"الجهل أفضل دائماً من الوهم"

The core idea here is that while not knowing something (ignorance) is bad, believing in something that's completely wrong (delusion) is even worse. It's better to admit that you don't know than to hold on to false beliefs.

Imagine this: You're lost in a forest with no map. That’s ignorance. Now imagine you have a map, but it’s drawn by someone who had no idea what they were doing—it’s completely wrong. You’d follow paths that don’t exist and miss trails that do. That’s delusion. The first situation isn’t great, but at least you know you’re lost and can think of logical ways out. The second? You're convinced you’re on the right track, but you're actually headed deeper into danger.

This phrase resonates today, probably more than ever. Think of the spread of misinformation on social media. Every day, we see people sharing and believing fake news—sometimes even ridiculous conspiracy theories. And it’s not just that they don’t know the truth; they’re convinced that the falsehoods they believe are true. This can lead to a lot of harm.

Let's look at a real-life example: vaccinations. There was a time when a now-debunked study claimed that vaccines cause autism. Some people, deluded by this false information, stopped vaccinating their children. This led to outbreaks of diseases that had almost been eradicated. Parents, operating out of fear and misbelief, unintentionally put their children and communities at risk. Ignorance about how vaccines work is one thing—it's a gap that can be filled with information. But delusion? It’s a trap that can lead to disastrous decisions.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your life? Start by recognizing that it's okay not to know everything. In fact, admitting you don’t know is the first step toward learning. Be curious and seek out information from reliable sources. When you come across something that sounds unbelievable, take a step back and check the facts. Don’t just accept things at face value because they confirm your existing beliefs. Challenge yourself.

Here’s a story to bring it home: Think about that time your friend swore that a certain celebrity had died. They even saw it on Facebook. So, without checking, you told everyone you knew. Later, you found out it was a hoax. You felt silly, right? Now, imagine making a decision based on that false information—like sending flowers and a condolence note to their family. You'd have been embarrassed, but more importantly, you'd have wasted resources and maybe hurt feelings.

Next time you hear something shocking, pause. Ask yourself if you know it’s true or if you just think it’s true. It’s a small habit, but it can save you from bigger mistakes. Remember, it’s better to say, “I don’t know” and then learn, rather than hold on to a delusion and go down the wrong path. That’s how you stay grounded in reality.

So, next time you’re at a coffee shop with a friend and someone brings up a wild claim—pause. Think about the map in that forest. Would you rather admit you don’t know the way out or follow a map that leads to nowhere? Trust me, embracing ignorance as a step to learning is always better than being deluded.