FROM MAULANA’S DESK

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, born in 1925, in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is an Islamic spiritual scholar who is well-versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern disciplines. The mission of his life has been the establishment of worldwide peace. He has received the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in India, and the Demiurgus Peace International Award. He has been called ’Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the world’ and is recognised as one of its most influential Muslims. His books have been translated into sixteen languages and are part of university curricula in six countries. He is the founder of the Centre for Peace and Spirituality based in New Delhi.

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF ONE’S ACTIONS

US President Barack Obama blamed former President George W. Bush for the rapid rise of Islamic State terrorists, and said the terrorist group is a consequence of the Iraq war. “ISIL is a direct outgrowth of Al Qaeda in Iraq that grew out of our invasion, which is an example of unintended consequences which is why we should generally aim before we shoot,” Obama said in an interview with VICE News, referring to the Iraq war launched by Bush. (VICE, March 17, 2015)

A person’s greatest weakness is his overestimation of himself.

During the time of former President Bush, America began its invasion of Iraq with great military might on March 19, 2003. A year and a half before when there was news that the US may invade Iraq, I had given an, interview to The Times of India, in which I had warned beforehand that the “U.S. aggression would be counter-productive”, (The Times of India, September 16, 2001). Later events showed that this was what really happened.

This example is not only true of the United States, but perhaps is the story of every person in history. Every human being, whether he belongs to the political or any other field, takes such steps which lead to counter productive or negative results.

A person’s greatest weakness is his overestimation of himself. Due to this nature, he takes such steps which do not fulfill his expectations. It would be right to say that human history has been either a history of defeat or a history of Pyrrhic victory. Perhaps, there has been no victory which could be called an all-out victory. 

A wise person is one who takes into consideration all available factors before drawing up his plan of action and then takes an objectively well-thought out step.

The fact is that different kinds of factors exist in this world. Some factors work in our favour and others go against us. The phenomenon of ‘unintended consequences’ or unwanted result is because of the fact that people are aware of their ambitions, but they do not take into account the external factors which may go against their plans.

A wise person is one who takes into consideration all available factors before drawing up his plan of action and then takes an objectively well thought out step. If a person does not fulfil this condition, then he will have to face unintended consequences. This principle holds true, both for superpowers and for individuals.

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
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