Issues of Ijtihad

appears, on the face of it, to be a just one. But in actual fact, it is of no use. In such cases, what is of actual importance is not expressing what is logically just, but, rather, searching for practical measures for solving a problem. Making up for the loss caused in such cases can only happen through taking practical measures, and not through logical analysis. The Quran has adopted this very same practical method in commenting on the Battle of Uhud. In the court of the Hereafter, oppressors will certainly be told about their oppression and will receive punishment for it. But in this present world, in such cases what needs to be done is to find out a practical solution so that, through it, one’s defeat can be transformed into a victory. Dichotomous Thinking There is a certain way of thinking that can be called ‘dichotomous thinking.’ Dichotomous thinking is thinking in terms of rigid compartments of black and white. This way of thinking often becomes the cause of much harm and damage. A person who thinks in this way sees things in rigidly dualistic terms. It is as if there are only two options before him—black, or white. He is unaware that there is actually a third option available as well. On account of his unawareness of this third option, he is not able to avail of it even though it may be that his success actually lies hidden in it. Consider the following case: Members of a certain