The Tiger’s Way

THE TIGER’S WAY A report in The Times of India (18 March 1991) stated, “tigers do not like to walk on the jungle grass. They fear that a thorn might pierce their soft feet. Therefore, they always walk on open paths or roads.” Tigers, like all animals, are shaped by nature’s lessons. They always follow methods directly ingrained in them by their Creator. Therefore, it is accurate to say that the tiger’s cautious approach is nature’s preferred way. For humans, this idea is reflected in Divine guidance: take your precautions (Quran, 4:71). The world was created by God with a specific wisdom, which is why it contains both clear, straightforward paths and thorny bushes. These thorny bushes will inevitably remain in this world; removing them is not possible. Therefore, what needs to be done is similar to what a tiger in the jungle does, as taught by God: protect yourself from the thorny bushes and continue the journey by seeking and following the clear and open paths. Just as a tiger avoids walking on jungle grass, we should navigate our lives by steering clear of conflicts with others. We should aim not to provoke anger through our actions. If others do become angry with us, we should soothe their anger with patience and use wise strategies to protect ourselves from their wrath. The actions of the “king of the jungle” are not acts of