Badges mark quoted or attributed material (Qur'an, hadith, another author, an opposing view). Unbadged passages are Maulana Wahiduddin Khan's own words.
Diversity and difference are fundamental laws of this world. They persist independently in every aspect of life. No human can alter this law. Even if someone tries to change it by force, nature’s powerful forces will eventually break down this artificial system and restore it to the principle of diversity. Wisdom resides in this truth: both individual intellectual growth and collective human progress stem from it. p. 57
THE SECOND CHANCE p. 58
Life is full of second chances. Wisdom lies in recognising and capturing the available opportunities and having the courage to avail yourself of a second chance. p. 58
In Reader’s Digest (February 1987), there was an article titled ‘Dare to Change Your Life.’ This article shared several stories of individuals who initially faced failure, suffering losses and challenges. However, they did not lose hope; despite losing one opportunity, they kept their eyes open for the next. This strategy worked, and after an initial failure, they found success in their second attempt. The article concluded with the notion that life is full of second chances. The only requirements to seize these chances are the ability to recognise them and the courage to act: p. 58other source
“Life is full of second chances. All we need for a second chance is the ability to recognise it and the courage to act.” p. 58
Life is, essentially, about utilising second chances—a truth as valid for individuals as it is for nations. History confirms this. In the early days, Islam did not find an opportunity to thrive in Makkah, but it embraced the opportunity in Madinah and carved its path forward. Western nations, unable to succeed in the Crusades, capitalised on intellectual opportunities to regain prominence. p. 58
In today’s world, it is common to miss the first chance, either due to inexperience or others’ opposition. However, losing the first opportunity does not mean losing all opportunities. If one remains hopeful after missing the first chance, a second chance is often just around the corner, ready to be seized to reach the intended destination. p. 59
It is unwise to wrest opportunities already occupied by others; wisdom lies in capturing those opportunities that are still available. p. 59
An article published in The Times of India (April 13, 1989) with a New York dateline was titled “Japan’s Bid to Excel the US in Supercomputers.” The report mentioned that America’s long-standing dominance in the field of supercomputers was now in question. Analysts from an American corporation predicted that a Japanese supercomputer named SX-X would enter the market in 1990. This machine was expected to be the fastest globally, capable of performing 20 billion scientific calculations per second, making it 25 per cent faster than America’s fastest supercomputer. It was also designed to be more cost-effective while maintaining precision. p. 59other source
The importance of this supercomputer extends beyond scientific research, oil exploration, and weather forecasting. It is also crucial for national security, as it is extensively used in nuclear weapons development. This new Japanese computer has ushered the world into a new industrial era, rendering previously “modern” computers traditional and outdated and even giving Japan a technological advantage in military fields. p. 59