QUALITY VERSUS QUANTITY

        Quality is the standard of excellence as compared to other things of a similar nature. The concept of quality is as old as the human race is and I believe that it is an intrinsic part of human nature. Quality manifests itself in all areas of human existence whether it is religious, social, economic, moral or spiritual. It is also the quality of expectations which determines the quality of our action.

        Billions of people have come and gone during the period of recorded history. Most of them have merely existed and then passed away into oblivion, never to be heard of again. Many were remembered by family members and friends but the ones who left their mark on prosperity were the few who spent their lifetime in an endless struggle to attain quality, no matter where they were and what they were and what they were engaged in. The one trait common in all artists, scientists, political leaders, philosophers, and explorers, whom history remembers, is their inclination for quality and excellence.

         The  quality of person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. In my opinion, a truly successful person gives back more to the world than he takes from it and he will only be able to do this if no compromises on quality are made.

      Unfortunately, we now live in the age of materialism and voracity where more, bigger and faster are often synonymous with better. We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobiles rather than by the quality of our service and relationship to mankind. People have started believing that to have more means more happiness. This, unfortunately, is not true if quality is lacking. A modest portion of good quality, healthy food can nourish and satiate multiple levels as opposed to a lot of low-quality food. Life becomes more fulfilling and meaningful if the focus is on quality.

        Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten. Let us also remember that quality is not something which is easily acquired. Excellence and quality need regular diet of blood, sweat, and tears to attain and sustain them, but nothing worthwhile was ever achieved without making sacrifices and same remains true in case of quality. A hundred mass-produced artifacts will never be able to take the place of one handcrafted sculpture.

         A small sized country of skilled and able people who prioritize quality will always be economically and strategically superior to a thickly populated nation which easily compromises on quality. The Holy Quran, one quality book with each word full of meaning and insight, gives us a complete code of life for all times to come. It is stated in Surah Al Baqarah, Verse No.249, "How oft, by Allah's will, hath a small force vanquished a big one". History is replete with examples of the same and one is reminded of the "Battle of Badr" and many others, where a handful of believers, because of the high quality of their valor, character, and determination easily defeated a much larger army.

         The demands of modern life, where a larger population has to be catered in all areas has definitely taken its toll on sustaining and achieving quality but I believe that the pursuit of quality is the essence of life. It is the force which uplifts the nation and gives mankind the privilege of being the "Best of all creation". It is mankind's quality of love that has taken us from the caves to the moon and will continue to inspire us. We can take solace in the fact that we all possess within ourselves, at all times, under all circumstances, the power to transform and improve the quality of our lives, but not the quantity. So what are we waiting for, let's do it!