Al-Risala (English), February 1991
Al-Risala (English), February 1991, p. 10
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
Speaking little, and not holding grudges against anyone
1991 2 February 10 Speaking little, and not holding grudges against anyone (50) A companion of the Prophet lay dying. People saw that his face was shining, and asked why “1 had two habits which stood me in good stead,” the man explained: “for one, I did not indulge in idle talk, and, secondly, my heart was free of malice towards any Muslim.”
Superstition A Weakness
1991 2 February 10 Superstition A Weakness (283) The former American President, Ronald Reagan, according to an official of the Republican party of the U.S.A., keeps a golden ferrule in his pocket all the time. This ferrule was presented to him by one of his friends five years before he was elected president. Ronald Reagan holds that it was the powers of this amulet, which saved him from the attempt made on his life, as well as from many other misfortunes. He cannot entertain the idea of parting with it. Once when he was asked by a government official whether he still kept it in his pocket, he replied: “I sure do.” Then he took the ring out of his pocket and showed to him.
This is doubtless just another form of superstition. If superstition can hold men’s minds in its grip, it is because life’s happenings are so often puzzling and mysterious, and without any rational explanation. Certain unknown forces seem to be at work, which would appear to be responsible for success or failure. And these forces seem to function without any rhyme or reason. I once asked a successful businessman the secret of his success. He thought for a while, then replied, ‘luck!’ Then he said if I wanted any more reasons for it, he would say luck, luck and more luck!
The mysteriousness, which pervades our lives, is due to an invisible God who remains behind the scenes. Since man is unable to catch sight of Him, he substitutes some visible thing for this invisible God, be it a ring, a ferrule, or any other object.
Man, by his very nature, must have a deity. If he cannot find God, then he replaces Him with something else.
