FROM MAULANA'S DESK

FROM MAULANA’S DESK 1. The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims 2012, Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, Jordan. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, born in 1925, in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is an Islamic spiritual scholar who is well-versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern disciplines. The mission of his life has been the establishment of worldwide peace. He has received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in India, and the Demiurgus Peace International Award. He has been called ’Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the world’ and is recognised as one of its most influential Muslims1. His books have been translated into sixteen languages and are part of university curricula in six countries. He is the founder of the Centre for Peace and Spirituality based in New Delhi. P EOPLE are generally obsessed with the notion: ‘I am right, you are wrong’. Some reformers have discovered a compromising principle; they say: ‘I am right, you are also right’. Both these formulas are impractical, and will not yield any positive result. Life is full of differences. Even between two persons or two members of a family there are differences; in terms of taste, temperament, way of thinking, etc. In such a situation we have to find a positive method, by which we can turn our negative experiences into a positive result, and convert our problems into opportunities for development. What is this formula? This formula is based on learning. Make difference a point of discussion. By discussion, I don’t mean debate. The purpose of debate is to establish superiority. This is not discussion. The purpose of discussion—on the other hand—is mutual learning; taking something and giving something. This kind of discussion is highly fruitful for every person. It promotes good relationship between different members of society. Discussion inculcates in people the spirit of love and brings an end to hatred. Here, let me give you an example. One of my articles was published in the 'Speaking Tree' column of The Times of India on June 8, 2013. The topic of the article was U Turn—A Principle of Life. In this article, I gave some examples from recent history, but all these examples were related to secular people. One Muslim became very angry after reading the article. BE AWARE OF YOUR UNAWARENESS