EQUALISING MATTERS

As a result of balanced and positive thinking, one can save oneself from devastating results, and continue one’s journey to progress without any interruption.

In the Second World War, America and Japan were enemies. They caused immense damage to each other. But their inimical relations were soon to come to an end. It happened in this way: In 1945, America dropped two atom bombs on Japan, which destroyed two Japanese cities, Nagasaki and Hiroshima. This event greatly incensed the Japanese. They began talking about taking revenge against America.

Now, this was a very delicate situation. Had Japan decided to tread the path of revenge, it would have only led to further devastation. But at this time, Japan’s leaders and intellectuals adopted an approach that turned the minds of the Japanese people from a negative direction to a positive direction. They said that if in 1945, America had devastated two Japanese cities, then Japan had, before this—in 1941—destroyed America’s Naval Base at Pearl Harbour. So, in this way, matters had now been equalised between the two. Hence, the Japanese must now forget the issue and put themselves instead to the task of constructing Japan anew. The result of this balanced and positive thinking was that in some years’ time, Japan became a much stronger country than before.

Whenever a dispute arises between two parties, generally, each party takes a very one-sided stance. It recounts only the excesses of the other party. As a result, its thinking becomes imbalanced. It forgets its share of excesses and only remembers those of the other party. This way of thinking always proves to be destructive, for both individuals and for entire communities and nations.

This imbalanced way of thinking is called tatfeef in the Quran (83:1-3). That is giving short measure to others. In a dispute, an imbalanced way of thinking always leads to devastating results. In contrast, a balanced way of thinking always takes one towards progress. Such people who give short measure will remain in a state of deprivation in the Hereafter.