In April 1984, Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to travel into space. The Indo-Soviet spacecraft in which he was travelling, Salyut II, was orbiting the earth when, on April 7, he was interviewed from the earth by an Indian journalist.
Asked what the earth looked like from up there, Squadron Leader Sharma replied that looking at the earth from space was a beautiful experience and it was difficult to understand why there should be so much tension on the planet. From above no borders could be seen: the whole world looked like one, peaceful, harmonious unit.
Looking at the world from an aeroplane one has much the same experience: towns blend into their surrounding countryside as if they are a part of it; there appears to be no clash between the world of man and the world of nature; the tensions that divide man from man are not apparent. When one comes down to earth, however, the picture changes drastically. One comes down to a world in which men are separated into self-made nations, with conflict and mistrust marking relationships between one nation and another. One encounters a world in which man plunders his environment. In short, one finds a world in which man is at odds with both his fellow-men, and the world around him.
The difference is very apparent if one looks at a map showing physical features. The former shows rivers flowing across continents, with no respect for national frontiers; it shows seas lapping the shores of every continent alike; it displays mighty mountain ranges, spanning the borders of many lands. On a political map, however, the picture is quite different; what had been one unit becomes a set of divided sections; what had been a harmonious hue of brown mountains, green plains and blue seas, blending into one another, now becomes an accumulation of starkly contrasting colours, illustrating the difference between one nation and another.
From space one sees only nature when one gazes at the world; that is why it appears as one harmonious unit. But when one comes down to earth one enters the deficient world of human beings. It is here that true belief in God comes to man’s rescue, placing him on a higher plane mentally, enabling him to remain aloof from the meanness and pettiness of everyday life and detached in the face of temptation and adversity. If one’s life is dominated by belief in God, then He will be the source of one’s thinking. One will live in the world, but not be of it. Despite the fact that one is dwelling on the planet Earth, one will look at the world from an elevated position. One will dwell in a natural world, despite one’s imprisonment in the unnatural world of man. □
A commander should keep a watch
on his subordinates’ work
Umar once asked people if he had fulfilled his duty if he appointed to some post a capable man—one whom he considered fit for the task—and then enjoined him to be just. Everyone said that he had. “No,” Umar said, “not until I have gauged his actions to see whether he has done what I told him to do. Whenever Umar appointed a governor in some territory, he would ask delegations that came from there how their ruler was. “Does he care for slaves?” he would ask. “Does he follow funeral processions? Is he kind and understanding towards those who come to his door?” If people said that he showed kindness and consideration towards those who came to his door, and looked after slaves well, then Umar would say nothing. Otherwise he would immediately send someone to relieve the governor of his duties.
