You have probably seen manufacturers of glass
frames scoring the surfaces of sheets of glass with a
pen-like instrument, then neatly snapping them into
two. The cutting edge of this tool is made up of
small razor-edged diamonds. Even the huge drills
used for boring through hundreds of feet of rock
strata in the search for oil are fitted with diamond
cutting edges. It is the extreme hardness of the
diamond which makes these tools so effective. The
diamond is, in fact, the hardest known naturally
occurring substance. It cannot even be scratched.
Put it in acid, and there will be no effect. But there is
another aspect to this wonderful stone. If it is
heated to a very high temperature it will
disappear—it will simply sublimate into carbon
dioxide, and if struck a sharp blow at exactly the
right point, it will break asunder. You have only to
look at diamond gemstones to see what exquisite,
multi-faceted forms they can be given by jewellers,
because, by studying the inner structure of the
diamond, they know exactly where and how to
break them.
Similarly, when we find ourselves in difficult
situations, we should study them carefully, in the
way that the jeweller studies his diamond. We
should not approach them, carelessly, from the
strongest point, but with circumspection, from the
weakest. We should not adopt methods which are
likely to gain poor results, like aggessiveness or
violence, for these only engender bitterness and
obstinacy in others. We should resort to politeness
and diplomacy eschew harsh language in favour of
gentleness and tact.
We should consider also that there are certain human
beings who are known as “rough diamonds.” That is,
on the outside they appear to be unattractive and
without merit, whereas on the inside they are of great
worth. To bring out their worth, so that their true
value is apparent to society, it is pointless scratching
at the surface or using acid. If the upright human soul
is to be revealed in all its beauty it must be given the
same delicate handling and treated with the same
expertise as the master craftsman lavishes on a
superb but fragile piece of jewelry.
Ref - The Moral Vision
- by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
