The Benefits of Criticism

An incident from my life illustrates this attitude. One of my colleagues, Maulana Anis Luqman Nadwi, worked closely with me for about eight years. When he later visited an Arab country, a Sheikh asked him about his role in India. He replied, “I am the critic of the biggest critic in India.” This reflects my affinity for criticism and intellectual discourse. For a true scholar, the most fulfilling experience is intellectual exchange. While criticism may appear to be directed at a person, its true focus is the subject matter under discussion. Genuine criticism transcends personal ego; it is not a matter of prestige or personal confrontation but an exploration of ideas and truth. When criticism is valid, it provides an opportunity to correct errors and move from the darkness of flawed thinking to the light of accurate understanding. It helps a person grow intellectually and become more developed in their thoughts. Even when criticism is invalid, it serves the purpose of highlighting additional aspects of the subject. If the person being criticized responds calmly and with an open mind, criticism can strengthen their intellectual capabilities. It can stimulate creative thinking, enabling them to present their views more clearly and logically. In truth, criticism is beneficial in every way, whether it is valid or not. A personal experience further illustrates this point. In 1965, I was in Lucknow, where I met a non-Muslim scholar who did not believe in religion or religious figures. During our conversation, he criticized the Prophet Muhammad, saying, “If Muhammad were removed from history, what difference would it make?”