Al-Huda
Foundation, NJ U. S. A
the Message Continues ... 7/206
Newsletter for January 2019
Article 1 - Article 2 - Article 3 - Article 4 - Article 5 - Article 6 - Article 7 - Article 8 - Article 9 - Article 10 - Article 11 - Article 12
Confronting adversity
BY MOWAHID HUSSAIN SHAH
The other
day, during an extended after-dinner conversation with
Yasin Malik, Chairman, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front,
the discussion turned to the impact of adversity on
human character. Adversity
does have a make-or-break impact. In many instances, it
debilitates resolve, saps confidence and leads to a
resigned acceptance of the unfairness of life and the
unlikelihood of a positive change. There is an addiction
to failure and an allergy to success. But in a few
cases, adversity can be a tremendous character-builder.
Bouncing back after setbacks and suffering reinforces
faith in the capacity to survive in the human jungle
with clan. If success is seen as fleeting, so, too, can
be failures. A qaum, which can endure qut, can never be written off. Materially well-endowed societies with massive technological superiority are sometimes vulnerable and fragile from within. Caught between fear and desire, they are more prone to panic and paranoia and, consequently, overreact to adversity. Similarly, parents who rear their children in overly protective environments are not doing them any favor. A case in point is some of the molly-coddled children of the wealthy. Their education, career paths, and even matrimonial choices are often steered by their parents, thereby robbing the children of the experience of qut. Their power of independent decision-making remains shriveled and initiative limp. Over-pampered from the outset, they are unprepared to face the unavoidable blows of life and lack, thereby, the resilience to overcome life obstacles. Openly materialistic and self-absorbed, they seem disinterested in the wider world. And, when
saddled with responsibility on big occasions, they may
not be mentally tough enough to perform under pressure
or to respond to challenges. Having not endured qut,
they have little empathy for those on the receiving end
of life. This may be a partial explanation for the huge
disconnect between the elite and the street, which
currently destabilizes the Muslim world. Those wired to a protective sifarshi grid sometimes find themselves insulated from the chastening shocks of one of life greatest teachers qut. It has been said that it is not a sin to be knocked down; it is a sin to stay down. The process of coping with and triumphing over adversity is one of life great character-builders. The lacerations of qut are the smiling wounds which give one the fortitude and faith not to fear the long night as something endless, but to hope for the inevitability of dawn. |
DISCLAIMER:
All material published by Al-Huda.com / And the Message Continues is the sole responsibility of its author's).
The opinions and/or assertions contained therein do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of this site,
nor of Al-Huda and its officers.
HOME - NEWSLETTERS - BOOKS - ARTICLES - FEEDBACK