To Scheme or Not to Scheme

It’s not such a negative thing after all

OpEd by Adeeba Folami

Most of the time when we think of people “scheming,” it’s in relation to some drama, BS, or foolishness we believe they’re trying to start. In other words, we think of a “scheme” in the negative, but definitions of the word fall primarily in the positive category, believe it or not.

The Random House Dictionary of the English Language (1966), lists these meanings for the word “scheme”:

(Noun)

• a plan, design, or program of action to be followed; project

• a plan, program or policy officially adopted and followed, as by a government or business
• an underhand plot; intrigue
• a visionary or impractical project
• a body or system of related doctrines, theories, etc.
• any system of correlated things, parts, etc., or the manner of its arrangement
• an analytical or tabular statement
• a diagram, map, or the like
• an astrological diagram of the heavens

(Verb, transitive)

• to devise as a scheme, plan, plot, contrive

• to lay schemes, devise plans, plot

Synonyms of the word “scheme” include: stratagem, cabal, conspiracy, pattern, schema, arrangement, project, and design. Although some meanings of the word indicate less than honorable motives and actions, overall, it seems “scheming” is something we all do regularly.

Even God schemes, at least according to the Holy Qur’an which says in Chapter 7:183: “And I grant them respite. Surely My scheme is effective,” (Maulana Muhammad Ali Version). Other versions use the following words in place of scheme: plan, scheming, guile, and stratagem.

Some critics of Islam claim the verse indicates that Allah, the God of the Muslims, is a deceiver but their opinions appear based on choosing to view “scheming” in a negative light. The Arabic word “kaid,” transcribed as “scheme,” however, carries a very honorable and noble meaning. Per Footnote 965 in the Muhammad Ali translation, “Kaid indicates the exercising of art, ingenuity, cunning or skill in the management or ordering of affairs, with excellent consideration or deliberations and ability to manage with subtlety according to his [or her] own free will.”

In the same chapter of the Qur’an, verse 99 speaks of “Allah’s plan” in relation to the destruction that takes place after long-term rebellion and disobedience by the people of certain nations. Verse 187 refers to a future “hour” of destruction that only Allah/God knows when it will strike. When it comes, it is described as something that will be “momentous in the heavens and the earth.” Verse 189 relays how Allah/God “created” all life from a single soul. Such great happenings and events do not come about by chance, accident or as a fluke.

It appears that the Supreme Being schemes, uses wisdom, logic, strategy and planning whether it’s to create and build or punish and destroy. Each person must decide whether such abilities and attributes fall in the positive or negative category but, if it’s the former, we all might benefit from becoming better schemers or planners, and people able to manage our own personal affairs with great impact, finesse and skill.

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