FROM MAULANA'S DESK

does not differentiate between the innocent and the guilty. Once confrontation starts, it will lead to indiscriminate killing. Any hue and cry will be rendered utterly futile. Therefore, in such a situation the only option is to avoid confrontation at all cost. Confrontation always leads to blindness. Where there is fighting, there is indiscriminate killing. Hence, we must avoid confrontation. But, if we do enter into confrontation, then it is useless to complain that the other party is targeting not only the guilty, but also those who are not blameworthy. The Quran gives this principle in these words: “And beware of an affliction that will not smite exclusively those among you who have done wrong” (THE QURAN 8: 25). This verse means that we should not initiate confrontation. And if we initiate conflict, then it will no longer be right to make protests saying that innocent people are being killed along with the culpable. There is also a Hadith in this regard. The Prophet of Islam has said: “Evil is lying asleep. The curse of God is on one who awakens it” (Kanzul Ummal). This saying of the Prophet means that evil is always there in the world. If we want to save ourselves from the ill effects of evil, then we must try our utmost to avoid awakening it. The beginner is the one who is responsible for the aftermath. Life is full of differences. The way of wisdom is to not let these differences reach the stage of confrontation. If differences reach confrontation, then it will necessarily lead to violence. And when violence erupts, it is always the party which is the weaker of the two that suffers. The option before the weak party is to not let difference turn into confrontation. Complaining afterwards will be of no avail as it will not help in achieving anything. There is a basic principle that has been given in the Quran in these words: As-sulh khair (THE QURAN 4: 128). That is, “Reconciliation is the best.” The opposite of this principle is: confrontation is the worst. If you want to save yourself from unwanted results, then adopt the policy of reconciliation. Once confrontation begins, complaints and protests will never work. A policy of reconciliation always leads to the required result, and confrontation will always prove to be counterproductive. o Maulana Wahiduddin Khan editor@thespiritofislam.org