Every individual is in pursuit of peace and happiness in life. There is no individual who does not seek it as a goal. Peace, solace and happiness have been the attempt of the present era through all the democratic institutions and educational processes. The individual upbringing, family background and training that a person undergoes at various levels has to be within the frame work of customs, traditions, mores and the laws governing the society; be it for an educated or an ordinary mundane person. All aim at civilizing the man and to make him a fit member of society so that he lives in peace and harmony. In order to achieve this purpose, it is necessary to keep the mind and heart open to good thoughts, deeds and actions.
One of the factors which play a major role in destruction of good relationship between individuals and persons is to bear suspicion and rancor against one another. Suspicion and rancor are poison for sound relationships between individuals. It destroys the sincerity one gains in the upbringing. An individual becomes a hypocrite with double standards bearing rancor, spite, anger in the mind and heart.
A person becomes a doubting Thomas and starts disbelieving others. Although it is necessary to take precautions from being cheated by thugs, charlatans and frauds, this can be achieved by testing others by sound principles. Once a faith has been reposed in an individual, it should be sustained. Sound relationships are built on confidence and faith. The aim of any religion is to make individuals faithful and so is the aim of society in turning its citizens as good individuals, so that all daily activities are carried out with good intention and good faith. If individuals start doubting the society and faith of others, it brings in disorder in the society. Either the society itself is totally corrupt that no one can be believed, or falsity and cheating has become the order of the day. Faith and good intentions have to be pure and a necessity ingredient in daily actions. Only on these two foundations, the pillars of good governance and healthy relationships are built. All precautions should be taken to build good faith and healthy personalities in the society for achieving healthy relationships, peace and happiness. If the foundations of the daily living, which is based on good faith is shaken by suspicion and rancor, then the wheels of society get clogged. The personal individual relationships would be shattered and the consequences would be grave. Hence suspicion should not be allowed to gain a ground in healthy relationships between individuals in the society.
[The writer is editor of ‘Sufi World’. He can be contacted at internationalsuficentre@gmail.com. (www.internationsuficentre.org)]