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Principle 91 — Agreeing to Lesser Evil

001 100 Principles For Purposeful Living — Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

Badges mark quoted or attributed material (Qur'an, hadith, another author, an opposing view). Unbadged passages are Maulana Wahiduddin Khan's own words.

Contents (101 chapters)
  1. Foreword
  2. Principle 1 — The Importance of Knowledge in Islam
  3. Principle 2 — Gaining Knowledge
  4. Principle 3 — Passion for Learning
  5. Principle 4 — The Treasure of Knowledge
  6. Principle 5 — The Acquisition of Knowledge
  7. Principle 6 — The Gift of Knowledge
  8. Principle 7 — The Superiority of Knowledge
  9. Principle 8 — Keeping a Record of Knowledge
  10. Principle 9 — Knowledge for the Sake of Knowledge
  11. Principle 10 — Non-Beneficial Knowledge
  12. Principle 11 — A Developed Personality
  13. Principle 12 — Ask Someone Who Knows
  14. Principle 13 — Contemplation on God's Blessings
  15. Principle 14 — The Process of Reflection
  16. Principle 15 — Humility in Learning
  17. Principle 16 — Education and Training
  18. Principle 17 — Knowledge and Seriousness
  19. Principle 18 — Increase in Knowledge
  20. Principle 19 — No Excuse
  21. Principle 20 — Intuition Serves as a Guide
  22. Principle 21 — Wisdom
  23. Principle 22 — Living in Hope
  24. Principle 23 — Sustainable Action
  25. Principle 24 — Being Aware of the Times
  26. Principle 25 — Purposeful Life
  27. Principle 26 — The Principle of Beneficence
  28. Principle 27 — Success in Silence
  29. Principle 28 — Two Different Attributes
  30. Principle 29 — Success Comes with Patience
  31. Principle 30 — Refraining from Confrontation
  32. Principle 31 — Look at the One Below You
  33. Principle 32 — Passing Time
  34. Principle 33 — No Despair
  35. Principle 34 — High Morals
  36. Principle 35 — Selfless Man
  37. Principle 36 — Eradication of Evil
  38. Principle 37 — What is Sin?
  39. Principle 38 — The Rights of Neighbours
  40. Principle 39 — Compassion for the Young and Respect for the Elders
  41. Principle 40 — Fulfilling the Contract
  42. Principle 41 — Recompense for Goodness
  43. Principle 42 — Not Rejoicing Over Another's Suffering
  44. Principle 43 — Having a Good Opinion
  45. Principle 44 — On Acknowledging Favor
  46. Principle 45 — Regretting a Mistake
  47. Principle 46 — The Voice of the Conscience
  48. Principle 47 — Return the Trust
  49. Principle 48 — Peace Culture
  50. Principle 49 — Pacifism
  51. Principle 50 — Peaceful Citizen
  52. Principle 51 — Avoid Harm
  53. Principle 52 — Greater Power
  54. Principle 53 — Reconciliation is Better
  55. Principle 54 — Social Service
  56. Principle 55 — All Human Beings Are Equal
  57. Principle 56 — The Importance of Consultation
  58. Principle 57 — Not Permissible to Stop Talking for More than Three Days
  59. Principle 58 — Verifying Before Accepting
  60. Principle 59 — All Human Beings Are Brothers
  61. Principle 60 — Three Forbidden Things
  62. Principle 61 — Everyone is Held Responsible
  63. Principle 62 — Help Everyone
  64. Principle 63 — Gentle Demeanor
  65. Principle 64 — Formula for Mercy
  66. Principle 65 — Mutual Respect
  67. Principle 66 — Respecting All Religions
  68. Principle 67 — Friend in Foe
  69. Principle 68 — Lack of Gentleness
  70. Principle 69 — The Importance of Simplicity
  71. Principle 70 — The Importance of Cleanliness
  72. Principle 71 — The Middle Path
  73. Principle 72 — Elevation through Humility
  74. Principle 73 — Extravagance
  75. Principle 74 — Collective Blessing
  76. Principle 75 — The Demand for Justice
  77. Principle 76 — Taking More Than Your Right
  78. Principle 77 — The Same in Return
  79. Principle 78 — Economic Stability
  80. Principle 79 — Provision from God
  81. Principle 80 — Contentment
  82. Principle 81 — Don't Ask Anyone
  83. Principle 82 — Trade is a Major Source of Livelihood
  84. Principle 83 — Livelihood
  85. Principle 84 — Control on the Tongue
  86. Principle 85 — Atonement for Backbiting
  87. Principle 86 — A Comprehensive Advice
  88. Principle 87 — Patience and Avoidance
  89. Principle 88 — Unilateral Tolerance
  90. Principle 89 — The Method of Avoidance
  91. Principle 90 — Success in Patience
  92. Principle 91 — Agreeing to Lesser Evil
  93. Principle 92 — Defense Through Tolerance
  94. Principle 93 — Do Not Be Angry
  95. Principle 94 — Solution to Anger
  96. Principle 95 — Seeking Refuge from the Devil
  97. Principle 96 — Who is Powerful?
  98. Principle 97 — Ease in Difficulty
  99. Principle 98 — Choose the Easy Way
  100. Principle 99 — Virtue in Something You Disapprove of
  101. Principle 100 — A Prayer

Agreeing to Lesser Evil p. 86

Umayr ibn Habib ibn Khamashah, a companion of the Prophet of Islam, said that he who does not tolerate the lesser evil of the ignorant would have to endure the greater evil of the ignorant. (Al-Mujam al-Awsat, Hadith No. 2258) p. 86hadith

Just as there are intelligent people in today’s world, there are also ignorant people. Ignorant people hurt others because of their ignorance. This is a small problem in the beginning. Wisdom requires enduring this small suffering. The man who gets entangled with the ignorant over a small affliction (lesser evil) ultimately will suffer from greater harm (greater evil). p. 86