Focus

The Muslim community seems leaderless and weightless because the individual Muslim is not taking an active part in community development initiatives.

• Community does not have leadership.

• Community is divided into many sects.

• Community is backward and weight less.


These are the stereotype descriptions about the Muslim community in India. But in reality, the situation is different. Community seems leaderless and weightless because the individual Muslim is not taking an active part in the community development initiatives nor devoting his talent for the upliftment of the Muslim. It is the individual initiative which results in change and progress. Most of the change, invention, discoveries and revolution started with the individual initiative and efforts. That is the way the Prophets (Peace be upon them) brought many changes irrespective of whether masses supported them or not. Even in the Quran, Allah says, “When comes the Help of Allah, and Victory, and thou dost see the people enter Allah’s Religion in crowds.” Masses will follow when any initiative starts bearing results. But the initiative must come from the individual.


The community can learn from the efforts of Anna Hazare. How single-handedly he converted a barren village, Ralegan Siddhi into one of the most fertile and productive one. Recently the Bombay high court restrained cable operators and service providers from showing any film with an ‘A’ (adults only) certificate on television. A Division Bench comprising Justice R.M. Lodha and Justice D.G Karnik passed the interim order on a public interest petition by social activist, Pratibha Naithani. Social and moral values are everybody’s concern. But once again it is the individual efforts which led to the High Court intervention.


Let us see what are the modern theories which guide us to contribute individually to make the world a better place to live. Gareth Morgan, a distinguished Research Professor in the Schulich School of Business at York University, and author of “Imaginization: The Art of Creative Management,” writes that: “Most people have about 15-per cent control over their environment. The other 85 per cent rests in the broader context, shaped by the general structures, systems, events and culture in which they operate”. This has enormous implications. If you only have 15-per cent influence over your situation, it is vitally important to know exactly where that influence lies, and how it can be exercised, otherwise, you waste valuable time and energy trying to influence the 85 per cent beyond your control. The result: burn-out, stress, frustration and a lot of unproductive work.


The “15% principle” applies at all levels and in all contexts. As individuals, teams, schools or organisational units seeking to achieve some vision or goal, it is vitally important to find and act on the 15% in a way that can really make a difference. It is important to find practical ways of implementing shared vision in a way that builds energy and momentum rather than consuming it.


It is a paradox, but “100% changes” is far more likely to result from a series of highly leveraged 15% initiatives than a large-scale program or “big play.” When you get enough people using high leverage 15% initiatives within the context of a shared vision, the critical mass effect allows you to reshape the collective 85% as mentioned in the Quran.


Let us see what Zig Ziglar, the most sought-after authority on leadership and motivation says about how to change one’s outlook towards life. The celebrated author of 24 books is known to possess an armoury of knowledge and insight that has helped transform several large corporations. He says 97% of people live in the comfort zone and 3% of the people live in the effective zone. The difference between comfort and effective zone is growth. And growth is never comfortable.


Harvard and Stanford University have validated that 85% of the reason a person is successful and gets ahead in life is because of their attitude. “Hence, much of what we do and who we become is controlled by our mental attitude. People with positive mental attitudes are likely to respond to problems, while those with negative mental attitudes will simply react. It is more satisfying to respond than to react. That is why it is important to develop and maintain the right attitude”, adds Ziglar.


Thus if every individual focuses on “doable,” high impact initiatives that challenge stagnancy, the community will progress by leaps and bounds. The need of the hour is that every individual Muslim should start thinking, what he can do to change stagnancy and start implementing his ideas.