On the other hand...

On the other hand, rational friendship and enmity produced by a sort of consciousness, stem from a concern in the destiny of a fellow being. Let us take an example. The parents have two kinds of attachment to their child, one logical and the other sentimental. Logical attachment sometimes may impel them to take an action, which may apparently cause pain and distress to their child. For instance they may submit him to a surgeon.

In such a case they may weep and shed tears, but they ask the surgeon to perform the operation as early as possible and amputate the festering limb, if necessary. They shed tears out of their emotional attachment, and ask for surgical operation and amputation out of their logical attachment. In case they give preference to their emotional attachment and do not agree to amputation, they virtually acquiesce in giving their child in the pale of death.

But because of their intellectual logic and keen interest in his welfare, they ignore their emotions and agree to the pain and inconvenience to their child. To get himself cured any sensible person may occasionally submit himself to the surgeon and ask him, for example, to amputate one of his fingers. He does not like to suffer the pain of amputation. He knows that the loss of a finger will cause him much inconvenience.

Still his reason and logic require him to bear the pain and agree to this organic defect. In such cases it is reason and logic, and not emotions, which induce a person to ask for a surgical operation. In order to eliminate corruption from a society in which infidelity and ignorance prevail, Islam gives instruction for armed struggle, " Fight them until revolt is rooted out" (al-Baqarah, 2:193).

At the same time for the security of the society it warns the Muslims against opening their heart to the infidels. There is no contradiction between this policy and the principle of entertaining goodwill towards all. Imitating is human nature. Man-often unconsciously adopts the ideas and notions of others. The Qur'an says " O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies for friends.

Would you offer them strong love while they have rejected the Truth which has come to you " (al-Mumtahina, 60: 1). It continues to say " If they have the upper hand of you, they will be your enemies and will stretch out their hands and tongues towards you with evil intent. They love to see you turn away from your faith ".