Capability and Alertness

Lenin was the founder of modern Russia. He was an extraordinarily gifted man. Two of his qualities—capability and alertness—are illustrated in the above incident. He had studied so assiduously that he knew four different languages and was able to converse fluently in each one of them. Then so alert and on-the-ball was he that—despite his enormous preoccupation with affairs of state—he read the book of an unknown Indian at night, just so that he could have some prior knowledge of that person’s thought when he met him the next day. Lenin made every effort to cultivate this natural talent; he made the most of the opportunities that were provided him; that was how he rose to the ranks of triumphant world leaders. These two qualities—capability and alertness—are required for any kind of work. They are indispensable for the service of the Islamic cause, just as they are essential to one working in some other, secular field. Firstly one must be fully equipped with contemporary knowledge, and secondly, one must show oneself to be absolutely prepared in whatever one does. Lenin showed how one, equipped with these qualities, can achieve success in the secular field. If people who show capability and alertness of this nature apply themselves to the service of the Islamic cause, then they too will achieve the desired goal. □ Bear hardship with patience, and one’s sins will be forgiven in the next world Abu Bakr once recited this verse of the Quran before the Prophet: “He that does evil shall be requited with it. There shall be none to protect or help him.” (4:123) “How,” he asked, “can things now turn out well for us, since we shall have to pay for the evil that we do?” “May God forgive you, Abu Bakr,” the Prophet said, “don’t you ever become ill, or feel fatigue or distress? Aren’t you sometimes afflicted with hardship? Don’t you fall into error now and then?” Abu Bakr said that he did indeed. “This then is the requital of your sins in this world,” said the Prophet. (Kanz al-Ummal)