Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Wisdom



Wisdom can be perceived as the ability to apply knowledge or experience, understanding or common sense and insight; it’s the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. Nowadays writing quotes to prove one’s wisdom is a trend, it’s started after Twitter was introduced. The difference between the Wise and the one who writes wise words is like the difference between the football player and the coach.



It’s very easy to write wise words to fool people that you are wise but that wouldn’t make you wise. For being wise and to be called “Hakeem” there are certain characteristics associated with wisdom. This includes sound judgment, self-knowledge, self-accept and self-actualization. Deep understanding, knowing one own’s responsibilities, compassion, filled with gratitude and positive attitude. It includes desiring the good of the whole, intuitive understanding, modesty, openness, kindness and truthfulness. In any situation you will find the wise will embrace the big picture, having multiple ways of knowing. He is insightful serving life, receptive recognizing the limitations.



Back in the old days, I was always telling myself that if I wanted to get married, found someone wise having the traits and characteristics I described above; I would immediately propose to her. I remember times when I was interested in some writing wise words. However today after Twitter I can’t count the number of people claiming to be wise whether by direct talks about themselves or letting their words talk instead of them.



I am not saying you don’t have to copy wise words and share it with others so they can benefit, but I am talking to those pretending to be wise. Words alone can’t give you the title “Hakeem”, it was once said: “Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something”



 I know someone who is claiming to be among the wise, she would keep disturbing her family until they take her to the tailor to collect her dress because she is having a wedding party and she must wear the new dress. She finds out that the tailor didn’t prepare or designed as per her prior requests you will find her shouting that even people outside the tailor shop would hear her voice. Anger took control of her mind; she spoke with the tailor with a polluted mind so she suffered afterwards, even though the wise knows very well that the very absence of anger and wrath is the quickest way to peace of mind. This destructive instinct is the poison of the mind, the father of the jealousy and hatred, a temporary insanity.



After returning home she will start crying because she couldn’t do anything about it, you will find her consumed by sadness, a feeling we all know how it tastes, a feeling that damages the mind and pain the heart. Finally to prove her ignorance she calls or sends text messages to her friends that she wouldn’t be going to the wedding party to extent she might lie and say she is busy or sick while in fact she doesn’t have the expected dress. Honestly, where is the wisdom!? If wisdom does have a leg it will run far away from this lady.



It’s true that words of wisdom didn’t give her wisdom but that experience at least did so. If it didn’t and she didn’t become wiser today after that incident all I would say is that wisdom doesn’t comes to fools. I am sure all of you heard about such incidents; after all she is not the only person contradicting herself. The wise person in my opinion is the one using wisdom to understand what really the wisdom is. The world is full of fools and the road filled with forks, having the wisdom and being wise in our acts gives us power and courage to bear the misfortunes.



Now if you ask me would I propose to ladies claiming to be wise or being called “7akeema” my answer is simply “No” and thanks goes to Twitter. Thank you; you don’t know how much you helped.

5 comments:

  1. وَمَن يُؤْتَ الحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْراً كَثِيراً وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إلاَّ أُوْلُوا الأَلْبَابِ } [البقرة : 269] .

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  2. Wise words from a wise man.

    Sharing quotes (which as you have rightfully pointed out has become the new trend) for the sake of sounding "deep" is one thing, putting them up there with the intentions of sharing wisdom is another.

    But it's okay not to understand everything. It's okay to look at something and wonder. For what is philosophy other than the "love of wisdom" (when you break the word down literally), not wisdom itself. There is a difference between the wise, and those who love/seek wisdom. Or maybe the latter turns you into the former? Food for thought.

    I am going to turn into one of those people you talk about who share quotes (haha :p), but I saw a note I absolutely loved hanging on a professor's door once and I took a picture of it. I'd love to share it with you, even though I'm quite sure someone like you is fully aware of the statement:
    "ما زال المرء عالما ما طلب العلم فإن قال علمت، فقد جهل"

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  3. Nicely written brother ..
    Many can be labeled with word "Wisdom" but you never know the validity of that quality about them unless you get closer to them .. A wise person has the knack and ability to make correct judgments and decisions out of his stored knowledge, understanding and realizations .. it's like a whole package , manners, knowledge and qualities .. i can't judge a book by it's cover, i should go through the pages and know more about it, the same goes with people ..

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  4. Lol. That girl is not wise at all. Actually for a man to marry a wise woman, say that was her only good personality quality is enough.. That's just my point a view.

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  5. Yet again - well written post.

    Its true nowadays people post quotes on twitter that seem like they are words of wisdom and some do hit you when you read it. However - I believe that wisdom comes from experience. If you have dealt with a bad or good situation depending on what the outcomes have been. I would say if someone speaks about that experience; they have the wisdom.

    Yet at the same time not everyone who has experiences can be called a wise one.

    I guess we have read and be careful who we choose to listen to and believe if they are wise or not.

    (randomly speaking as always .. just unleashing my thoughts)

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