An Act of Wisdom

An Act of Wisdom

1991 7 July 20 An Act of Wisdom (358) The relation between the Muslims and the local residents of the city of Leicester in the UK had not been exactly cordial over the use of a loudspeaker for calling the faithful· to prayer. The local Christian community and the department of Health Protection felt that the sound of the amplifier, like Church Bells, must be kept within acceptable limits, and that the morning call over the loudspeaker should certainly be avoided. According to a report published in The Times, London, the dispute has been amicably settled. The Muslim leaders and the local authorities discussed the matter across the table and agreed that the use of the loudspeaker would continue except for the morning prayer, and that the sound level would be kept within proper limits. Now the only disagreement is about the night prayer. While the authorities insist that use of the loudspeaker should not be permitted beyond 8 P.M. , the Muslims want the period extended up till 9 P.M. The newspaper report was optimistic that a solution would soon be found to resolve the only outstanding issue. (Dawat 25 July, 1990).

What the Muslims in the U.K. have had recourse to is, in simple terms, adjustment. This is what the message of Al-Risala is. When the Muslims migrate to the U.K., they are willing to adjust, but in their own country, they consider adjustment to be synonymous with cowardice. They are not willing to pay heed to the call for adjustment.

This is the real problem of the Muslims in India. If they could show the same flexibility in their own homeland, as they do when they migrate to other countries, widespread communal strife would be bound to cease.

Adjustment is not cowardice. It is an integral part of living. It is necessary everywhere, whether you live in a non-Muslim country or not. Its necessity arid importance is universally accepted. Without learning to adjust, no progress can be made.

Above all, adjustment prepares the ground and softens attitudes when the message of God has to be spread. Therefore, adjustment is not to be viewed as a matter of expediency but as an act of wisdom.