No matter how great we are, we are not good judges. This can at least be seen from the experimental research conducted on the show "Brains Games" on National Geographic (can be found on YouTube under the title Cakes of Deception, Brain Games ). In the experiment, two identical chocolate cakes, both in terms of ingredients, maker, and appearance, were given different prices. One chocolate cake was priced at $15 (approximately Rp 210,000.00) while the other was $55 (approximately Rp 770,000.00). Do you think there was a difference in the responses of pedestrians who tasted them?
The results of the observations from the experiment were that when they tasted the cheaper cake, they found it to be less tasty, too dry, and so on. Meanwhile, when they tasted the $55 cake, the tasters thought it was the best chocolate cake they had ever tasted, and was definitely made with quality ingredients. The tasters were incredulous when told that the two chocolate cakes were essentially the same. It seems our brains are often fooled by the slightest differences, doesn't it?
A story in the Quran further exemplifies how what we see and hear is often different from the true nature of things. Surah Al-Kahf, verses 60–82, tells of the Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) , who, despite having students, still had to learn from the Prophet Khidr (peace be upon him) (peace be upon him) was said to have become impatient and criticized the actions of the Prophet Khidr (peace be upon him ) as his teacher.
Prophet Khidr 'alaihi-salam made a hole in a poor fisherman's boat, killed a small child, and also built a house that was almost collapsing in a village whose inhabitants were stingy. Prophet Musa 'alaihi-salam's 'alaihi-salam's actions which were considered wrong by Prophet Musa 'alaihi-salam is explained in QS Al Kahfi: 79–82 as follows:
“ As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea, and I intended to destroy it, for there was a king before them, taking possession of every ship. And as for the young man, they were both believers, and we feared that he might drive his parents to error and disbelief . And we desired that their Lord might give them in exchange another son better in purity than he and more loving towards his parents. As for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and beneath it was a treasure belonging to them, and their father was a righteous man. So your Lord desired that they should reach their maturity and bring out their treasure, a mercy from your Lord. And I did not do it of my own accord. That is the purpose of the deeds over which you cannot have patience. ” (QS Al Kahf: 79–82)
These two stories demonstrate that humans are not good judges. Their opinions are highly subjective, relying solely on what they see. Appearances can be manipulated, and what is visible is very limited. However, in this day and age, it's so easy for us to judge and judge others, even without ever meeting them. God forbid , may we be spared such a thing, for we are not good judges and jurors.
Author: Dr. Gancar C. Premananto*
*Coordinator of the Master of Management Study Program, FEB, Universitas Airlangga Surabaya
Source: https://suaramuslim.net/dont-judge-a-book-by-its-cover-2/