WISE ACTS OTHERWISE REACTS

The phrase / proverb wise acts otherwise reacts propounds the fact that wise people always think and then respond to the occasion in an appropriate manner. They always weigh their actions in golden scales. This is also one of the distinguishing features of successful leaders. A similar proverb holds: Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. On the other hand, the fools always react to a situation without thinking. This always lands them in trouble and leads them to regret their acts. They often have to mince their words and acts. It is often quoted: Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. While it is true that great good can come from the tongue, it is also true that the tongue can stir up immense enmity and strife. How many conflicts, divisions, divorces and distresses have been triggered by angry words and unbridled tongues! Unfortunately, the tongue as a source of evil is something that our communicative and social-networking culture seldom considers. In contrast to the modern urge to endlessly yap, yell and yodel, our ancients recognized that when a carpet of silence is laid, wisdom begins to settle. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said: Whoever believes in God and the Last Day, let him speak well or keep quiet. Imm Al-Shfi'i (may Allah have mercy upon him) has said: When one intends to speak, let him think before he does so. If there is an overriding benefit, let him speak; but if in doubt, let him desist from speaking until the benefit is clear. There are numerous tales and fables associated with this proverb. For example, one day a boy was caught stealing onions from a vegetable shop. He was taken to a judge. The judge gave him three choices; eat all the onions in one go, submit to a thousand lashes or pay fine. The boy without thinking said that he would like to eat all the onions. Very confidently, he started eating the onions but after eating a few, his eyes began to burn, his nose started running and his mouth felt as if it was on fire. The boy asked for the lashes instead but after a few lashes he couldn't tolerate the pain. So, ultimately he said that he would pay the fine.

Once a fairy came to a poor woodcutter and his wife and said, "You have worked hard for so many years. Ask for any three wishes and they will be granted." The couple started to think what they must ask for. The wife said, "Let's ask for a lot of money!" "No, then the dacoits will kill us for the money," the woodcutter said. So the couple said to the fairy that they would think and tell. That night they sat by the kitchen stove thinking what to ask for. The wife said, "I wish we had chicken to eat" and there appeared a chicken on a plate. The woodcutter scolded, "You have wasted a wish. Now stick the chicken to your nose," and the chicken flew and stuck to the woman's nose. The couple got scared now. The wife said, "Let me be free of this chicken," and so the third wish was wasted too and the chicken got unstuck from her nose. The foolish couple did not think before they spoke and lost the chance of becoming rich. In nutshell, a still tongue makes a wise head and the wounds of a sword may heal one day; the wounds of the tongue, they never may. I would end my discourse with these words of caution: Speak when you're angry and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret.