A Sure Solution

A SURE SOLUTION A fter reading the October 1986 issue of Al-Risala, a reader wrote a long letter (October 7, 1986). Part of it said: “Your travelogues are not only informative but also unique in style. This time too, your account of Bombay was the same. In it, I read your meeting with driver Hiralal and the answer he gave to your question about avoiding accidents. It reminded me of a similar story.” A taxi driver, who had never had a single accident in his 55 years, once gave a lecture on safe driving. He said: “It takes me just a minute to explain how to drive safely. The method is very simple. While driving, just remember this—every other driver on the road is crazy.” (Muhiuddin Muhammad, Hyderabad) A “crazy” person is one who cannot be relied upon, from whom nothing can be expected. When nothing can be expected from the other side, thinking in terms of mutual understanding is pointless. In such cases, the only way is to think one-sidedly and seek a one-sided solution. Everyone knows that you do not fight with a madman— you avoid him. The solution is to stay away, not to clash. The driver who assumes others are crazy will not waste time complaining about them. He will focus entirely on himself. Sometimes he will stop. Sometimes he will slow down or move aside to find his own way. A person on the road who places full responsibility on himself in this way will never meet with an accident.