THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY: Islam’s Ethical and Spiritual Outlook

vain talk, just as we seek refuge in You from inarticulateness and inability to express ourselves.” (al-Bayan wa al-Tabyin, Vol. 1, p. 27) This world is a place of trial. Every aspect of it carries some form of test. That is why a person who fears God’s reckoning must seek His protection and help in every matter—not just in major actions, but even in speech and silence. The real test of life is not what a person gains or loses— rather, it lies in how they respond in times of gain or loss. One must be just as cautious in speech as in action. One should place both their achievements and their shortcomings on the same moral scale. Power, too, must reflect servitude to God, just as weakness does. In this world, success is a test, and failure is also a test. Action is a moment of examination, and inaction is a moment of examination. SILENT STRATEGY Altaf Husain Hali (1837–1914) preferred reformist poetry. When he critically examined traditional Urdu poetry through this lens, he found that much of it lacked meaning. He saw it as filled with exaggeration, tales of beauty and romance, and fanciful imagination. Hali sharply criticized this style of poetry and advocated for purposeful, socially aware writing.