On the role of philosophers in misguiding humanity

'The principle is that since God is one, human soul is one', hence the purpose of human creation should be one, and to term it more suitably, it be the core. The problem of philosophers is that many have misguided humanity and taken them away from finding and living that core, in the name of wisdom, while it is no more than hatred of wisdom in this case, as Seyyed Hossein Nasr calls it 'misophy'. What is that core, that purpose for men and jinn, it is NONE but WORSHIP of Allah, as Quran puts it.

Man will be man

 A psychiatrist, who also teaches human behaviour to MBAs, was informing my curious self: "If a child is raised in a cave with animals, says dogs or lions, and he never comes in contact with humans, he would behave as dogs or lions. The natural instinct of morality would become dormant owing to the dominant environment. But if you take out the same uncultured human being from this animalistic environment and put into human environment, he'd again start behaving as humans. All those moral instincts of shame, cleanness would return. On the other hand, if you take dogs and lions out of their wild environment and attach 'em with humans, they won't stop behaving as dogs and won't behave as humans!"

What does this suggest to you?

Seyyed Hossein Nasr on Rushdie Affair

Going through karen armstrong's books these days for 'special purpose', i encountered the representation of moderns' point of view on Rushdie affair. West was in uproar on that issue. They all were ablaze with sentimentalism on an issue that concerned life of one person, declaring that (hopelessly) it was attack on freedom of speech. And Mr. Rushdie emerged as a hero, on whom later were showered endless distinguished honors. And many Muslims, especially those living in west or affected by modernity, failed to sympathize with people of strong faith. Nonetheless, following short audio clip by Seyyed Hossein Nasr explains the Muslim reaction to Rushdie affair philosophically. I recommend it as very important for it'd also clarify many other issues raised by moderns now and then - the core idea/concept-as-a-living-force is SACREDNESS, right of God is the highest value & non-compartmentalization of religion from various vistas of life::

http://mac.abc.se/home/onesr/af/_audio/A065e_SH.Nasr_Sh.Tantawi_19.mp3

Metaphysics and Physics

You've to crack assumptions of people before you come to an understanding of the physical, bare argument or thing being said. It is a scientist's way of doing things; that although you're dealing with the outward/physical you start metaphysically. It is like an eyeglass which greatly affects the way images are formed in the eye, but the presence of which is often not felt or appreciated, so it goes unnoticed. Similarly, a fatwah on a political matter greatly disturbs a modern mind and he commits the sin of compartmentalizing things and often divorcing it from Heaven. This is an unacceptable position for any believer; hence he needs not pay any attention to such rants by moderns whose intellect is so atrophied.

Rationalism or Sentimentalism?

Moderns so much talk about their being Rational that one starts mistaking their so-called objectivity as Objectivity when in the clothes of rationalism it is nothing but an outcry of their nafs and passion of self, which are categorized as nothing but being subjective. They also one other gross characteristic: They criticize "revealed objective truths but rarely turn the barrel of criticism towards their own selves." Remember that Satan swims deeps down in the deep ocean of our heart. To fight him is very difficult. Hence the only way,. according to poet Iqbal, to win over him is to convert him to Islam through Qur'an. Because it is Qur'an which our rope to Heavens.

Shaykh gives a talk to school pupils

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf gives a very useful talk, followed by an interesting Q & A session, to school children. His words are filled with actionable advices and a jihad against modern inventions that affect children negatively, especially, addicting, useless video games, TV, consumerism, etc; and expounds timeless values for humanity from Hadith of Prophet Muhammad.



Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

Of a suffering... Where art thou my Cure?

(Source. In this post the blogger discusses different styles of procrastination.)

I'm suffering as half of Pakistani population from PROCRASTINATION... What should I do, O my Cure (Tabibi)?

Risks of Reading

Source

Recently, I happened to read whole autobiography of a religious scholar, helping me decode and deconstruct (not in the philosophical sense, as I'm unaware of deconstructionism) her personality for research purposes, which I can't disclose here (sounds cool, sounds "top confidential," isn't it? ;). If it wasn't for some higher purpose I'd never have put myself Self in trouble. Allow my professor to explain: Every time we read an author, we get imprints/influence of his qalb (heart). So why allow hearts devoid of Light of Faith, Wisdom and Intelligence ruin our hearts? It explains much...

What do you say?

What am I reading?

In these turbulent times of mass killings, predicted in the Prophetic Traditions as signs of end of times, "we need to more religious than ever," says Yasir Qadhi, a Traditionalist Muslim Scholar, Ph.D candidate for Islamic Studies @ Yale University. I'm reading following lecture of Hikhim-ul-Ummat, Hazrat Ashraf Ali Thanwi (r.a): On leaving sins (click to open). Unfortunately, the transcript is available in Urdu, which is, also, difficult to read for people less proficient in Urdu, although footnotes are quite helpful. You can also download it by clicking on "Title" on right panel and then click on "Download".

Lahore Attacks

I'm feeling very sad and disturbed. They say a small number of people in the name of Islam, with technological devices, did this bloodshed of non-Muslims, i.e., Qadyanis. They're not injuring anyone, nor creating social disturbance. The gathering in their worship people would definitely have included children or even women, above all, innocent people, hopefully. The fact that it is done by someone in the name of Islam disturbs me most. If it is true, then I must say my faith, the faith of fitrah, the Primordial and Last religion of God is being hijacked by psycho-paths.

I don't know what could legitimize these deadly attacks in Lahore. They say Islamic extremists have did this - (and I use "extremist" only for those who injure innocent people without any right, or even kill them, indiscriminately) - then all should know that homocide and suicide are two biggest sins in Islam and reward for it is hell. Nonetheless, nobody should assume which community did this horrendous act at the outlook, before outrightly blaming people with beards...

 May Allah make Pakistan a global leader in peace and belief in Transcendence, as well.

Qada Umari: Making up Salats Missed in a Lifetime

By Mufti Shafiq Jakhura

Q. Is there any proof from authentic ahadith of Qada Umari?

A."Hazrat Anas ibn Maalik (R.A.) narrates in a hadith of Sahih Bukhari that Rasulullah mentioned:

من نسي صلاة فليصل اذا ذكرها لا كفارة لها الا ذلك

" Whoever forgets to pray a Salah, it is obligatory upon him that he pray that Salah when he remembers. There is no other way that this can be made up." ( Sahih Bukhari , Kitaabul Mawaaqeet - Hadith 597)

The words of Rasulullah in a hadith of Muslim are as follows:

اذا رقد احدكم عن الصلاة او غفل عنها فليصل اذا ذكرها فان الله عز و جل يقول اقم الصلاة لذكري

" Whenever one of you misses a Salah due to sleeping or due to negligence, it is obligatory upon him that he pray the Salah when he remembers it because Allah (SWT) has metioned, "Perform Salah when you remember me" (Hadith 1569)

In a Hadith of Sunan Nas'ai it is mentioned:

سئل رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم عن الرجل يرقد عن الصلاة او يغفل عنها قال كفارتها ان يصلها اذا ذكرها

" Rasulullah was asked regarding a person who misses a Salah due to sleep or negligence. Rasulullah mentioned that its compensation is that he should perform the Salah when he remembers. "(Nasaai p 171)

These Ahadith as well as many others are clear that any Salah that has been missed must be performed when one remembers. In fact the ayah of the Qur’an recited by Rasulullah in the hadith of Muslim above, also indicates that this ayah of the Holy Quran refers to qada Salah as well, as it was recited in the context of qada.

There is a consensus among the jurists that qada must be made for missed Salahs.

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best!

Source.

Perennial Quest of Soul

There's an element in our soul, perennial, that wants to seek out Al-Haqq, Allah, and to experience Him, because it yearns to bow before, worship this Supreme Being. It is so beautiful that all beauties of world combined cannot match its serenity. And Allah does not look at our physical outlook, or we can say at our beauties, wealth, etc., but on our heart is His eye fixed!

(Sources: Living Sufism, by S. Hossein Nasr. Iqbal and Quranic Wisdom (?), by Prof. M. Munawar. Al-Quran.)

Fast Food & Haste

I have always been suspicious of nasty old fast food that caused trouble in my stomach when I used to have a liking of it. But since when i have left eating this un-nurturing, little morsels of suspicious meat, cooked in utter 'hastiness', believe me not, my quality of life has increased mani-fold, saving my pocket as well ;) What follows here is research done on the behaviors of fast-food consumers by Toronto University, namely: Fast Food and Impatience; moreover, i received the following summary in an email by Harvard Business Review, The Daily Stat:

Does Fast Food Make People Hasty Well as Hungry?


20% speedier reading. People who had been subliminally exposed to fast-food logos read a 349-word passage in an average of 69 seconds, compared with a control group's 84 seconds, though there was no time pressure, according to a study of 57 undergraduates. Researchers Chen-Bo Zhong and Sanford E. DeVoe of the University of Toronto suggest that the time-saving principle embodied by fast food unconsciously induces haste.

Read research here (pdf).

Group dynamics

Working in a group is like making a beautiful, classical mosaic. It has unity, diversity and coherence, resulting in serenity.

A team work is also like the bowl, heart is. It has many veins, going out in various directions. In order for it to breathe harmoniously, all inputs must be pure, enthusiastic and mixable with total integration. Output: Life.

Rememberance

Today in evening, as I returned from Gujranwala, a city in Punjab, from the marriage ceremony of a pious and scholarly friend, Allah gave me opportunity of attending a conference of ulema commemorating the life and efforts of Hazrat Khawaja Khan Muhammad, who recently passed out. One observation struck me, for it exactly matched with an intuition/feeling of my own that i personally felt about Hazrat Jee whenever i reflected over his death.

One scholar compared the time of Hazrat Jee's birth and death. "When he came into this world, he was crying in pain, and everyone around him laughed and smiled in joy, or even ecstasy. People were distributing sweets in streets and homes. It was a moment of celebration. Why it wouldn't be, as it clearly was a blessing for this ummah, his birth!

"And when he died - he left this world smiling towards his Rabb, Creator and Sustainer, leaving everyone behind him crying in sorrow!" I feel deprived these days of a shelter and of spiritual support, and it only increases as i hear or read more about what he did for the defense of Finality of Prophet of Muhammad... May Allah give Hazrat Jee highest rank in paradise, forgive him totally... Aameen!

***

Later this day, i visited the grand Lahore fort, a place where Mughal emperors (e.g., Shah Jehan) lived, if that's a right designation, excuse me if not. I saw Sheesh Mehal, its extravagantly decorated buildings, swimming pools, courts and gifts for musicians and lady dancers. Actually, i saw the worship of passions of one's self seemed to be at its height in those days in those wretched and dismantled buildings which seem to be haunted by evil spirits (that's the general environment for any sensitive eye)... And now the fools are after safeguarding every detail of it, every painting of lady dancers and those drunken parties, painted on the walls...

Nonetheless. i thought: What comparison between the two histories that I have just mentioned...! Dictionaries would end up if we start describing these two histories - one of taqwa and the other of pangs of power corruption, lustful self-indulgence and what not - yet what would live for eternity would definitely live for eternity. May we have a strong, inner sense of what's useful and what's useless. May it also be reflected in what we think, speak and act upon... May we love Allah "with all our heart, with our mind..."

Literacy, Grammar and Thinking

Ever heard about 'grammar', 'literacy' and 'thinking skills'? Here's a perspective that would ever more illuminate your illuminated mind. A talk on these "keywords" by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. Thanks to International Board of Educational Research and Resources (their website is worth visiting, filled with extraordinary resources). Watch the enlightening talk session here. (i tried to embed it, but it was too big to fit in here.)

Shaan/Honour of a Mu'min

I read the following hadith on blog Pearls of Wisdom. Comprehend the sanctity of a Mu'min, or a God-fearing believer:

"Abdullah Ibne Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrates that Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) looked at the Ka'bah and said La Ilaha Illallah, how pure you are, and how sweet is your fragrance and how great is your honour! However the honour of a Mu'min (believer) is greater than yours. Indeed, Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) has made you respectable; (likewise) the wealth, the blood, and the honour of a Mu'min has been made respectable; and Allah( subhanahu wa ta'ala) has forbidden us to suspect him of wrongdoing." [Emphasis added.]

Source.

KBS Update

Alhamdulilah, Kirana Bar School today finished its fourth week - a milestone for the administration.

Note: I am not involved in school. Right now I live in another city, so the credit goes to administration, directors, teachers, students and parents.

A pleasant experience

I was relived to see a mosque open after 10 PM. I entered it and saw two children filling the mosque with the fragrance of their eccentric patrolling, dancing in front of a someone performing salah. "Light, space and silence" - so characteristic of any mosque, universally, I experienced again, and enjoyed the prayer of solitude. May we have mosques that are open to human creatures 24/7; while TV, cricket matches, dance parties, restaurants, and other inventions of moderns destroy the sacredness of late night, it also can serve as a antidote to this profanity.

Aftermath

I felt ease and inner joy. I went to a bookstore and looked for that book, although I couldn't find it, I found another of the same author: Islam and the Destiny of Man. I's looking for, Remembering God. Both by late Hassan Gai Eaton. After getting rid of Karen's autobiography, which I had to read for an MPhil thesis candidate to discuss it with him, word by word, I was badly yearning for some Light, some Intellect, some Illumination, to fill the void created by her long life's story. But something that dealt with the same issues as Karen's autobiography did - God, Tradition, spirituality, certainty - written in idiom and style a modern man could understand, written for Western audience, primarily. Nothing clicked my mind than Remembering God, which I had partially read. And I am relieved and joyful at reading Eaton's Islam. The rust of my mind is vanishing caused by Karen's life story. Beauty is overshadowing inner darkness. And Light is approaching horizon after a week's darkness...

InshaAllah, soon I'd share excerpt from the book. I just couldn't wait to write this post...