Thursday 9 April 2015
One of our shortcomings as Muslims is that sometimes we get ashamed and apologetic of our religion and that we try to embellish and make amendments in it, not because it is actually deficient but because some of its judgements may not appeal to other people. Many of us try to reveal Islam to others ashamedly and in a manner which they think would not harm Islam's cause, in an attempt to beg for their compassion; but we know from the Qur'an that neither the Christians nor the Jews will be satisfied with us until we follow their religion.
Friday 27 March 2015
Challenges of the Muslim World
"The major problems of the Muslim world are five in number. Their identity is hardly ever the object of dispute among modern Islamists. They are: sufism, taqlid, colonialism, disunity and secularism. Certainly they are inter-related and they do enhance one another. By sufism, we do not mean the pietism of spiritualism of Islam, but rather, the charlatanism which masqueraded under the name with its replacement of rational knowledge with kashaf and its advocacy of karamat, tawakul, qismat, fana', dhikr and ta'ah. Pursuit of the hal or mystical union with God through a self-conducted trance, together with sufi pantheism, blurring Islam's ethical notions. Sufism is by definition subjectivist, and can lead only to individual ethics which is necessarily anti-world, i.e.. world denying.
Taqlid is fluid following of the ancestors; its characteristics are literalism, uncreativity, laziness, lethargy and a state of demobilisation. Colonialism, which hardly needs to be defined comes next. In whatever shape or form - it dons a new form every day - it is a tremendously satanic power working
against us.
Finally, the division of the Muslim society itself which together with secularism - the seeking of personal and social values elsewhere than in the Qur'an and Sunnah, has created a problem of massive dimension. "
[Ismail Al-Faruqi, Modern Islamic Movements : Models, Problems and Prospects, IIUM, Kuala Lumpur, 2000, p. 13]
Let us ponder on the above quote by an intellectual which resonates with my sentiments.
Taqlid is fluid following of the ancestors; its characteristics are literalism, uncreativity, laziness, lethargy and a state of demobilisation. Colonialism, which hardly needs to be defined comes next. In whatever shape or form - it dons a new form every day - it is a tremendously satanic power working
against us.Finally, the division of the Muslim society itself which together with secularism - the seeking
of personal and social values elsewhere than in the Qur'an and Sunnah, has created a problem of massive dimension. "[Ismail Al-Faruqi, Modern Islamic Movements : Models, Problems and Prospects, IIUM, Kuala Lumpur, 2000, p. 13]
Let us ponder on the above quote by an intellectual which resonates with my sentiments.
Wednesday 25 March 2015
As I venture into the world of bigotry and gets to know agnostics, atheists, anti theist, I found that most of them has that similar characteristic, which is the spread of the litany of doom and gloom about Islam. The emergence of jihadi groups like ISIS makes it easy for them to mount the high horse again and loudly proclaim :"See I told you so, this is what Muslims are like, murderous fanatics. "
So much has been touted about the bigoted fear against Islam and Muslims in the Western world that this negative phenomenon has been aptly coined "Islamophobia". Who are the Islamophobes?
Islamophobes come in all shapes, sizes, colours and backgrounds, those posing as scholars ("Islamic experts") and those hooligans. Some with brains and others without. Those with brains are the ones employing calculated deception and distortion as most often they are paid workers, working for think-tanks or funded by private capital to support certain agendas (Orientalists). The sum of all this activity is to shape public opinion and lend tactical and ideological support for long-term geopolitical agendas or Muslim lands in Asia, the Arabian Gulf countries and North Africa.
The chilling reports on purported funding in the UK and America revealed a network to spread Islamophobia. In America, the Center for American Progress released a 130-page report which reveals that more than $42 million from seven foundations over the past decade have helped fan the flames of anti-Muslim hate in America. They exposed the Islamophobia network in depth, name the major players, conner the dots and trace the genesis of anti-Muslim propaganda. zthe Money has flowed into the hands of five key "experts" and "scholars" who comprise the central nervous system of anti-muslim propaganda. These five "scholars" are assisted in their outreach efforts by Bridgette Gabriel (founder, ACT! for America), Pamela Geller (co-founder, Stop islamisation of America), and David Horowitz (Supporter of Robert Spencer's jihad Watch). As the report details, information is then disseminated through conservative organisations like the Eagel forum, the religious right, Fox News, and politicians such as Allen West and Newt Gingrich.
In UK, on the other hand, there is a 70 page report on the role of organisations and think tanks such as Policy Exchange and Centre for Scial Cohesion in stirring sentiments and hatred against Muslims in Britain, The report reveals the sources for funding and the individuals involved with these organisations and highlights the adverse effects upon Muslims in particular. The report is a very interesting read and exposes a lot of the underhand and secret tactics which are employed in order to stir up hatred against islam and the Muslims.
Well, so much for being Sherlock Holmes tonight, I will talk about the key players, the ex-muslims loonies such as Walid Shoebat, Nonie Darwish, Wafa Sultan who gets paid for being validators to the scholars such as Daniel Pipes, Steven Emerson and Robert Spencer.
So much has been touted about the bigoted fear against Islam and Muslims in the Western world that this negative phenomenon has been aptly coined "Islamophobia". Who are the Islamophobes?
Islamophobes come in all shapes, sizes, colours and backgrounds, those posing as scholars ("Islamic experts") and those hooligans. Some with brains and others without. Those with brains are the ones employing calculated deception and distortion as most often they are paid workers, working for think-tanks or funded by private capital to support certain agendas (Orientalists). The sum of all this activity is to shape public opinion and lend tactical and ideological support for long-term geopolitical agendas or Muslim lands in Asia, the Arabian Gulf countries and North Africa.
The chilling reports on purported funding in the UK and America revealed a network to spread Islamophobia. In America, the Center for American Progress released a 130-page report which reveals that more than $42 million from seven foundations over the past decade have helped fan the flames of anti-Muslim hate in America. They exposed the Islamophobia network in depth, name the major players, conner the dots and trace the genesis of anti-Muslim propaganda. zthe Money has flowed into the hands of five key "experts" and "scholars" who comprise the central nervous system of anti-muslim propaganda. These five "scholars" are assisted in their outreach efforts by Bridgette Gabriel (founder, ACT! for America), Pamela Geller (co-founder, Stop islamisation of America), and David Horowitz (Supporter of Robert Spencer's jihad Watch). As the report details, information is then disseminated through conservative organisations like the Eagel forum, the religious right, Fox News, and politicians such as Allen West and Newt Gingrich.
In UK, on the other hand, there is a 70 page report on the role of organisations and think tanks such as Policy Exchange and Centre for Scial Cohesion in stirring sentiments and hatred against Muslims in Britain, The report reveals the sources for funding and the individuals involved with these organisations and highlights the adverse effects upon Muslims in particular. The report is a very interesting read and exposes a lot of the underhand and secret tactics which are employed in order to stir up hatred against islam and the Muslims.
Well, so much for being Sherlock Holmes tonight, I will talk about the key players, the ex-muslims loonies such as Walid Shoebat, Nonie Darwish, Wafa Sultan who gets paid for being validators to the scholars such as Daniel Pipes, Steven Emerson and Robert Spencer.
Sunday 22 March 2015
A Reflective Concern…
There is a widespread confusion amongst Muslims. Our conceit (thinking our knowledge of Islam is adequate) causes us to disregard profound works of traditional Islamic scholars and this lead to levelling as though we are at par with them. This inevitably leads to mediocrity in what we, the current Muslims can produce, since seldom do we try to adequately study their works. Whereas to produce quality Islamic scholars is a strategic need for the community, yet it is left for individual to take the initiative.
Our community seems hesitant to invest in future ulama' by sending them to study Islam in an inter-disciplinary manner in excellent Islamic institution of higher learning. In the absence of community support in this endeavour, some who pursue further studies in Islam tends to choose easy and less demanding institutions and when this becomes a common attitude in academia, the quality of future scholars will definitely be affected. When no attempt is made to review and reconsider our understanding of Islam itself by first learning thoroughly from earlier sources (i.e. works of our past authoritative traditional Islamic scholars), respectfully, it will actually compound a dangerous and pervasive malady - 'confusion in knowledge.'
Orientalists and those who attempts to offer a novel interpretation of Islam would mistakenly but eagerly acknowledged as learned and regarded as resource by some Muslims! This typifies ignorance in our community. What is worse is that because of the mistaken feeling of being enlightened, especially when Muslims like to quote from these Western sources and yet are completely oblivious to islamic sources (i.e.. the traditional Islamic scholars' views ), it becomes compound ignorance, whereby any attempt to correct whatever misconception arising from such learning is vehemently opposed by them and conveniently labeled as 'antiquated' in our thoughts.
Muslims thus become easy prey to unnecessary dilemma, when these works (Orientalists writings, ideas and re-interpretations) highlight differences amongst Muslims and raising issues between 'progressive' versus 'orthodox' and suggesting labels of 'moderate' and 'extreme' islam /Muslims. In their pursuit of knowledge, this development may lead to a rise in false leadership amongst the new generation of Musims, especially those who will be looked up as Islamic scholars and intellectuals. It becomes a norm nowadays for those hoping to attain academic titles, to be tutored by Orientalist professors and scholars, who insist their students must prove themselves capable of demolishing works of classical and authoritative Islamic scholars. Even if these students may be required to read classical Islamic sources; it is done with a skeptical bias. This culture leads to subtle usurpation of the traditional scholars' position through false redefinition and perpetuation of skepticism of the works of great classical Islamic scholars. Instead of giving us further illumination to ideas, some of these mediocre so-called newfound theses regarding Islam seem only capable of adding doubts and confusion. Whereas they are not even any where in the same league as these great Islamic scholars in terms of , not only erudition, profundity and scholarship, but also in piety, religious evotion and sincere commitment to Islamic ideals. Yet they dare to display such arrogance by levelling the scholars down to their level or pretentiously elevating themselves to the ranks of these celebrated scholars!
There is a widespread confusion amongst Muslims. Our conceit (thinking our knowledge of Islam is adequate) causes us to disregard profound works of traditional Islamic scholars and this lead to levelling as though we are at par with them. This inevitably leads to mediocrity in what we, the current Muslims can produce, since seldom do we try to adequately study their works. Whereas to produce quality Islamic scholars is a strategic need for the community, yet it is left for individual to take the initiative.
Our community seems hesitant to invest in future ulama' by sending them to study Islam in an inter-disciplinary manner in excellent Islamic institution of higher learning. In the absence of community support in this endeavour, some who pursue further studies in Islam tends to choose easy and less demanding institutions and when this becomes a common attitude in academia, the quality of future scholars will definitely be affected. When no attempt is made to review and reconsider our understanding of Islam itself by first learning thoroughly from earlier sources (i.e. works of our past authoritative traditional Islamic scholars), respectfully, it will actually compound a dangerous and pervasive malady - 'confusion in knowledge.'
Orientalists and those who attempts to offer a novel interpretation of Islam would mistakenly but eagerly acknowledged as learned and regarded as resource by some Muslims! This typifies ignorance in our community. What is worse is that because of the mistaken feeling of being enlightened, especially when Muslims like to quote from these Western sources and yet are completely oblivious to islamic sources (i.e.. the traditional Islamic scholars' views ), it becomes compound ignorance, whereby any attempt to correct whatever misconception arising from such learning is vehemently opposed by them and conveniently labeled as 'antiquated' in our thoughts.
Muslims thus become easy prey to unnecessary dilemma, when these works (Orientalists writings, ideas and re-interpretations) highlight differences amongst Muslims and raising issues between 'progressive' versus 'orthodox' and suggesting labels of 'moderate' and 'extreme' islam /Muslims. In their pursuit of knowledge, this development may lead to a rise in false leadership amongst the new generation of Musims, especially those who will be looked up as Islamic scholars and intellectuals. It becomes a norm nowadays for those hoping to attain academic titles, to be tutored by Orientalist professors and scholars, who insist their students must prove themselves capable of demolishing works of classical and authoritative Islamic scholars. Even if these students may be required to read classical Islamic sources; it is done with a skeptical bias. This culture leads to subtle usurpation of the traditional scholars' position through false redefinition and perpetuation of skepticism of the works of great classical Islamic scholars. Instead of giving us further illumination to ideas, some of these mediocre so-called newfound theses regarding Islam seem only capable of adding doubts and confusion. Whereas they are not even any where in the same league as these great Islamic scholars in terms of , not only erudition, profundity and scholarship, but also in piety, religious evotion and sincere commitment to Islamic ideals. Yet they dare to display such arrogance by levelling the scholars down to their level or pretentiously elevating themselves to the ranks of these celebrated scholars!
Wednesday 11 March 2015
It has been ages since I penned down my thoughts. I have been busy writing my thesis on the Anti-Hadith that I have been away from the blogworld. It has been almost three months since I bid farewell to my teaching job and was there any regret? Nah…it has been wonderful, waking up late on some days and doing whatever I have wanted to do.
I will be embarking on something new. It is uncomfortably clear that I really need to get back to work as the thought of having to depend on my mom to sustain my expenses makes me nervous. You see, two months without pay.
Moving on, I will be posting on Islamic education as this is the new path that I wish to embark on. I see the urgent need to conceptualise and realise an educational system within the Quranic framework and based upon Islamic foundations that would educate generations of Muslims to come to become good Muslims ; Muslims no longer confused, but knowing and practicing and ready to realise and establish the Islamic state and to enact their proper role as a single, vigourous ummah.
As a start, I hope to be able to read on the philosophical and epistemological definition of knowledge so as to elucidate certain key concepts pertaining to the nature and purpose of knowledge from the Islamic viewpoint.
Wish me luck :)
I will be embarking on something new. It is uncomfortably clear that I really need to get back to work as the thought of having to depend on my mom to sustain my expenses makes me nervous. You see, two months without pay.
Moving on, I will be posting on Islamic education as this is the new path that I wish to embark on. I see the urgent need to conceptualise and realise an educational system within the Quranic framework and based upon Islamic foundations that would educate generations of Muslims to come to become good Muslims ; Muslims no longer confused, but knowing and practicing and ready to realise and establish the Islamic state and to enact their proper role as a single, vigourous ummah.
As a start, I hope to be able to read on the philosophical and epistemological definition of knowledge so as to elucidate certain key concepts pertaining to the nature and purpose of knowledge from the Islamic viewpoint.
Wish me luck :)
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