhaps he had done a good deed and saved money at the same time.


---

The Truth Revealed

I handed the iron to our maid and asked her to iron the clothes. She carried it to the laundry room but returned within minutes.

“Madam, this iron is broken,” she said quietly. “It’s cracked on the right side. It won’t work properly.”

My face fell. I turned toward my husband in anger. He looked embarrassed, realizing at once that he had been tricked. The so-called “needy man” was nothing more than a fraud who had staged a drama to make some quick money. Instead of helping the poor, my husband had been fooled into buying a defective product.

It was a bitter reminder of how dishonesty thrives in our society.


---

A Different Experience in London

The incident instantly reminded me of something I had experienced abroad. During one of my visits to London, I had gone to buy a new iron from a department store.

I picked up an iron that looked perfectly fine to me. But when I handed it to the salesgirl, she shook her head politely.

“I’m sorry, madam. I can’t sell this to you,” she said.

“Why not? It looks absolutely fine,” I replied, puzzled.

She smiled and explained, “There’s a small crack on the right side. It will work for a while, but it’s slightly damaged. Selling a faulty item is against our policy. It would be wrong.”

Her honesty shocked me. That minor crack was hardly noticeable, yet she refused to sell it because it wasn’t perfect. For her, morality came before money.


---

A Stark Contrast

That day I realized the stark difference between us and them. In our country, people openly deceive others, claiming to be in need or hiding behind the excuse of faith. We think that simply reciting the holy words of belief is enough, and that somehow God will forgive us for our dishonesty.

Meanwhile, many people in the West, despite not sharing our religious background, understand the value of integrity. They recognize that honesty and morality are the true foundations of a peaceful and successful society.

We criticize them, claiming they are without faith and destined for hell, while excusing our own lies and frauds. But who are we to decide who enters heaven and who does not? That is for God alone to judge.

What cannot be denied, however, is that we have abandoned the very values our own faith emphasized. We have forgotten honesty, fairness, and truthfulness—qualities that were meant to define us.


---

Final Reflection

The story of the two irons—one bought from a fraudster at home, the other refused by an honest salesgirl abroad—remains a symbol in my mind. It shows how far we have drifted from our moral duties, and how easily others have embraced them.

Until we return to honesty, fairness, and compassion, our society will remain trapped in deceit. The true test of faith is not in words alone, but in actions—actions that reflect honesty, trust, and integrity.