Islam As It Is
The Trial of Man
~ 122 ~
some position in recognition of another’s
superiority; sometimes it is a question of showing
respect for someone’s honour, by passing over a
weakness of his which could have been exploited;
sometimes it means holding one’s peace, and
refraining from pouncing on some mistake that
another has made; sometimes it entails siding with
someone purely as a matter of principle, eschewing
the immediate gain to be had from acting in an
unprincipled way. These are all typical situations in
which one person must bow to another. In all such
cases, the one who accedes to the other is doing
something very positive: he is giving something to
the other.
There are, of course, a number of mental barriers
that have to be overcome before an individual can
be completely just and right-minded in his attitude
to others. In honouring one’s rival, one must often
compromise with one’s own sense of prestige. This
is what really makes it difficult to give precedence
to a fellow human being. Yet this is the crucial test
set for him by God. Without making this sacrifice,
he cannot earn God’s favour. One who shirks from
making this sacrifice can never endear himself to
