Importance of Reading Seerat Ibn-e-Hishaam

The significance of reading Seerat un Nabi by Ibn-e-Hishaam, a book on the life of Prophet Muhammad, is that, apart from authentically telling us about the life of Prophet, the book correlates the events with certain verses of the Quran for which they were revealed. This is called shaan-e-nazool (the context in which the Quranic verses are revealed), which is a very crucial tool in explaining/decoding the true meaning of revelation.

Shari'ah & Tariqah: Two Indispensible Aspects of Islam

S. H. Nasr explains this "geometric" explanation of the relationship between two most important dimensions of Islam, i.e. shari'ah (law) and tariq'ah (path or way) in his Ideals and Realities of Islam:

"Some of the traditional Sufi master, especially those of the Shadhiliyah order, have used the geometric symbol of a circle to depict the relation between these [i.e. shari'ah and tariqah] fundamental dimensions of Islam. From any point in space there can be generated a circle and an indefinite number of radii which connect every point of the circumference of the circle of the Centre. The circumference is the Shari'ah whose totality comprises the whole of the Muslim community. Every Muslim by virtue of accepting the Divine Law is as a point standing on this circle. The radii symbolize the Turuq (plural of Tariqah). Each radius is a path from the circumference to the Centre. As the Sufis say there are as many paths to God as there are children of Adam. The Tariqah, which exists in many different forms corresponding to different spiritual temperaments and needs of men, is the radius which connects each point to the Centre. It is only by virtue of standing on the circumference, that is, accepting the Shari'ah, that man can discover before him a radius that leads to the centre. Only in following the Shari'ah does the possibility of having the door of the spiritual life open become realized."

Now some words on the reality of Centre, or Haqiqah, and for some the need of walking on Tariqah despite being 'saved' by being on the periphery:

"Finally at the Centre there is the Haqiqah or truth which is the source of both the Tariqah and the Shari'ah. Just as geometrically the point generates both the radii and the circumference, so does metaphysically the Haqiqah create both the Tariqah and the Sahri'ah, that Haqiqah or Centre which is 'everywhere and nowhere'. The Law and the Way have both been brought into being independently by God who is the Truth. And both reflect the Centre in different ways. To participate in the Sahri'ah is to live in the reflection of the Centre or Unity, for the circumference is the reflection of the centre. It is thus the necessary and sufficient cause for living a whole life and being 'saved'. But there are always those whose inner constitution is such that they cannot only live in the reflection of the centre but must seek to reach It. Their Islam is to walk upon the Path towards the Centre. For them the Tariqah is providentially the means whereby they can attain that final End or Goal, that Haqiqah which is the Origin of all things..."

Much, much more can be quoted and reiterated about the subject matter, as this is only just a little preparation and 'clearing' required to delve deep into this subject which is to practised above all anything than to just talk about, for it is in the execution of this knowledge that our truest benefit lies.

* Artwork by yours truly

Difference between a "Service" & a "Product"

Source

According to a leading entrepreneur in Pakistan, services and products (both a form of business) are as if two opposing realities, as the difference between these two modes being very sharp. He observes that a service (for example, the job of a surgeon which deals with standard cases) requires the service provider to execute what he's best at in the best manner in order to 'create value'. The problem with making a new product, however, according to him, is that there's no repetition involved to save the day; rather, every time a company commences to develop a product that must be different from what is being offered in the market, it needs a whole new set of capabilities, technical expertise and organizational skills just to innovate a product, not many products. Moreover, another dilemma is that this, unlike providing tedious service(s), consumes an excessive amount of energy and resources. Burn rates, like stakes, are very high.

What is Perennial Philosophy?

According to Aldous Huxley Perennial Philosophy stands for:

"the metaphysic that recognizes a divine Reality substantial to the world of things and lives and minds; the psychology that finds in the soul something similar to, or even identical with, divine Reality; the ethic that places man's final end in the knowledge of the immanent and transcendent Ground of all being; the thing is immemorial and universal. Rudiments of the perennial philosophy may be found among the traditional lore of primitive peoples in every region of the world, and in its fully developed forms it has a place in every one of the higher religions
The Perennial Philosophy, p. vii)."

Colonialism Is Pathetic

I find the following points about colonialism (pre-World War 2) as quite accurate salient summary features of this term, more or less; all of which forces me to abhor it from the very core of my inner being, just for its being manifesting a true downfall of human intellect. And as the worst form of human monstrosity and beastliness. Here they are:

1) Colonialism imposed alien and authoritarian regimes on subordinate societies. These regimes tended to train a few of their subjects in bureaucratic management [according to Altaf Ghuar they're called intermediaries] and requires passive acquiescence from the remainder.

2) Although for long periods passive acquiescence was indeed largely attained, as colonialism advanced it also stimulated nationalist agitation and organization and came to be more and more passionately detested, particularly by those among the colonial people who came into closest contact with the European superiors.

3) Some features of the "colonial situation" are: domination of an alien minority, asserting racial and cultural superiority, over a materially inferior native majority; contact between a machine-oriented civilization with Christian origins, a powerful economy, and a rapid rhythm of life and a non-Christian civilization that lacks machines and is marked by a backward economy and a slow rhythm of life; and the imposition of the first civilization upon the second (Balandier 1951, p. 75). ["Political Colonialism: Colonialism", International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, Vol 3 & 4]

Number 3 point is but a sign of the total reign of quantity which is being advanced by the concepts of democracy and gender equality, driving the whole world, as if it was not already passing through the darkest periods of human history, "Kali-Yuga" according to Hindu traditional data, towards utter doom. Moreover, I often lament on the mentality of anti-colonial forces, who "have derived their inspirations and ideas primarily from the teachings of the colonial powers, have for the most part adopted Western forms of organization and action..." [Same source as quoted already.]

Wisdom and Profane Philosophy

Philosophy is an art. This word is quite amusing. The 6th century civilizations, for example, are termed as "Legendary" ones by moderns, whereas the recently discovered archeological data leaves no doubt about its being a true and concrete civilization as the Graeco-Latin or any other is, the former to which the moderns claim their present civilization as nothing but a continuation. Whereas, on the other hand, this term philosophy has retained its name throughout the Western history starting from the time it was first expressed, perhaps by the Pythagorian traditionalists. And more amusingly, even when this term has exerted so much harmful influence on the Western mind and still continues by threatening the intellectual health of East, as well, it plays the same profane role it began to play centuries ago with the emergence of skepticism, a true downfall of intellectus. Having said that, in the following passage Rene Guenon, a Tradtionalist and Perennialist, gives proper treatment to the term philosophy, the origins of "profane philosophy" and of what is associated with both of it.

"[T]he word philosophy can, in itself, be taken in quite a legitimate sense, one which it doubtless bore originally, especially if it be a fact, as is commonly believed, that Pythagoras was the first to make use of the expression. Etymologically it simply means "love of wisdom"; in the first, therefore, it implies the prerequisite disposition for the attainment of wisdom and, by a natural extension, it comes to mean also the quest which is born of this disposition and which will presently lead to knowledge. It therefore denotes a preliminary and preparatory stage, a step, as it were, in the direction of wisdom ore a degree corresponding to a state inferior to that of wisdom; the perversion of meaning which occured later consisted in maistaking this transitional stage for an end in itself and in attempting to substitute phislosophy for wisdom, a process which implied forgetting or failing to recognize the true nature of the latter. It was in this way that what may be described as "profane" philosophy came into existence, an alleged wisdom, that is to say, purely human in character and therefore pertaining merely to the rational order, which became substituted for the genuine supra-rational and non-human traditional wisdom.However, something of this genuine wisdom persisted throughout the whole of antiquity; the proof is to be seen in the continuation of the "mysteries" with their undeniably initiatic character, and also in the fact that the teaching of the philosophers themselves usually possessed both an "exoteric" and an "esoteric" side, the latter providing the possibility of connection with a higher point of view, as we see revealed very clearly, if in certain respects incompletely, some centuries later among the Alexandrians. For "profane" philosophy to be definitely constituted as such it was necessary that exotericism alone should survive and that esotericism should be repudiated altogether; this was precisely what the movement started by the Greeks was to lead to in the modern world; the tendencies which had already found expression among the Greeks were destined to be driven to their logical conclusion and the excessive importance which they had attached to rational thought was to prepare the way for the development of "rationalism", a specifically modern attitude of mind which no longer merely consists in just ignoring everything belonging to the supra-rational order, but deliberately disavows it..."

"The Crisis of the Modern World", Ch # 1,
by René Guénon.

I would profess anyone to read this lengthy paragraph without dividing it, and I tried to present the background of it in the introductory passage of this post. Writings of René Guénon are no way "analysis", but "synthesis" which makes his articles too excellent. And they should be looked and understood as "whole" in order to penetrate their so-called density.

Who is a hypocrite?

One who does not pray. The first step, as Frithjof Schuon says, is discernment between the Absolute and Relative. The Real and Illusion. And that once you discern between both of them, you want to assimilate it. To take on board with yourself. In order to assimilate the Absolute, you must pray. If I do not, I am a hypocrite. (See Schuon's rare video.)

What is an Accident?

Was world an accident? What do we mean by this term? What is its logic and nature? Answers to these questions or alike can alter paradigms of mind, in a positive way. How can we differentiate between two events as intentional and accidental? I learned the logic of accident a time ago from a philosopher, logician, psychiatrist, meta physician and a mystic, all in one. Beware, I have weak memory. I rue.

Accidents have three main characteristics which help us differentiate between an accidental event or intentional:

1. It has no sequence. No series of panned events are linked with an accident. It is utterly random.

2. There is no order in an accidental event. Take for instance the example of train crash. If a train gets hit at a targeted point and as a result of which two of its bogeys fall on one side and other two on the other side, we see an order in this event. And that is for two reasons - one, that train strikes at a predestined point and, secondly, it falls apart in an orderly manner. Therefore such a crash cannot be labeled as an accident. In an accident, no order is necessary.

3. There is no one behind an accident. It is unguided, unplanned. It is completely chaotic, precisely.

Was the creation of this world an accident? I leave that matter for you to decide (for me). But there is another plane on which this logic can be applied, that is, of intelligence and technology.

Intelligence exists in its primordial form. Aristotle's intellect bears no differences from mine, although his intellection may be much higher than mine. But as for technology, as it exists today or in the past, it is accidental to the true nature of human beings. The profound intellectual orientations of mind are to observed in each human being. But a car or a machine that can perform complex mathematical purposes or planes that can fly are not as much important to attain the highest purpose form human being as is his or her ability to discern between what is right or wrong for him or her. And this is where man feels a need of revelation. In the words of S. H. Nasr:

"The most profound reason for the need of revelation is the presence of obstacles before the intelligence which prevents its correct functioning, or more directly the fact that although man is made in the 'image of God' and has a theomorphic being he is always in the process of forgetting it. He has in himself the possibility of being God-like but he is always in the state of neglecting this possibility. That is why the cardinal in Islam is forgetfulness. It is negligence (ghaflah) of what we really are. It is a going to sleep and creating world around us, which makes us forget who we really are and what we should be doing in this world. Revelation is there to awaken man from his dream and remind him what it really means to be man." (Ideals and Realities of Islam.)

Islamic Language?

Although the ex-Senator Rick Sanatorium had good intentions for Islam and Muslims, but he probably did not work too much to be effective. He stated in a seminar at an American university, (without any offense), that:

"The Quran is perfect just the way it is, that's why it is only written in Islamic."

He has been loathed by all kind of language hats. Why should I remain behind, alluding to you not to embarrass yourself with this kind of a blooper? To correct the facts, Quran was revealed and written in Arabic and it is believed in the Tradition that the Koranic Arabic language inherently contains an eternal effect which gives its enchanter divine blessing or bliss. As we all know, Islamic is no know human language. Does this prove how little knowledge can be dangerous? It can be in many ways.

However, despite the fact that everyone is ridiculing ex-Senator, his intentions were very honest and need to be appreciated by everyone. His whole speech reflected the spirits of reconciliation, which is alone to be admired.

Sat-Chit-Ānanda

"The Hindu expression Sat-Chit-Ānanda is one of the Names of God." But there can be as many translations (or forms) of this expression as are multiplicities of one unity in this world, visible. Different translations may not be called as non-linear as we can better assign this quality to the 'levels or hierarchy of reality' for giving one expression so many forms. Following are some of them I read in the footnotes of the book Knowledge and Sacred:

*Sat-Chit-Ānanda usually translated as “Being-Consciousness-Bliss.”

* Most “essential” and metaphysical translation - “Object-Subject-Union.”

* At the highest level this ternary (three-fold) may also be expressed as “Known-Knower-Knowledge” or “Beloved-Lover-Love.”

* Operative or spiritual meaning related to invocatory prayer, such as the Prayer of Jesus (Christianity), japa (Hinduism), and dhikr (Islam). Here it takes the form of “Invoked-Invoker-Invocation” (in Islamic terms madhkūr-dhākir-dhikr).

Globalization: The Pathos of Circular Definitions

'Sir, what is globalization?'

Coincidentally, just coincidentally, I am attending a special sociology course on globalization, and we are also supposed to know it the way it is taught and not the way things are. A common spectacle, I presume. Not know what scholars say and contest. Not know what history says. Not follow where history goes, and thus to analyze it properly. Not think outside of those trite, rotten and dry textbook definitions, which being absolutely devoid of any intellectual stimulation and enthusiasm only dull our minds.

'Son, it comes from the village', the answer comes back like a bullet.

[What about it???]

'You see, a village is were we all come from, or perhaps from urban areas, but villages are more prestigious, right? So all the problem it has got to do is not with the globalization, but with the village. And since there's always an outrageous chaudhary, (financially and socially the elite person(s) in a typical village, who dominates others in one way or another), out there, hence there are certains problems, you know'.

'No sir, I'm asking where did it come from, that globalization thing?'

'Oh! I see. It comes from the global village. And now, I know, you'd be intrigued enough to know, where did that come from. Therefore, I must tell you - from the village. Yes, I think. Now. Enlarge that village. Stretch it on a globe, one available in our library (a round model of globe). And, here we have a fine example of a global village. Further, son, the process of turning and transforming this village by stretching it on a plastic globe is what we, academically and commonly, refer to as globalization'.

*Huge applause*

The converstaion thus naturally ends here.

A sound echoing in our minds, 'And where did that come from, the village, SIR??? From globalization???'

Conclusion: We are but victims to the circular definitions of enlightened professors, who can profess it so easily and in the same fashion slip away.

'O earth! show me your nets!'

* Image source: http://www.cartoonweb.com/images/globalization/globalization5.gif

Logic - A Definition

Umer: What is Logic?

Master Khuram: It is refinement of thinking towadrs its validity and consistency. Having a logical mind, you start feeling inconsistent and self-contradictory things as invalid. Invalid things don't satisfy your mind. Rules of logic however are not rules of thinking. Rules of logic can only analyze product of thinking, i.e., verbally or written expressed thinking in the form of statements. In technical terms, we use word "propositions" instead of statements. A proposition is a statement which asserts or denies something.

Do you agree with his definition? If you do, then to what extent?

Of Rationality

Umer: What is rationality?

Master Agha: Rationality is the feature of man which demands that man must use his mind to know about the cause, purpose of creation of his and the universe. This is the first step to know what 'iman (belief) is.

Clerihew

I like games of words, but not playing (perhaps because of inclination towards mental as well physical idleness). Rather, formulating, I'd like (in dreams). That's why CLERIHEW interests me. Here's what they've to say about The Hot Word:

"A CLERIHEW is a four-line poem that pokes fun at the famous. Invented by British writer Edmund Clerihew Bently (1875-1956), these mini-verses have three rules: They rhyme aabb, they're about a celebrity named in the first line, and as for the meter? There are no rules! Here's an example:

Actor Harrison Ford

Was feeling extraordinarily bored.

So he grabbed his hat and picked up his bones

And starred in yet another Indiana Jones."

(Quoted from Reader's Digest, Asia, Oct 2008, Pg # 28)

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Make up your own Clerihew poem and send it to www.rdasia.com/submit. If they like it, they just might run it for the magazine. And, don't forget to share with us!

word of the day

portmanteau word -

'Word blend of two other words. I had to chortle (chuckle + snort) while brunch (breakfast + lunch) in the smog (smoke + fog)'.

If you know of a portmanteau word, we'd like to know it.

* Quoted from Reader's Digest, Oct 2008, Asia.

We All Need "Goo-goo" Governements

What do we mean by goo-goo, by the way?

I found Paul Krugman, this year's Economics Nobel Laureate, give the answer in his latest article in The NY Times:

'Goo-goo, in case you’re wondering, is a century-old term for “good government” types, reformers opposed to corruption and patronage. Franklin Roosevelt (a past American "consistently ranked as one of the greatest U.S. presidents") was a goo-goo extraordinaire. He simultaneously made government much bigger and much cleaner'.

I hope we all do need, or at least implore, for a goo-goo government that is cool. But that doesn't mean a goo-goo government must be beautiful. In my assessment, no government can possibly be as beautiful and whimsical as the endings of Cinderella Fairy Tales or like, because it has to be organized, disciplined and strict. Do you agree?

What is classic?

-"A classic, according to the usual definition, is an old author canonised by admiration, and an authority in his particular style.
-The word classic was first used in this sense by the Romans.

-With them not all the citizens of the different classes were properly called classici, but only those of the chief class, those who possessed an income of a certain fixed sum.
-Those who possessed a smaller income were described by the term infra classem, below the pre-eminent class.
-The word classicus was used in a figurative sense by Aulus Gellius ((ca. 125 AD—after 180 AD), Latin author and grammarian), and applied to writers: a writer of worth and distinction, classicus assiduusque scriptor, a writer who is of account, has real property, and is not lost in the proletariate crowd."

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve, in his essay What is Classic?

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Was a shock to me when I looked at this para, and, I said to my aspirations of becoming a sort of classical essayist, "Boy, it takes heck of a long time."! But, I think its more easy to be labeled today has a classic in terms of 'style' of writing, its easy to recognize that's why, I fancy. Do you agree?

Term of the day - chinoiserie

chinoiserie

Syllabication:    chi·noi·se·rie

Noun:

1. A style in art reflecting Chinese influence through use of elaborate decoration and intricate patterns. 

2. An object reflecting Chinese artistic influence.

Etymology:

French, from chinois, Chinese, from Chine, China.

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*  (Source) The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

Natural Practices

Umer: You say that if someone transgresses from the 'eternal principles' of morality as taught by your religion of Islam [trying to be funny] and 'time', it's going to hurt society. But, then why your religion promote fanaticism, fundamentalism and extremism (in one single breath of wispher)?

Master Agha: They, the so-called extremists too transgress from the 'ruh' (essence) of it. Secondly, let me tell you this: be very, very careful and clear when using 'terms'. Terms have denotative and connotative meanings, as you know, unlike mere words which are not like concepts. This term 'fundamentalism' has been dubbed wrongly for Islam, out-of-context. Fundamentalism was originated in Christianity. There was a sect which wanted to implementt its own made rules as absolute, which no one could challenge or oppose. This sect was called Fundamentalist Christians, [added with the a particular name of the sect]. Islam, on the other hand, is the most liberal, most natural religion in religions [said with firmness]. But as I said they too transgress from the 'ruh' (essence) of it.

Umer: (Impatiently) Well, but [notice yes-but syndrome] how does your Islam differ here from Christianity, on this particular point?

Master Agha: It has no 'priesthood'.

[Umer was silenced.]

Immortality

I believe, this thought of Aristotle resonates in the hearts of those how wish to leave behind themselves a legacy of their own, who do not merely desire of food, clothing, and all benefits of matter. I did felt this urge of very minute magnitude a few years ago and now its dim almost to darkness.

"We must not listen to those who urge us to think human thoughts since we are human, and mortal thoughts since we are mortal; rather, we should as far as possible immortalize ourselves and do all we can to live by the finest element in us - for if in bulk it is small, in power and worth it is far greater than anything else."

-Aristotle

Nicomachean Ethics