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

This was a brilliant and timely response. While reasoned argument and calm logic are often the best approach, there are moments when sharp wit proves far more effective— and this was one such moment. This ability is commonly called quick-wittedness or spontaneous presence of mind. It is a refined human trait. However, it can be used in two very different ways. One is to confront falsehood with sharp clarity—as seen in the incident above. The other is to mock others for amusement, which is undesirable. The first use is commendable. The second, undoubtedly, is not. AN EXAMPLE OF NOBLE CHARACTER In Muslim times, Eastern Bengal was under the control of the central Sultanate in Delhi. Occasionally, its governors rebelled and declared themselves independent rulers. One such figure was Sultan Ghiyath al-Din (Reign: 1390–1411), one of the most prominent medieval Bengali sultans, who broke ties with the Delhi Sultanate and established an autonomous government in Eastern Bengal. At that time, the city of Dhaka had not yet developed; the capital was Sonargaon. A British historian, F.B. Bradley-Birt, records an incident in his book, ‘Dacca: The Romance of an Eastern Capital (London, 1914):