THE IMPORTANCE OF SITUATION MANAGEMENT
The following is an English translation of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan’s Urdu lecture delivered on July 16, 2007.
Part 01
Today’s topic is titled “The Importance of Situation Management.” It is based on a Hadith mentioned in Sahih Ibn Hibbaan. One of the defining characteristics of a believer is their ability to “know their era”. What does “era” mean? It means understanding the contemporary situation. You must possess the skill to manage situations effectively. You must master the art of situation management because without it, you won’t be able to practise your religion. People often misunderstand Islam, believing it’s solely about belief and worship. However, you must also know how to handle situations. Otherwise, you won’t be able to follow Islam.
I’ve chosen an article from the Times of India. This article delves into the concept of situation management and its significance. The survey, based on an international perspective, reveals that Azeem Hashim Premji is the wealthiest Indian among Muslims.
In an interview, Azim Hashim Premji emphasized that globalization is a two-way street. It’s not a one-way process. The perspective that is prevalent in Muslim newspapers, magazines, and speeches is that America exploits the world, and Western nations loot the world. Muslims generally view globalization in a negative light. Premji clarified that globalization is not a one-way process; it’s a two-way street. If it takes something from us, it also returns something to us. This is why he was able to become the richest man in India.
I want to share a relevant quote with you. The world God has created is full of opportunities. There are so many opportunities that no one can eliminate them. According to a Hadith, “The number of opportunities is always greater than the number of problems.” (Mustadrak al-Hakim) This Hadith provides evidence that, regardless of the challenges we face, opportunities will always exist. Why? Because no one, not even enemies, can eliminate opportunities.
This realization reminded me of historical references. For instance, during British rule in India, Lord Macaulay introduced a scheme to educate the entire nation in English. A renowned scholar, Lord Macaulay meticulously planned and executed this initiative. He expressed his pride in stating, “The purpose of our education in India is to create a class of people who are Indian by birth but possess English tastes.” This move proved to be a significant advantage for India, ultimately contributing to India’s current status as a developed nation.
In today’s computer-driven era, English has become an indispensable skill. Without proficiency in English, one cannot fully benefit from the advancements of the computer age. Currently, India ranks third globally, behind Britain and America. Lord Macaulay’s introduction of English was a strategic move to ensure the perpetuation of British rule. Through this initiative, India’s development flourished, and it continues to make remarkable progress.
A similar pattern occurred in Japan after World War II when Douglas MacArthur established an education system based solely on the American model. MacArthur believed that by adopting the American system, he could maintain control over Japan indefinitely. But what transpired? Japan emerged as a formidable rival power. While America ascended to become a military superpower, Japan flourished as an economic powerhouse. Macaulay and MacArthur orchestrated their plans. Surprisingly, from these very plans, the greatest benefit emerged. Even adversaries cannot thwart your opportunities. Isn’t that peculiar? From this realization, I’ve come to understand that the system God has established, there is no place in it for negative thinking.
In today’s computerdriven era, English has become an indispensable skill. Without proficiency in English, one cannot fully benefit from the advancements of the computer age.
Negative thinking is the most abhorrent concept in God’s eyes. God desires you to cultivate positive thinking. Always embrace positivity. Why? God wants to bless you, but you cannot receive that blessing if your mind is consumed by negativity. You must cultivate absolute positivity to receive God’s blessings. The world is brimming with countless opportunities that even your rivals cannot diminish. Your rivals cannot hinder your progress. Within the confines of India, amidst globalization, an individual achieved wealth beyond imagination. This is the most crucial lesson we must comprehend.
Opportunities always outnumber problems. Recently, a gentleman visited me. He resides abroad, and it was our first meeting. He expressed his admiration, stating, “I’ve been diligently reading your books for a considerable period, and I wholeheartedly concur with their teachings.” He continued, “The ideology you espouse is unparalleled in the last two centuries. It stands as the most suitable ideology for Muslims.”
I inquired about his knowledge of our mission. He responded, “I’ve been reading your books and diligently studying your writings on my computer.” I mentioned the absence of a central hub for our organization compared to other entities. He affirmed, “I’ve observed prominent centres of other organizations in India, but you lack such a central hub. Despite your superior ideology, others possess more extensive centres.”
The era of localized centres is a thing of the past. We now live in a time of expanded centres. The days when there was just one building for a centre are over.
“You’re referring to something called ‘anachronism.’ That era of localized centres is a thing of the past. We now live in a time of expanded centres. The days when there was just one building for a centre are over. You yourself are a testament to this change.” “You reside far away in another country, yet you’re well-informed through literature, the internet, and our website. Our expanded centre encompasses individuals like you. Every member of our team, regardless of their location, if they have access to our books or computers, is considered part of our centre.” “Consider our centres from today’s perspective, rather than the past when communication was limited. Back then, there were no computers, print media, or electronic media, which necessitated the existence of localized centrs. However, those days are behind us, and we no longer require localized centres.”
“We now inhabit the era of the expanded centre. Our centre is spread out through literature, computers, and multimedia. By God’s grace, I can confidently say that our mission is the largest and most significant for Muslims at this time. Such a grand mission is unparalleled. No other organization possesses such extensive literature.”
“By God’s grace, our people are spread across the globe. Sitting at their computers, they diligently spread this mission far and wide. All our literature is readily available on our website. Every individual within our mission, regardless of their location, whether they’re working on computers or in their rooms, is considered part of our centre.”
“If we examine our centre solely in terms of physical buildings, you may find yourself in the 20th century. However, when we consider communication, the landscape changes dramatically. No other centre engages in such significant work. While they may have buildings, they lack vitality and genuine progress. They’re devoid of ideas, literature, and any meaningful content.”
By God’s grace, our mission is alive with ideas. My visitor acknowledged that we must perceive things in the context of our time. Today, we live in the age of communication. I had a conversation with an American professor some time ago, and his words have resonated deeply with me ever since. He said, “This is the Age of Communication.” This opened my mind. In this age of communication, the centre that should exist is the one we have. In the past, centres were located in buildings during the pre-communication era.
I am certain that God has spread our message globally. It has reached an international level. By His grace, our literature, magazines, and message are being read and heard everywhere. This is what a centre truly means, he agreed. I firmly believe that religious belief and worship are not the sole aspects of religion. Understanding the times is also a crucial part of religion. As mentioned in Sahih Ibn Hibban, one must be able to manage situations and comprehend contemporary times. (TO BE CONCLUDED)
