MAINTAIN DISTANCE
Many vehicles move together on the road: from the front, back, right, and left. Therefore, many rules are put in place to ensure safe road travel. These traffic rules are posted everywhere along the roadside so that passing drivers can read them and stay safe.
While driving along a road in Delhi, I saw a similar sign posted: Maintain Distance.
When I read it, I realized that these two words carry a lot of wisdom. This forms a complete philosophy that applies not only to road travel but also to life’s journey.
In the present world, no one lives in complete isolation. Everyone must work among many others. Each person has their own interests and an ego. Everyone wants to move forward by pushing others down.
This situation requires us to always follow the principle of “maintain distance” in life’s journey. We should keep enough space from others to continue our path without the risk of collision.
This very principle is emphasized in the Quran (28:55) as i‘raaz—turning away with restraint. If you do not keep this wisdom in mind, your benefit may clash with another’s benefit. A single harsh word from you could cause someone else’s anger. A moment of carelessness might lead you into unnecessary conflict with others.
The consequence is similar to a road: an accident. A road accident stops a person’s trip and can even end the traveler’s life. Likewise, ignoring this principle in life will stop your progress. You might also lose your life or be erased from history like a mistake.
There are numerous examples of this throughout history. Whenever someone pushes their boundaries, they often face a terrible outcome.
Nitin Walia is a 3-year-old boy who lives with his parents, Vijay Pal Walia and Sunita, in Shahdara. He wanted to see the zoo, so his parents took him to the Delhi Zoo. While observing various animals, they reached the enclosure of the white tiger. They paused to watch the tiger and its cubs. At this point, Nitin climbed over the railing and put his hand into the cage. The tiger, Neema, pounced and bit his hand. People hit the tiger with sticks, but by then, it had chewed the child’s hand up to the shoulder. After surgery, the child survived but lost his right hand permanently.
According to a reporter from The Times of India (March 21, 1988), the child’s parents blamed the zoo staff for the accident. They said there was no guard present near the cage at that time.
“The parents claim that there were no guards around.”
Often, when people have an accident, they immediately look for someone else to blame. However, in this world, such efforts are completely useless. Only those who control themselves can avoid accidents. Those who lose control will inevitably have accidents, no matter how many words they use to blame others.
At the zoo, a railing is placed four feet away from the cage of ferocious animals to keep people at a safe distance. Similarly, in every phase of life, there is a boundary. Those who stay within this limit stay safe. Those who go beyond the boundary cannot protect themselves from accidents, whether inside or outside the zoo.
