Principles of Islam
13. Gaining or Losing
~ 37 ~
13. GAINING OR LOSING
In this world man sometimes loses, sometimes
gains. These vicissitudes are the common lot. No
one is exempt from them.
Now the question is how man should react to them.
Islam tells us that both these experiences are meant
as tests. Here gaining is not in itself synonymous
with success. Similarly, losing does not mean that
an individual has failed for all time.
Losing and winning are not in themselves
important. What is of actual importance is how
people conduct themselves when facing these
experiences.
So, when a man suffers a loss, he should not
consider himself a failure and a deprived person; he
should not lose hope and courage, and begin
uttering endless complaints. He must rather prove
his courage, and, bearing up under the burden of
adversity, retain his mental balance. He must
consciously regard both the “give” and the “take”
as being from God. He has thus to accept God’s
