Unilateral Adjustment

UNILATERAL ADJUSTMENT In the Quran this principle is explained in these words: ‘Reconciliation is best’ (4:128). In the Quran, these words appear in the context of a marital dispute, but it is a general principle and applies to all aspects of life, be they small or big, personal or collective. The opposite of reconciliation is war. The psyche of war is that each party wants to obtain what they regard as their right by defeating the other party. In contrast to this, the method of reconciliation is based on the principle of give-and-take. In this method, in case of a dispute, each party tries to ensure that no clash occurs and that the dispute is resolved through peaceful discussion and on the basis of bilateral agreement. In the case of war, the focus of each party is on what is present. They want to capture what appears to be present in front of them. Those who are obsessed with the war mentality consider the capturing of what is presently available as a victory and the loss of it as defeat. In contrast, a person committed to working for reconciliation focuses on the future, rather than the present. His insight tells him that there exists much more than what presently appears before him, which, although not presently visible, can be obtained through wise action. This foresightedness is the secret of great achievements.