An Enemy is Also Our Friend
Everyone has a conscience and an ego. If you awaken the conscience of a person, he will become your friend; if you hurt his ego, he will become your enemy.
According to the Quran: “Good and evil deeds are not equal. Repel evil with what is better; then you will see that one who was once your enemy has become your dearest friend.” (41:34)
It repeatedly happens that one is affronted by something said or done by another person. One minds something when one is hurt. Such incidents take place as are provocative to the emotions. On such occasions, there are two kinds of response—one negative and the other positive. Whenever any unpleasant thing takes place the individual concerned reacts negatively by becoming angry. Such retaliatory action of only aggravates the problem; it only increases mutual bitterness. Initial opposition finally leads to enmity. The one who responds thinks that by giving a rejoinder the problem can be ended. But the other party aggravates the problem by its reactions. Another option is that whenever any unpleasant thing takes place, the person concerned should not adopt reactionary tactics. Sometimes he remains silent, but if he does have to speak, he should return good words for bitter words. Instead of exacting his revenge, he had better engage in positive activities with the intention of reforming the opposite party.
If the former attitude was a reason for increasing enmity, the latter attitude will help in turning your enemy into a friend. If the former attitude aggravated the situation, the latter attitude will nip the problem in the bud.
Every human being is possessed of a conscience as well as an ego. If you awaken the conscience of a person, then the person will ultimately become your friend and well-wisher, but if you adopt an attitude which hurts his ego, then, on the contrary, he will become your enemy. In every person there is hidden both a friend and an enemy. While one attitude of yours turns him into a friend, another attitude turns him into your enemy. Now it is up to you to choose between the two.
