The Secret of Success

one does not use force, there will be no serious opposition to such activity. Perhaps a more important reason is that everyone should enjoy the same freedom of belief; the forcing of beliefs upon others is tantamount to encroaching upon that freedom, nay, destroying it. Failure to respect this condition means misusing the opportunity which presents itself; Dawah activity carried on in this way would eventually prove counterproductive. After such an abuse of another’s privilege, there would be nothing to stand between us and God’s punishment, for it is He who has provided us with this unique opportunity to bring other people within the fold. It is an opportunity to be seized, not wasted. Missed opportunities spell ruin. That is the way of the world. And that is the will of God. At the Olympic Games held in Los Angeles in SeptemberOctober 1984, about 62 Indian sportsmen participated. When the games were over and they returned to New Delhi on August 16, 1984, they received a chilly welcome, as they had failed to win a single medal, neither gold, silver nor bronze. What was the reason for this failure? According to a report published in the Times of India (August 17, 1984), “Lack of scientific and systematic training was the main reason for India’s poor showing. We did our best but that, unfortunately, was not good enough. The entrants began their training just three months beforehand.” What has been said about the Olympic Games applies to all walks of life. In this world of competition it is necessary to enter the field fully prepared. If you enter it inadequately prepared, little else but failure will await you.