Possessive will...

Every thing needs balance and when something gets out of balance it eventually re-centers and balances out again. Relics have balance also. They give people direction in their religion; a stable base, an origin.

Salman Rushdie wrote in East, West a short story about the possession of a relic and its effects.  In the short story the prophet’s hair Hashim the main character finds a pendant with a human hair in it “having found it by the strike of good fortune, Hashim’s duty as a citizen was clear: the hair must be restored to its shrine, and the state to equanimity and peace” (43).   Hopeful yet reserved to return the relic of Muhammad with out any issues or problems.  Hashim believing this find was a blessing a sign of good fortune, he will find out he was mistaken.

gold pendant

Hashim is a collector of different artifacts “I see it as purely a secular object of great rarity and blinding beautiful” he then continues “it’s the silver vial I desire, more than the hair” (44). This is ironic like giving a present to a child that is more interested in the box than the gift inside.   The irony of this, is object he possesses is indeed not a secular object..

His good fortune came to an end after saying that “I am going to keep it” referring to the relic of Muhammad’s hair. Changes happen to Hashim, he was filled with truth spilling out everything that he should not have. He then beats a debtor for not being able to repay his payment, beating his family, killing his daughter thinking it was a thief.  Eventually being shot in the stomach trying to flee with his sought after relic by his uncle.

For having such a lucky item believing that this relic would give him good fortune he was certainly wrong. Cursed and damned Hashim was from the decision that he made to keep the hair.   Greed and desire to keep something that did not belong to him killed him. 

Hashim was cursed by the relic for wanting more than he actually needed.  A moral of the story is that being possessive will eventually consume you.