Accept Temporary Loss
for Greater Gain
Continuing the conflict stops positive activities. Ending conflicts, even at the cost of incurring material loss, is better as it allows constructive activities to go on unhampered.
Suhaib Rumi was a companion of the Prophet on the occasion of the emigration. When he was ready to leave Makkah for Madinah he took along some gold coins. When he left his home, he met some youths of Makkah. During the conversation, they found out that he was leaving Makkah, and was carrying gold coins so they said, ‘We won’t allow you to go to Madinah with your gold.’ Suhaib Rumi said, ‘If I give you the gold, will you let me go to Madinah?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ Suhaib Rumi immediately gave them the gold coins and left for Madinah.
When he reached Madinah, he first of all met the Prophet Muhammad and told him what had happened to him while he was leaving Makkah. On hearing this the Prophet said, “O Suhaib, your commerce was successful!”(Hayatus Sahabah, vol. 1, p. 438)
From this event we learn one important tradition, or Sunnah, of the Prophet. That is, if any form of controversy arises and if it can be put to an end by incurring some material loss, then this controversy or conflict should be put to an end, even at the cost of incurring some material loss.
This method appears to be one which entails loss. But, in reality, it is one from which great benefit may accrue. In following this path a person finds something greater by giving up something quite paltry.
In this incident, there were on the one hand a few coins and on the other was a person’s very existence. At all events a person’s existence is extremely precious and is worth more than a few dinars. If therefore, by giving away the few dinars a person’s life is saved, then this commerce is one of profit rather than of loss.
Continuing the conflict results in further activities coming to a halt. But if the conflict is put to an end, this would result in the continuation of all activities. And continuation of constructive activities is a thousand times better than stopping all activities because of some conflict.
