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The Crow as a Teacher
English · 3 min read
Making an emotional choice in marriage may give one temporary pleasure, but in the long run it is bound to turn into a life of problems. While, a rational choice in this regard may seem to be a hard choice in the beginning, however in the long run it will certainly result in a good life for both the partners.
For example, if at the time of marriage one sees only the appearance and chooses a smart spouse, then this is not a simple matter. A smart choice will bring with it a total culture—a culture of entertainment, shopping, and fashionable living. This choice causes a shift of focus, that is, giving importance to superficial activities such as excessive expenditure on material items, engaging in entertainment and dissipation, and leading a fashionable lifestyle. In contrast to this, if your choice is based on the merits of the individual, the focus at home will be quite different. Importance will be given to serious discussion, intellectual development, simple living, right use of money and energy and concentrating on deeper aspects of things rather than on their superficial aspects. The difference between these two choices is bound to create two kinds of future. The first choice may lead to a life full of unending problems. On the contrary, the second choice will lead to a successful life.
Making an emotional choice in marriage may give one temporary pleasure, but in the long run it is bound to turn into a life of problems. While, a rational choice in this regard may seem to be a hard choice in the beginning, however in the long run it will certainly result in a good life for both the partners.
An emotional choice in marriage promotes superficial activities at home, that is, the culture of wasting time and energy. On the other hand, a rational choice in marriage promotes a healthy environment and fosters constructive activities at home, as both partners embark on building a bright future for themselves and their children.
There is a story in the Quran which bears a great lesson for man. Adam was the first man. Abel and Cain were the two sons of Adam. There arose a dispute between the two on some issue, and finally Cain killed Abel. The other part of the story has been narrated in the Quran in these words:
unverifiedAttribution could not be verified automatically
His soul persuaded him to kill his brother, and he killed him and became one of the lost. Then God sent a crow, which scratched the earth, so that He might show him how to bury the corpse of his brother. ‘Alas!’ he cried, ‘Am I not able even to be like this crow, so that I may bury the corpse of my brother?’ And he repented. (5:30-31)
Qur'anQuotes the Qur'an
This story is not an isolated story. It gives us a comprehensive lesson, that is, in nature there are examples for man to draw lessons from. If he contemplates on these lessons, he may find wisdom for leading his life. The fact is that except man, the whole world follows the strict laws of nature—the material and plant world follow natural laws, while animals are governed by their instinct. These have no freedom of choice. Due to this, the material world, the plant world and the animal world are guaranteed of not deviating from the right path.
However, man is a quite different creature. Man enjoys freedom and is thus completely free to opt for his own choice. Because of this nature of human existence, there are deviations from the right path in human life. Man misuses his freedom and the result is evil and corruption.