Lateral and Logical Thinking- Attempt to Think and Trust in Allah Ta’ala
A SALIENT STORY ABOUT LATERAL AND LOGICAL THINKING
Many years ago in a small Indian village, A farmer Ebrahim had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.
The Moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer’s beautiful Daughter Fatima. So he proposed a bargain.
He said he would forgo the farmer Ebrahim’s debt if he could marry his Daughter Fatima. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the Proposal.
So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let Destiny[fate] decide the matter.
He told them that he would put a black Pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would Have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father’s debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into Jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer’s field. As They talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he Picked them up, the sharp-eyed pious girl Fatima noticed that he had picked up two Black pebbles and put them into the bag.
He then asked the girl Fatima to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have Done if you were Fatima? If you had to advise her, what would you Have told her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. Fatima should refuse to take a pebble.
2. Fatima should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag And
expose the money-lender as a cheat.
3. Fatima should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father Ebrahim from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with The hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral, logical thinking.
The girl’s dilemma cannot be solved with Traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses The above logical answers.
What would you recommend to Fatima to do?
Well, here is what she did ….
Being pious,she put her trust in Allah and said Bismillah[I begin in the name of Allah] she then….. put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without Looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles….
“Oh, how clumsy of me,” Fatima said. …”But never mind, if you look into the Bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I Picked.”
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one and since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed with Allah’s Help what seemed an impossible situation into An extremely advantageous one.
*MORAL OF THE STORY:*
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don’t Attempt to think and Trust in Allah Ta’ala
“And when someone puts all his trust in Allah, He will be enough for him.”
(Surah at-Talaaq:3)
The Prophet (sallallaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:”If you put your trust completely in Allah, He will arrange for your sustenance in the same way as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with their stomachs empty and return filled in the evening.” (Tirmidhi-saheeh).
So trust in Allah alone… Calamities and disasters are a test, and they are a sign of Allaah’s love for a person. They are like medicine: even though it is bitter, yet, in spite of its bitterness you still give it to the one whom you love..
“The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allaah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” (Saheeh al-Tirmidhi)
Allaah says:”.and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allaah knows but you do not know.” (Surah Baqarah: 216)
