Look Beyond the Present
One should form his opinions in the light of realities rather than personal prejudices. He should try to arrive at an understanding of the infinite mindset of God.
The Quran has this to say: “When We bestow a favour upon a person, he turns his back and draws aside; and when evil afflicts him, he gives himself up to despair. Say to them, ‘Everyone acts in his own way, and your Lord knows best who is rightly guided.’” (17:83-84)
A person’s thinking is conditioned. For instance when someone has abundant wealth and a successful life this causes him to develop undue self-confidence. He does not attach any importance to anyone other than himself. Nor is he able to pay attention to anything said by another. On the contrary, one who is beset by adversity and lives in a state of deprivation, loses courage. He has no hope or trust in anyone else. Both types of people fail to rise above their immediate circumstances and are not able to plan their actions in an unbiased way. This is generally the case.
For instance, at the time of Hudaybiyah, the Makkans saw the matter in relation to the present, while the believers saw the matter as it would affect the future. The Makkans were thinking only of present gains, while the believers looked at the whole matter with great foresight. Because of looking to the future, they were able to do sound planning. By just looking at the present Makkans thought that if 1400 Muslims entered Makkah for Umrah the prestige of the Makkans would be at stake. That is why they opposed the intention of the Muslims to enter Makkah to perform Umrah. On the contrary, the believers saw that if they went back after signing a peace treaty, extraordinary opportunities for the divine mission would be opened up for them. And the apparent defeat of the present would finally turn into a great victory of the future.
The secret of a person’s success in this world is to think by rising above the limits of his immediate sphere. He should form his opinions in the light of common realities rather than personal prejudices. He should not remain confined to his own narrow mindset. He should try to arrive at an understanding of the infinite mindset of God.
