Faith one attaches to God

Faith one attaches to God

1992 7 July 12 Faith one attaches to God (29) Bara’ ibn Azib reported the Prophet as saying:

“The strongest knot of faith is loving for the sake of God and animosity for the sake of God.”

(Ahmad, Musnad)

The Wise Way Is the Practical Way

1992 7 July 12 The Wise Way Is the Practical Way (305) Man often has to take decisions in life about what to do and what not to do. On such occasions there are two basis for decision making: (i) What is desirable, and (ii) What is possible.

In personal matters, wisdom lies in seeing what is desirable and then working towards that end. But in social matters, the correct position to adopt is to see what is possible and then to follow that course. This difference exists because; in personal matters, the self alone is involved; having complete power over one’s own self, one can take any course, follow any path. But in social matters, there are always others to be considered over whom one has no power. One can only request others to treat some particular path: One cannot force them to do so. In that case, the wisest thing to do is see what is possible. Of the two courses – the desirable and the possible – the tatter should be followed. In either case, one should follow the path, in so far as it is possible, which has religious and moral sanction. That is the path of idealism.

By attempting to achieve what is desirable in personal matters, life’s journey does not stop. It goes on. But if the same attempt is made in social matters, someone or the other will immediately set himself up in opposition to it and one’s journey will come to a halt. One’s onward journey having been thus interrupted, all one’s energy is then spent in the arena of confrontation. The useful and result-yielding way out of this dilemma is to grasp whatever opportunities arise out of making concessions to the demands of the other party.

Keeping a look-out for the future, so that one’s journey may continue, is the only practicable way of leading one’s life in this world.