SPIRIT OF ISLAM MAY 2O18

10 Spirit of Islam Issue 65 May 2018 THE INNER DIAMOND Unpolished D IAMONDS are the most expensive mineral in the world. They are made of pure carbon. They contain the same basic elements as coal. It takes a very long time for a natural diamond to form. When a diamond is extracted from the earth, it is in the form of an ore. But after it is cut and polished, it turns into an expensive jewel. In turning a raw diamond into the final product, between 35 to 60 per cent of it is removed. What holds true for a diamond, holds true for a human being too. Like a diamond, a human being is born in the form of a potential. It is for him to convert this potential into actuality; He who knows this secret and works on trying to convert his potential into actuality; to transform his possibilities into a reality, he alone can be called ‘a diamond of a man’. If he does not do this, it’s like dumping an unpolished diamond into the dustbin! All of us have a potential character hidden within us. This is something that has been gifted to us by nature. This character cannot develop by itself, on its own. Instead, we need to work on developing it. It is a task that we have to do ourselves. This is our real test. We need to discover this inner character that nature has given us. It is like an unpolished diamond. And then, with proper and wise planning, we need to work on turning this unpolished diamond into a shining jewel. If we fail in this, we will have failed in this life—and in the next one, too. o Like a diamond, a human being is born in the form of a potential. It is for him to convert this potential into actuality. Reaching the Gates of Truth Our Creator has interwoven consciousness of truth in our nature. We need to follow simple living and high thinking, shun distraction and we will reach the gates of truth.