WHY THIS CONTRADICTION
Endless Desires and Limited Fulfilment
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) was an English poet. He wrote:
Our sweetest songs are those
that tell of saddest thought.
THIS is a common experience. Everyone likes sad stories and
tragic songs. The most famous novels are ones that are tragic,
not funny. Similarly, a singer who can sing the songs in a painful
or plaintive tone often gains most prominence. What is the reason
that sad stories, poems or songs hold this appeal of reaching out to
people’s hearts?
The reason for this is that every person usually lives in the psyche
of non-fulfillment of desires and a sense of deprivation. Under such
circumstances, happiness seems unreal,while misery seems real.
Studies reveal that Man is a 'pleasure-seeking animal.’ In this vast
universe, Man is an exceptional creature in every sense. He alone has
the ability to feel pleasure. A unique gift to man given by his Creator is
his ability to sense a wide variety of emotions and to enjoy them.
The objects of enjoyment of Man’s desires are unlimited.
But Man has a limited capacity to enjoy them.
To think, to hear, to speak and to see and so on are all delights for
man; moreover, to eat, to drink, to smell, to touch are all pleasures that
man can avail of. But there arises a strange contradiction here. Man
has an immense desire for pleasure, present within him, but to fully
experience this in this world is not possible for him.
Man amasses wealth, achieves status, power and pomp, builds a lavish
house for himself and wallows in luxury. But when he is done with
all this, he realizes that between him and his enjoyment a definite
barrier remains. He is not able to gain satisfaction from any luxury or
material comfort. All objects of luxury fail to give him genuine peace
and happiness.
The objects of enjoyment of Man’s desires are unlimited. But Man has limited capacity to enjoy them.
It is this inability of Man that crops
up between him and his object of enjoyment. Even after achieving
everything, he continues to live with an acute sense of deprivation.
Man’s physical weakness, the aging process, disease, calamities and,
eventually, death, all continually go on refuting his desires. After having
acquired the objects of his desire, he loses the capacity to enjoy them.
If we do an in-depth study of this contradiction, we find that in actuality
this is not a contradiction but the result of difference in chronology.
The law of nature, prescribes that in his pre-death period Man will
obtain just a preliminary introduction of the luxuries that he yearns
for. Only in the post-death period will he be able to completely obtain
and enjoy them.
Man has been endowed with an unlimited sense of
enjoyment; but the objects of his happiness have
all been kept for him in the Hereafter.
A farmer first sows seeds and then harvests them. Iron is first melted and
then cast into steel. Likewise, everything in this world is accomplished
on a step-by-step basis. Everything first passes through its preliminary
stage and then reaches its final form. Nothing is an exception to this
law.
The same holds true for Man. Man has been endowed with an unlimited
sense of enjoyment; but the objects of his happiness have all been kept
for him in the Hereafter. In the present world Man discovers his sense
of enjoyment, but he can fully attain the objects of his happiness only
in the Hereafter.
As per the creation plan of God, Man gets to see in this world a prototype
of all possible joys and luxuries. In this way, God conveys to Man that
if he wants to avail all of these joys eternally and completely, he has
to qualify for it. What is this qualification? In one word, it is to make
one self a purified soul. Man must keep himself away from all negative
thoughts and tendencies, such as greed, selfishness, dishonesty, lying,
anger, revenge, violence, hatred and so on. He should develop a totally
positive personality, and in this way become worthy of entry into
heaven.
Man’s life is divided into two phases — the pre-death period and the post-death period. A very tiny part of his life is spent in the
pre-death period, and the rest of it, which carries on forever, is the life
in the Hereafter. If Man’s life is seen only from the point of view of his
pre-death period, it appears as nothing but a tragedy; but if it is
viewed from the point of view of the post-death period, it appears
to be joyous.
According to the creation plan of God, Man is standing at a very
delicate point. He faces two choices, and he has to pick one of them
for himself. He can avail of the opportunities given to him and become
entitled to eternal happiness in the life Hereafter, or he can lead
his present life in ignorance and, thereby, entitle himself to a life of
eternal deprivation.
THE PROPHET AND HIS MISSION
From The Quran
The Quran says of the Prophet of Islam:
Surely you have a sublime character.
(THE QURAN 68: 4)
BY far the best commentary on this verse has been provided by
Aisha, the Prophet's wife. Her words have been recorded in
different books of Hadith. Replying to a question on the character
of the Prophet, Aisha, referring to this verse of the Quran, said: "His
character was the Quran."
This shows that the truest picture of the Prophet of Islam is that which
has been expressed in the holy scriptures. There is no doubt that the
books of Hadith and Seerah (biographical accounts of the Prophet)too
are an authentic source of information about the life of the Prophet.
But the Quran remains the primary source. The picture of the Prophet
which tallies with the relevant statements made in the Quran must be
regarded as correct.
A Seeker of Truth
Addressing the Prophet, the Quran says:
By the light of day, and by the night when it falls, your Lord
has not forsaken you, nor does He abhor you. The life to come
holds a richer prize for you than this present life. Surely your
Lord will give you what will please you. Did he not find you an
orphan and give you shelter? Did He not find you wandering
and guide you? Did He not find you poor and enrich you?
Therefore, neither oppress the orphan, nor drive away
the beggar. But proclaim the bounty of your Lord.
(THE QURAN 93:1-11)
The Prophet Muhammad received prophethood at the age of forty. His
life prior to this has been thus alluded to in the Quran: "Did He not
find you wandering?" The explanation of this verse by Islamic scholars
has been recorded in the books of tafsir (commentary of the Quran).
According to the Tafsir Al- Qurtubi, this has been explained variously,
such as: We found you a seeker. We found you a wanderer. We found
you a lover of guidance. (Tafsir Al Qurtubi,
This state, in brief, may be called that of seeking the Truth. That is
to say, before his being commissioned as a Messenger of God, he
was a seeker of Truth, wandering hither and thither in search of it.
In those days he used to withdraw to hills and deserts, and stay —
engrossed in contemplation in the solitude of the cave of Hira. All this
was a manifestation of this search for Truth welling up in his heart. This
phase has been recorded in detail in the books of Hadith and Seerah.
From this we learn that, as a preliminary to the discovery of Truth, the
proper course for an individual would be to go in search of it. As we
learn from the Quran, one who sincerely seeks the Truth will definitely
receive guidance, just as the Prophet Muhammad did. The difference
between the Prophet and the common man is that the former received
guidance with prophethood, while the latter will receive only guidance.
The Prophet as a Human Being
The Quran describes the Prophet of Islam as a human being like any
other. What distinguished him from others was not his being something
other than human, but, rather, his being a prophet, in addition to being
a human being. This is illustrated by the following verses of the Quran:
Am I anything but a human apostle?
(THE QURAN 17: 93)
I am but a mortal like yourselves. It is revealed to me
that your God is one God.
(THE QURAN 18: 110)
Their apostles said to them: We are nothing
but mortals like you.
(THE QURAN 14: 11)
This gives credence to the practical example set by the Prophet for the
benefit of all human beings. It is quite clear that his ability to convince
people rested on his being a human like other people; on his having
feelings of the same nature as other human beings; and on his being
made of the same flesh and blood as others. If the Prophet had not
shared all these things with other human beings, the commandment
to follow the example of the Prophet would have been impracticable.
The greatness of the Prophet of Islam lay in adopting a superior
code of ethics as a human being, so that he should come up to the highest standard of conduct in all matters. Had he been cast in some
superhuman mould, his exemplary character could not have served as
a model for human beings to emulate.
The Prophet — A Test for People
The Quran refers to objections raised by opponents of the Prophet:
Thy ask ‘Why has no angel been sent down to him?' If We had
sent down an angel, their fate would have been sealed and
they would have never been reprieved. If We had made him an
angel, We would have given him the semblance of a man
and would have thus added to their confusion.
(THE QURAN 6: 8-9)
In chapter 25 the Quran records a similar objection raised by doubters:
They say, How is it that this Apostle eats and walks about the
market-place? Why has no angel been sent down with him
to warn us? or (why) has no treasure been given
him, no garden to provide his sustenance?
(THE QURAN 25: 7-8)
At another place, the Quran says:
Nothing prevents men from having faith when guidance is
revealed to them but the excuse: 'Could God have sent a
human being as an apostle?'
(THE QURAN 17: 94)
According to an Arabic saying 'Things can be understood properly
only by their opposites.' In the light of this principle, two pictures of
the Prophet, very different from each other, appear before us. One
picture, according to the above verses, is that which was before
his contemporaries. The other, the one we have today, has grown
tremendously in stature over the fifteen centuries that have elapsed
since his coming to the world. In the former picture, the Prophet appears
as a common man, standing all alone. In vivid contrast, the picture of
him that has emerged after 1500 years has become so sublime that
modern attempts to describe him, if they are to do him justice, have to
include such expressions as 'the pride of all existence', 'the emperor of
both the worlds', 'the leader of the Universe', 'the crown king of Arabia',
and so on.
What is the reason for these two starkly different pictures of one and
the same personality? It is that in his lifetime, a prophet appears to
his contemporaries as a common man. But over the centuries, he
acquires the status of an established personality and thus attains
historical grandeur.
In the first picture, the Prophet has yet to receive acclaim, while in the
second, the Prophet is at the zenith of historical grandeur.
The Quran tells us that only that faith is acceptable to God which
conforms to the example set by the Companions:
If they believe as you have done, they shall be rightly guided;
if they do not, they shall surely be in schism.
Against them, God is your all- sufficient defender.
He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
(THE QURAN 2: 137)
The Companions are those believers who were the Prophet's
contemporaries. They saw the initial picture of the Prophet when
he had not yet acquired an aura of historical grandeur, and yet they
recognized the greatness in him. At that time the Prophet appeared to
be a common man like any other, and not at all like the extraordinary
person that he is described as in today's superfluous terms. The first
picture of the Prophet is the real one. The rest has been added to by
history. The credit for believing in the Prophet can be given, in the real
sense of the word, only to a person who eliminates the additions of
history and recognizes him as he actually was.
The Knowledge of the Unseen
We learn from the Quran that God alone has knowledge of the Unseen.
As the Quran states:
He alone has knowledge of what is hidden:
His secrets He reveals to none.
(THE QURAN 72: 26)
The Quran has repeatedly made it clear that the Prophet of Islam was
not given full knowledge of the unseen world. On certain occasions
God revealed something of the unseen world in advance to the Prophet
through the Angel Gabriel, for instance, the result of the Hudaybiya
treaty in the form of a 'clear victory' (THE QURAN 48: 1). But the Prophet was not given the power to acquire knowledge of the unseen on his
own. This is demonstrated by the following verses from the Quran:
Had I possessed knowledge of what is hidden, I would have
availed myself of much that is good.
(THE QURAN 7: 188)
I do not say to you that I possess God's treasures and I do not
know what is hidden.
(THE QURAN 11: 31)
Tell them, ‘God alone has knowledge of the unseen.
So wait; I too will wait with you.’
(THE QURAN 10: 20)
"These are announcements of the unseen which We reveal to
you; neither you nor your people knew them."
(THE QURAN 11: 49)
These and other verses of this nature prove clearly that the Prophet
of Islam had not been given knowledge of the unseen. God gave
the Prophet only those things that were essential to the discharging
of his responsibilities as a prophet. As this task did not relate to the
metaphysical, he required no knowledge of the unseen.
It was not the Prophet's duty to perform miraculous feats for the sake
of establishing his superiority. Rather, his duty was to guide people by
means of dawah and counselling. This was the real task of the Prophet,
and for this there was no need to possess any supernatural powers.
That is why no prophet was endowed with such a faculty.
Ease in Difficulty
In chapter 94 of the Quran the Prophet is addressed thus:
Have We not lifted up and expanded your heart and relieved
you of the burden which weighed down your back? Have We
not given you high renown? So, surely with every hardship
there is ease; surely, with every hardship there is ease.
When you have finished, resume your toil,
and seek your Lord with all fervour.
(THE QURAN 94: 1-8)
One particular aspect of the life of the Prophet of Islam emerges before
us in these verses. That is, the ability to see ease in difficulty which was
bestowed on him by God's grace and guidance. He was able, by dint of his courage and determination, to turn disadvantageous situations to
his advantage, and could continue with his activities with hope, even in
times of great difficulty.
The Prophet underwent great hardship. His experiences broadened
his vision, making him more confident. Ironically, his opponents' false
propaganda became the means of spreading his message far and wide.
The followers of the Prophet of Islam should also inculcate this same
mentality among themselves. They should develop within themselves
the capacity to turn minuses into pluses and to convert hardship into
ease.
The Sustenance of God
Addressing the Prophet of Islam, the Quran states:
Do not strain your eyes towards the worldly benefits We have
bestowed on some of them, for with these we seek only to try
them. Your Lord's provision is better and more lasting. Enjoin
prayer on your people and be diligent in its observance. We
demand nothing of you: We shall Ourself provide for you.
Blessed shall be the end of the devout.
(THE QURAN 20: 131-132)
The Prophet led a human life just like everyone else. However, where
common men set their sights on accumulating worldly goods, the
Prophet did not make this world his goal. He did not desire material
benefits; rather, the world for him was a means of spiritual provision.
In this world, those who adopt a life of faith and engage in the task of
conveying the message of God suffer considerable hardship. On the
other hand, those who do not devote themselves to discharging such
responsibilities wallow in material comfort and pleasure. By highlighting
this difference between a life of comfort and a life of hardship, and by
creating the impression that a worldly life is far better than the godly
life, Satan tries to tempt and mislead the believers.,/p>
But a deeper examination shows that beyond this apparent difference
there is another dimension, which is far worthier of consideration. It is
that worldly possessions are for the purpose of putting human beings
to the test, and as such, are of a temporary nature. Those who are
preoccupied with material things have nothing in store for their eternal life, while a believer receives by his association with God something
more precious than all the things of the world. Remembrance of
God, thought of the life hereafter, worship, a life of piety, devotion
to God, and concern that the servants of God may be saved from His
chastisement — all these are forms of provision, and of a far higher
quality than material things, and will translate for the believer into
endless bliss in the life Hereafter.
Basic Task
Addressing the Prophet, God says:
You who are wrapped up in your vestment, arise and give
warning. Magnify your Lord, cleanse your garment and keep
away from all pollution. Bestow no favours expecting gain.
Be patient for your Lord's sake.
(THE QURAN 74: 1-7)
From these we learn that the actual task of the Prophet was warning
people of the serious consequences in the life to come, of their actions
in this world. This duty could be performed only by one whose heart was
filled with the greatness of God; who possessed a high moral character;
who kept away from all evil; who did good without any hope of return,
and who suffered patiently all the hardships inflicted by others.
Four Responsibilities
The Prophet of Islam is said to be the answer to Abraham's prayer.
When Abraham settled his son Ismael and his wife Hajira in the deserts
of the Hijaz, according to the Quran he prayed thus:
Send forth to them a messenger of their own people who shall
declare to them Your revelations and instruct them in
the book and in wisdom and purify them.
You are the Mighty, the Wise One.
(THE QURAN 2: 129)
The first task of the Prophet was to receive God's revelations and
communicate them to people, i.e. he had to recite the verses of the
Quran and explain them to his hearers. Innumerable signs, within
human nature and in the outside world, have been placed, by God
so that Man may realize Him through them. The second task of the
Prophet was to reveal these signs and give people the insight to enable
them to develop faith in their Lord.
Insight implies wisdom, so that when Man has developed the insight
to see God's signs, when he has moulded his mind in such a way as to
be able to understand the teachings of the Quran, a kind of intellectual
light begins to shine within him. His cerebral level is raised to a point
from where he is able to experience higher realities. In all matters he is
able to arrive at the right conclusions as desired by God.
Finally, the Prophet strove to prepare people whose souls would be
free from all preoccupations except devotion to God, who would also
be free from psychological complexities so that they might be capable
of finding the spiritual sustenance placed by God in the universe for His
devoted servants.
The task of conveying the message, instructing the people in the Quran
and wisdom and guiding them towards purifying their souls were the
four basic parts of the mission of the Prophet of Islam. All his activities
were directed solely to achieving these objectives. After the Prophet,
those who rise to the task of reforming people have to work along
the lines followed by the Prophet on the basis of divine guidance. Any
addition to these tasks can only be considered as an innovation.
Food
for the Soul
At every moment certain incidents
take place in the life of a man.
These incidents appear at the level of society,
history, the universe, etc.
Thinking about these incidents or events
and deriving lessons from them,
is food for the soul.
FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE
There is a tree beside my house. I call
it the 'Spiritual Tree'. I derive spiritual
inspiration from it. A tree is an evergrowing
being that was initially a seed
possessing the potential of becoming
a full-grown tree. A seed takes food
from the universe around it and then
grows into a tree. The same is true
with spirituality, the desire for which is
intrinsic to, and an integral part of, the
very nature of, every human being. To
realize this spirituality, Man must derive
spiritual food from the universe around
him. A tree converts carbon-dioxide into oxygen; a spiritual person is one who
can take positive lessons from negative situations. From this perspective, a tree
is an embodiment of a spiritual personality. — Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Spirituality and Applied Spirituality
SPIRITUALITY is not a kind of ecstasy. Rather, it is about the sublimity
of character. There are two facets of spirituality: internally, it is
positive thinking and externally, it is living in peace.
Spirituality means giving more importance to non-material values than
to material values. Spirituality promotes the culture of simple living and
high thinking. A person with a simple lifestyle becomes a no-problem
person. Someone who develops high thinking becomes a truly selfless
person, concerned about the whole of humanity. Clashes between
people over conflicting material interests often lead to all manner of
inhuman actions. When you go beyond these interests by developing
spiritually you will no longer find yourself constantly fighting with
others. You will become a healthy member of society, and a society
which consists of large numbers of people of this kind is bound to
emerge as a peaceful society.
Spirituality is the culture of nature, as it were. Nature demonstrates
this spiritual culture in various ways. Take the case of a rose bush.
It is a combination of two opposite parts: flowers and thorns. Both
flowers and thorns live together on the branches of the bush. There
is no clash between the two. It is this culture that makes a rose bush
such a very beautiful scene to behold. This indicates what the better
way to live in society is. Man should live in society as a rose bush lives
in the wilderness.
Spirituality makes a person a true human being. But this is not enough.
A person’s spirituality must be manifested in his surroundings. He must
behave with people according to the spiritual norm. He must manifest
spiritual values in his dealings with others. In the face of conflict, he
must choose peaceful adjustment over confrontation. He must be able
to turn negative experiences into positive ones. And so on.
If positive men and women are like spiritual trees, their applied
behaviour, or their applied spirituality, makes the society in which
they live a spiritual garden. Applied spirituality is the multiplication of
spiritual values. Applied spirituality is beneficial to both the spirituallyadvanced
person as well as his neighbour. It makes the person a happy
person, and his neighbourhood a problem-free society.
Spirituality is a science, the science of mind. It nourishes positive
thinking, positive tastes, positive habits, and positive behaviour. A
positive person is a blessing for his home, his society and his nation.
In secular terms, spirituality is positive thinking. In religious terms, it is
divine discipline.
Noble Personality
The greatest thing for Man
to aim at in this world is the
nurturing of a noble personality.
Such is the individual considered
desirable by God according to
His creation plan.
THE WORD OF GOD
From the Scriptures
THE Quran is the Book of God. It has been preserved in its
entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam between
610 and 632 A.D. It is a book that brings glad tidings to mankind,
along with divine admonition, and stresses the importance of man’s
discovery of the Truth on a spiritual and intellectual level.
Translated from Arabic and commentary
by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
There are signs in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in
the alternation of night and day for people of understanding; who
remember God while standing, sitting and [lying] on their sides, and
who ponder over the creation of the heavens and the earth, saying,
‘Lord, You have not created all this without purpose. Glory be to You!
Save us from the torment of the Fire. Lord, those whom You condemn
to enter the Fire You have surely brought to disgrace. Wrongdoers will
have no supporters. (
The whole universe is a silent declaration of God’s presence. When
Man removes the man-made veils from his eyes and ears, he starts
seeing and hearing this silent announcement all around him. It then
appears improbable to him that in a universe where the stars and the
planets have continued to exist for millions of years, Man will cease
to exist within fifty or a hundred years, taking with him to his grave
all his desires and aspirations. In a world which abounds with the
beauties of nature, where countless meaningful blessings, like air,
water and the sun, have been provided, should Man’s end be nothing
but sorrow and suffering? Man also finds it unthinkable that in a world
of limitless possibilities, where just by sowing seeds in the ground a
whole forest of trees comes into existence, one should fail to receive
the fruits of virtuous actions; that in a world where the sun shines daily
after the dark night, centuries go by without being illuminated by the
lustre of fairness and justice; that in a world where earthquakes and
tempests lie dormant, Man should continue to perpetrate tyranny and
oppression without ever being checked.
Lord, we have heard a caller calling to the true faith saying, “Believe in your Lord,” and we believed. Lord, forgive us our sins and remove
from us our bad deeds and make us die with the virtuous. Our Lord!
Grant us what You have promised to us through Your messengers, and
do not humiliate us on the Day of Resurrection. Surely, You never fail
to fulfil Your promise.’ (
Those who think deeply, seeking a more profound reality, find it
unthinkable that a meaningful universe should have a meaningless
end. They discover that the message conveyed by the preacher is
the announcement, in human language, of the same reality which is
being silently proclaimed by the whole universe. The greatest issue
is that when the truth is unveiled, and the ‘sun’ of justice makes its
appearance, they should not be left deprived and destitute. So when
the truth appears, they rush towards it, remembering God. By breaking
all personal bonds and ridding their thoughts of worldly considerations,
they become one with the preacher of truth; so that in the next world,
when the ‘darkness’ and the ‘light’ of the universe are separated, the
Lord of the universe will make them inhabit the light, and will not
abandon them to fumble eternally in the dark.
The true measure of wisdom, on the other hand, and folly, on the
other, is wholly different from the one devised by human beings on
their own. A wise man is one who lives in the remembrance of God,
who can discover the divine meaningfulness at work in the creation
plan of the universe. In contrast, an unwise man is one who keeps his
mind engaged in other, material things, who lives in this world as if he
is totally unaware of the creation plan of the Lord of the Universe.
ASK MAULANA
Your Questions, Answered
What is the greatest mark of an exalted nature?
The greatest mark of an exalted nature is the
ability to set aside grievances and differences in
order to support another person.
Is patience another name for retreat?
Patience is no retreat. Patience gives the
strength to restrain one’s emotions in delicate
situations and to use one’s mind to find a course
of action along result-oriented lines.
What differentiates gentleness from
haughtiness?
Gentleness is an attribute of successful people, while haughtiness
signals imminent failure.
How does one survive highly charged situations in life?
The way to survive highly charged situations in life is by not letting
oneself be inwardly affected by one’s outward situation, by suppressing
one’s emotions and keeping one’s feelings under control.
How should Man’s actions be governed?Man should be governed in thought, word and deed, not by the mere
urge to pursue selfish aims, but by a deep and innate scrupulosity.
Why has suffering increased in modern times?
As far as I can gauge, physical suffering has not increased. It is still
what it used to be. But it would be right to say that mental tension
has increased in modern times, and this is chiefly due to the fact that
people are not able to put a curb on their desires.
How do people who have faith in religion suffer less? Why does the
present generation believe more in psychology than in religion?
I do not agree with this suggestion that religious people suffer less
than others. However, it is true that religious beliefs inculcate a spirit of acceptance of whatever is in one’s fate. They bring a state
of contentment in people. Because of this, religious people are more
capable of bearing suffering.
It is also partially true that the present generation believes in psychology
more than in religion. This is due to the thinking developed by this
modern material civilization. The modern civilization attaches greater
importance to the seen world than to the unseen world. This is how
this way of thinking has developed. However, this is an unrealistic way
of looking at the world, and, therefore, will not last.
What are the special and unique features in Islam that help you to
deal with suffering?
According to Islam, the present world is a testing ground. It is not a
place for receiving rewards. And so, a true believer accepts suffering
as a trial. He develops patience, so that in the life after death God will
reward him. Hence, it becomes possible for a believer to deal with
suffering in a positive way.
How does helping others solve your problems?
Helping others is a great virtue in Islam. It is a source of great
contentment in one’s heart. According to Islam, one who helps others
receives God’s help in return. Members of a society who help each
other make great progress.
Will the faith in religion end if there is no suffering?
Never! Religion is a permanent reality. It is a truth in itself. Whether
there is suffering or not in this world, religion will always prevail,
irrespective of circumstances.
FROM THE EDITORS DESK
Greetings of Peace!
Dear Friends,
We are grateful to God and thankful for the support and encouragement
you have given us, enabling us to successfully complete one year of
publication of our magazine, SPIRIT OF ISLAM.
To reiterate, the purpose of this magazine is neither to provide
entertainment nor to cover topical news and current affairs. It is
purely for serious readers and seekers of truth and peace. It aims at
stimulating a desire for intellectual growth and spiritual development,
while fostering love for wisdom and knowledge of the realities of
life. Through this medium, we aspire to present answers to eternal
questions like: Why am I here? Is there a God? What is my purpose in
life? Is there any meaning in life? Did this universe happen by chance?
What is the creation plan of God?
In keeping with our quest towards spiritual living, with this issue we
introduce a new series entitled ‘From the Spiritual Tree’—unique
spiritual insights and personal discoveries of Maulana Wahiduddin
Khan which are a special delight for the soul. In addition to seeking
answers to questions, all of us also seek peace and happiness. Through
the pages of this magazine the concept of peace is constantly in focus,
and this will, God-willing be continued resolutely.
For our continuous improvement, we welcome and appreciate your
valuable feedback. If you disapprove of anything in this magazine,
please express your genuine feelings to us and give us the opportunity
to improve. If you like this magazine and approve of it, please let others
know about it.
We wish you all happiness in the year 2014, and present to you the key
to happiness through Maulana's Desk in the following pages.
Aijaz Ahmed
Associate Editor
FROM MAULANAS DESK
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, born in 1925, in
Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is an Islamic spiritual
scholar who is well-versed in both classical Islamic
learning and modern disciplines. The mission of his life
has been the establishment of worldwide peace. He has
received the Padma Bhushan, the Demiurgus Peace
International Award and Sayyidina Imam Al Hassan
Peace award for promoting peace in Muslim societies.
He has been called ’Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the
world’ and is recognized as one of its most influential
Muslims
. His books have been translated into sixteen
languages and are part of university curricula in six
countries. He is the founder of the Centre for Peace
and Spirituality based in New Delhi.
THE KEY TO HAPPINESS
IF you are able to be happy with what you already have, then
you can achieve happiness. If your happiness involves certain
conditions, then you can never achieve happiness. Happiness
is not a destination; it is a state of mind. No material good can give
you happiness.
If you have a list of material things in your mind and you believe that
only by obtaining all the things on this list, you can live in happiness, it is
impossible for you to attain happiness. The fact is that this material list
has an end on the paper on which you write it down, but it won’t have
any end in your mind! One should learn how to be content, otherwise
your mind will keep adding new things to its wish-list. And then, you
will always live with unsatisfied desires.
If you want to live with happiness, then learn the difference between
need and desire. Our real needs are actually very limited. There is
always a full-stop in the list of real needs, but the wish-list based on
desire has no full-stop. It has only commas. Every day, you add a new
comma to this list, and this will continue endlessly till your death.
The Prophet of Islam has said that if a man were given two mountains
of gold, he will ask for a third one (Musnad Ahmad). This means that man has an insatiable nature. So, it is only contentment that can give you
happiness, not abundance.
About myself, I can say that I am living in happiness in the sense of
contentment. I believe that what I have is quite enough for me. This
formula has given me a great sense of fulfilment. This contentment has
saved me from all kinds of distractions. And when you are saved from
distractions, you have enough time to do all kinds of good things, for
example, to study, to cultivate positive thinking, to engage in human
service, etc.
Happiness is not just a personal quality; It is of great value in itself.
If you are unhappy, you are bound to live in tension and stress.
But if you are happy, you are tension-free. You will have no stress,
and you will be free of pessimism. You will develop a positive
personality. And a positive personality is the greatest need in
human development.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
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Creating History Anew
We can create a nation
only if its inhabitants are imbued
with a sense of purpose. To that end,
we must educate our people: they must have
full knowledge of both the past and the present
if they are to progress towards an ideal future.
We have to inculcate in them the will to work
unitedly in spite of their disagreements.
We have to instill in them the courage
to sacrifice their personal feelings
and short-term interests
for long-term ones.
Only then will it be possible
to fashion history anew.
NATURE A MODEL OF PEACE
Towards Positive Living
THE root cause of most of our problems is our deviation from
the peaceful model of Nature, which is the best model for us to
follow. All the dilemmas we face today have arisen because we
have not followed Nature’s lead.
The stars and planets are in continual motion in their orbits, but they
never collide with each other. This shows us how to proceed to our
destination in life without coming into conflict with others. The sun,
too, is an excellent model in this regard. It shows us how we should
give life to others in a totally undiscriminating way. Trees are another
shining example for us. They supply healthy and beneficial oxygen, in
exchange for gases harmful to other creatures. Observe how flowers
spread their fragrance all around them, regardless of whether they are
appreciated for it or not! A flowing stream irrigates the fields without
expecting anything in return. Without inculcating similar altruistic
values within ourselves, no meaningful life is possible.
In short, positivity prevails throughout Nature. Negativity just does
not exist in the natural world. This teaches us that we should respond
positively at all times, even in negative situations.
In this world, positive living is of relevance not only as far as moral
behaviour is concerned. It is incumbent upon us to follow a positive
course at all times and in all situations. For, in this vast universe, there
is only our tiny earth on which human beings may survive. To date,
there is no other place in the cosmos where we have discovered life supporting
systems. Preserving Nature, therefore, is synonymous with
sustaining Life, while destroying Nature will lead to total extinction.
This beautiful world of Nature created by God is well on its way to
being ruined by Man. Widespread violence, ecological disturbance
and global warming have together become a menace greater than
that of a possible world war. Indeed, it is as if a third world war has
already been thrust upon us. This is the biggest threat we are
facing today. We have to work unitedly and sincerely to save Nature
in the interest of all humanity. In short, consistently engaging in
positive living amounts to saving Life, while failing to do so is a
certain way of committing suicide.
THE BIG BANG THEORY
Proving The Existence Of God
THE inventor of sociobiology, E.O. Wilson, once said in an interview
that the Big Bang theory is more interesting than any religious
theory regarding the origin of the universe. The Big Bang theory
is clearly mentioned in the following verse of the Quran:
Do not those who deny the truth see that the heavens and
the earth were one solid mass which we tore asunder,
and that we have made every living thing of water?
Will they still not believe?
(THE QURAN 21: 30)
The Quran here address all mankind. It is speaking beyond the level
of time to all mankind; it tells them that there is proof of the existence
of the One God in the universe before their eyes. Why, then, do they
deny it?
In 1912, the American astronomer Vesto Melvin Slipher discovered
from his observation of the stars from Lowell Observatory in America,
that some galaxies were rapidly moving outwards. This theory was
later confirmed by Edwin Hubble and Milton Humanson. In fact, their
observations through the 100-inch telescope at Mount Wilson showed
that all galaxies were moving in an outward direction.
The more science advances,
the closer it comes to God.
The Dutch astronomer, Willem de Sitter later accumulated further
evidence in support of the theory that the universe was exponentially
expanding. Then in 1965, New Jersey scientists Arno Penzias and
Robert Wilson discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation
emitted by the Big Bang that marked the origin of the universe. So
much evidence has accumulated in support of the Big Bang Theory that
it has now come to be regarded as an established fact.
This theory implies that the universe is not infinite; it has a definite
beginning. It shows that we live in an expanding universe. All around
us galaxies are careering outwards at a stupendous pace. It has been calculated that if this outward movement were to be reversed, it would
take 20,000 million years for the whole strung out universe to converge
into one mass.
The Big Bang theory is conclusive evidence that the universe is
contingent. According to the prevailing scientific view of cosmology,
the universe had a distinct and singular beginning about 14 billion
years ago. The universe, therefore, appears to be an effect and, thus,
is seemingly dependent upon something outside of and beyond itself.
This theory has proved the existence of God from the law of nature, for
only an external agent at a specific instance in time could have made a
point mass into an ever expanding universe.
Time and the Universe had a distinct and singular
beginning. They are an effect and thus dependent
upon a causal agent outside and beyond.
As Aristotle cogently argued, there must be a reality that causes but
is itself uncaused or, a being that moves but is itself unmoved. Why?
Because if there is an infinite regression of causes, then by definition
the whole process could never begin.
The more science advances, the closer it comes to God. One is
compelled to agree with what Dr. Maurice Bucaille writes in his book,
The Bible, the Qur'an & Science:
In view of the level of knowledge in Muhammad’s day it is
inconceivable that many of the statements in the Quran which
are connected with science could have been the work of a man.
It is moreover, perfectly legitimate, not only to regard the Quran
as the expression of a Revelation, but also to award it a very
special place, on account of the guarantee of authenticity it
provides and the presence in it of scientific statements which,
when studied today, appear as a challenge to explanation in
human terms.
THE HUMAN RIGHT TO LIVE WITHOUT TERROR
Draft Charter
THE Human Right to 'Live Without Terror' is without doubt an
urgent need of our times. From the First World War till now, a
great number of charters and declarations of this nature have
been issued by different international forums, including the United
Nations. But, as we know, these charters and declarations have yielded
no result.
Looking at this matter deeply, we find that this problem is not basically
about the lack of a suitable charter, rather, it is essentially about the
lack of results from the charters that we already have.
We need an ideology to counter the terrorist ideology.
The reason for this is that issuing a charter as a declaration of an
agreement is only half the solution. The remaining part of the solution
involves extensive ideological campaigning in its support. Since this
task has never been effectively performed, the various charters have
not yielded the desired results.
Let’s take an example to illustrate this point. After the Second World
War, the United States of America faced two major threats, one after
another: one pertaining to communism, and the other to terrorism.
As we know, America successfully solved the problem of communism,
while it utterly failed to solve the problem of terrorism, even after
spending trillions of dollars ostensibly for this purpose.
This difference in the results in the two cases was due to the difference
of strategy adopted for dealing with these two issues. America
launched a strong ideological campaign to counter the threat it faced
from communism. This ideological campaign proved so successful
that even the communist leaders themselves lost confidence in the
communist philosophy. They began to prefer a liberal economy to a
socialist economy, until in 1991 the communist empire collapsed at the
hands of its own people.
On the other hand, in order to counter the menace of terrorism, America has depended solely on guns and bombs. It has failed to produce an
ideology to counter the terrorist ideology in the same way it had done
earlier to counter the communist ideology.
That is why, in spite of great loss in terms of lives and resources, it
has not been possible to extirpate the menace of terrorism. In such a
situation, only a charter that utilizes past experiences of countering the
communist ideology can successfully serve this purpose.
An appropriate charter in this regard can only be one that is based
on realism. A draft based simply on sentiments is bound to fail. We
have to convince the world that we need to cherish the concept of
reconciliation between civilizations, as opposed to the concept of
a clash of civilizations. To adopt a practical strategy one has to be
realistic, and should not let emotions overrule one’s judgment.
Terrorism begins from the mind, not from the gun. Terrorists have an
ideal in their minds, and they resort to violence to achieve this ideal.
They remain unaware of the fact that idealism is not achievable in this
world. The only possible option for them is to accept the less than
ideal situation. But because they refuse to accept this, they continue
to engage in futile violence. They are also unaware of the fact that in
the present world no positive result can be achieved through violence.
We must cherish the concept of reconciliation between
civilizations, as opposed to the concept of
a clash of civilizations.
The truth is that terrorism is the result of intellectual unawareness.
This is what makes terrorists resort to violence. They are fired by the
mistaken belief that in this way they can realize their false hopes.
Terrorism can be brought to an end solely through intellectual
awareness, based on religion and spirituality. The ideology of peace
based on secularism has already been tried and it has failed.
It is from religion that we should draw our ideology of peace. Jesus
Christ says in this regard:
Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to
God the things that are God’s.
(LUKE 20: 25)
This is not simply a Christian formula of peace. Rather, it is a common
formula, recognized by almost all the religions in one form or another.
The Prophet of Islam has expressed the same principle in these words.
Render what is due to the rulers and
ask for your dues from God.
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
Similar is the case with other religions. Hinduism preaches nishkam
karma or selfless service. Jewish scriptures say: “Blame thyself.”
According to Jainism and Buddhism, ahimsa or non-violence is
the greatest virtue. The essence of all these teachings is the nonconfrontational
or non-political approach.
Non-political activism is only another name for non-violent activism.
Political activism generates hate and violence while non-political
activism brings about peace and brotherhood.
Terrorism begins from the mind, not from the gun.
It must be countered with an ideology, not with guns.
Religious ideology is based on the relationship between man and
God. On the other hand, the ideology behind present terrorist
movements is based on what can be called a 'man-versus-man'
concept. It is this 'man-versus-man' activism that results in violence
and terror. Contrary to this, activism based on the relationship
between Man and God produces love and peace in society. This is
not a passive attitude. Rather it is activism in the complete sense
of the word. It leads us to avoid political conflict and to avail of the
opportunities present in fields other than politics. It is a way of buying
time. To put it briefly, it may be called 'positive status-quoism', that
is, accepting the political status quo, and at the same time, availing
of opportunities in non-political fields.
This religious formula provides the ideology by which we can achieve
our goals through peaceful means.
If we are to succeed in ensuring the “Human Right to live without
Terror”, there are a few other matters that must be addressed. Here
are some issues that must be considered in any draft charter for the
“Human Right to Live without Terror”.
1. 'Super-powers', will have to abandon the notion that they can
play the role of global policemen. This notion is a complete
anachronism. Such imperial thinking may have had some validity
in the ancient age of kingship. But now, it has lost all relevance.
It can produce only negative results. Today the formula of
political adjustment or political coexistence alone is practicable.
The concept of 'political master' ruling over 'political subjects' has
no relevance in the modern age.
2. Wherever there is terrorism, it is, directly or indirectly, related to
the question of ownership of and control over territory. Experience
shows that in this matter it is the policy of give-and-take alone which
is practicable. The concept of unilateral occupation is no longer
workable. All nations must adopt the policy of give-and-take as
soon as possible. This is the only practical solution to the problem
of terrorism.
It is from religion that we should draw
our Ideology of Peace.
3. Time is now running out for the terrorist groups. They must learn a
lesson from their past experience and realize the fact that in the postindustrial
age they are left with no option at all but peaceful activism.
Violent activism is not going to yield any positive results whatsoever.
The terrorist groups, therefore, should finally come to the conclusion
that however rightful their struggle might be, it can only aggravate
the problem. It cannot solve it. Therefore, they must switch over
from violence to peace without any delay. They must at all times
choose the peaceful method over violent methods.
4. Governments as well as non-governmental organizations, both must
accept that if a dispute cannot be solved through mutual dialogue,
the other option available to them is not confrontation but, rather,
referral of the dispute to some forum for arbitration. Fortunately,
this forum already exists in the form of the International Court of
Justice. In the present circumstances, no other option is available
either to governments or non-govermental organizations.
5. Whenever a controversy cannot be brought to an end by mutual negotiations, it should be referred to the International Court of
Justice and its verdict should be accepted unconditionally by both
the parties.
6. Modern ‘developed’ nations spend trillions of dollars to produce
weapons of mass destruction. None of them could, however,
make use of the deadly weapons at their disposal. America
dropped the atomic bomb only once. Later, despite involving itself
in several wars, it could not make any use of the nuclear bomb.
The truth is that nuclear weapons can be used only once. Once such
destructive weapons have been used, such deterrent factors emerge
against their use, that it becomes impossible to employ them again.
These weapons have now become a liability: they are no longer an
asset for nations that once used to be proud of possessing them. These
nations are now left with no option but to abandon them forever.
Given this state of affairs, what nations must do is to unilaterally
abandon their programmes for weapons of mass destruction. The
truth is that in this matter there exists practically no other option.
7. Along with adopting the above strategy, launching an effective and
persistent ideological campaign in its support, making use of all
modern means of communication, is also indispensable.
As we know, today, there are a number of national and international
forums striving for the attainment of peace.
However, we would not be wrong in saying that their efforts have been
marred to a great extent because of their having been politicised. That
is why they have produced little or no results. For instance, all big peace
prizes are given on a political basis. It is essential that efforts towards
the promotion of peace should be separated from political interests,
otherwise no such end can be accomplished.
LIFE AFTER DEATH
A Perspective
ON December 6, 2013 the radio announced the news of the death
of Nelson Mandela. Then, after a moment, the radio station
broadcast the speech that Mandela had delivered as President
in the South African Parliament on May 10, 1994. The speaker was
physically no more, but his voice could still be heard by all without the
slightest alteration.
On November 12, 1947, Gandhiji went to the studios of All-India Radio
to deliver a live address to over two lakh refugees from Pakistan who
had gathered at a camp in Haryana. This speech is still aired every year
on November 12 on All-India Radio.
Death is like a door through which we go from the
present world into the next world.
Experiences of this kind are very common. They remind us of the fact
that when a person dies, he is still living through his voice. A person's
voice is a part of his personality. And so, if a part of our personality is
alive after our physical death, why cannot our whole personality be
alive after our death?
According to the dictionary, death is the permanent end of life. However,
the Quran maintains that the human being is an eternal being, and
that death is only a phase in our eternal journey. Apart from other
reasoning it offers for life after death, the Quran also expresses the
above argument in these words:
And by the Lord of the heavens and the earth, it (life after death)
is certainly the truth. It is as true as your ability to speak.
(THE QURAN 51: 23)
Speech is part of a person, and modern technology has proved that the
speech of a person is repeatable. So, if someone’s speech, uttered in
the distant past, can be repeated, why not the rest of his personality?
In previous centuries this seemed to be just a claim, but now it is a
verified fact.
There is also a biological phenomenon that supports this concept. The human body consists of about ten trillion tiny cells that can be seen only
through a microscope. Every single cell in our body is replaced every
seven to ten years. That is, after an average ten years our entire body
is fully replaced. In other words, if a person is ninety years old, it means
his physical body has been replaced nine times! But, his personality
remains the same, without the slightest change.
We are eternal beings.
Death is only a phase in our eternal journey.
If in spite of nine 'deaths', the personality has remained intact, then
why must it die when the physical body dies the tenth and final time?
A philosopher has aptly stated this reality in these words:
Personality is changelessness in change.
(The Urantia Book)
Death is like a door through which we go from the present world into
the next. Death is a reminder of the reality that there is a world in the
Hereafter. We must prepare ourselves to be able to find a proper place
in the next world.
On Prayer
If one prays in the true spirit of prayer,
then one’s prayer will surely fend off
indecency and evil.
But if one’s prayer is devoid of spirit,
it will be no more than a
perfunctory action which has
no connection with
one’s real life.
NO SHORTCUTS
A Tall Order
NOVEMBER 16, 2013 was a special day for the Indian cricketstar
Sachin Tendulkar. After 24 years of his career in cricket,
he emerged as a superhero. In a short speech, he credited his
success to his late father, Mr. Ramesh Tendulkar. He disclosed that
when he was eleven years old and started playing cricket, his father
advised him: “Chase your dreams, but do not take shortcuts.” Sachin
Tendulkar adopted this advice and it worked successfully for him.
What is a shortcut? A shortcut is a by-pass only to reduce the distance
to one's goal by avoiding the natural procedure to reach there. In
this way, you try, to reach your destination in less time. This kind of
by-pass is common in road journeys. But when it comes to the
purposeful journey of human life, it is irrelevant.
For instance, if you are a student and you try to secure a Master’s degree
without doing your graduation, or if you are a money-less person and
want to become a billionaire without working hard, or if you start your
career in politics and try to rise up in the political system without
doing the required fieldwork, these kinds of shortcuts will not take you
anywhere. Planning on the lines of taking shortcuts is ill-planning and
is destined to lead you nowhere.
This formula does not pertain only to the life of an individual. It is also
true for the life of a community or a nation, too. Leaders of the Muslim
community in India, for instance always insist that due to some reason
or the other, the Indian Muslims have become a backward community.
They say that the only way to give them a boost is to provide for them
reservation in jobs and services, otherwise they will remain backward.
A demand of this nature is also a kind of shortcut. But according to the
law of nature, it is not feasible. No amount of favours can uplift any
community. The only way to empower a community is to make it capable
of meeting the challenges that it faces. Life is based on competition and
challenge. Without facing competition and challenge, no community
can prosper. There is no escape for anyone in this regard. Offering
a community certain favours only paralyses its abilities. On the other
hand if a community can face challenges, it proves to be a boost for it.
In real life, short-cuts can get you nowhere .
PERCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM
What Needs To Be Done
ONE of the greatest causes of anti-Islamic sentiment among
many non-Muslims is the way many Muslims themselves
understand, interpret and express Islam—for instance, in a
highly supremacist, extremely ritualistic and sometimes violencedriven
manner. But these phenomena, it must be clearly understood,
are part of Muslim culture, not part of Islam. Muslims must abandon
them and follow the true teachings of Islam. Islam cultivates equality
and not supremacism; it is a spirit-based religion rather than being
a form-based religion; and Islam exhorts its followers to adopt the
peaceful method, as against the violent method.
Related to this above-mentioned issue, some Muslims claim that
some non-Muslims are biased against Islam because, so they
allege, such people are inherently opposed to God and the Truth.
But these allegations are completely wrong. Simply by being born
a Muslim one cannot become good. And, similarly, by merely being
born a non-Muslim, one cannot inherently become an enemy
of the Truth. Islam is a matter of discovery and choice for both
Muslims and non-Muslims. It is not something that is received
as an inheritance.
Islam cultivates equality, not supremacism.
In many parts of the world today, violent movements in the name of
‘Islamic Jihad’ are being fought. No doubt this has greatly contributed
to anti-Islamic sentiments among many non-Muslims and to the wrong
image of Islam as a violent religion. What is the way out of this situation?
The real solution is to disarm all non-governmental actors that engage
in violence. According to Islam, only an established government has the
right to possess and use arms. It is not permissible for non-state actors
or non-governmental organizations to keep arms. Non-governmental
actors or organizations have only one choice—which is of peaceful
activism. No excuse whatsoever can make it lawful for non-state actors
to pick up arms. Muslim governments must make sure that in their
countries, no one other than the military, should have access to arms.
This rule must be implemented effectively by Muslim governments.
Some people claim that the problem of radicalism in the name of
Islam is mainly economic and political, and that only by addressing
these issues can such militancy be solved. However, the reason for
radicalism in the name of Islam is neither political nor economic.
Rather, it is due to a wrong concept of Islam, which is the product of
the political interpretation of Islam. It is this political interpretation that
has sanctioned the use of arms in the name of establishing an Islamic
system. The effective solution to counter militancy is for all Muslim
leaders to disown this practice outright.
Islam exhorts its followers to adopt the peaceful method
as against the violent method.
In this connection, all the Muslim religious scholars (ulema) must issue a
verdict (fatwa), based on a consensus, stating that terrorism is unlawful
in Islam. Muslim intellectuals also have an important role to play in
this regard. They must disown all forms of terrorism, and openly write
and speak against these activities. At present, this is not happening
on the scale it should among Muslims. Perhaps the reason is fear in
their minds. They are living in Muslim society, so they have developed
fear that they may be persecuted by people of their community if they
criticize them.
In this regard, however, Muslims must follow the advice given in this
Quranic verse:
O Believers, turn you all together towards God.
(THE QURAN 24: 31)
Thus, all Muslims should collectively condemn the terrorism being
engaged in the name of Islam.
The Muslim media, too, has its role to play in the struggle against
terrorism in the name of Islam. Currently, the Muslim media is,
however, highlighting the conspiracies and atrocities of others. Such
news provokes Muslims further. And so, the Muslim media must
immediately and entirely cease the publication of this kind of news and
reporting. They must, instead, speak about the positive contributions
of others. For example, many Muslims condemn the United States of
America for its bombardment in Iraq, but hardly any Muslims ever
acknowledge the fact that it is the U.S. that has ushered in the modern
age of communication. Muslims extensively draw benefits from modern technology invented by the West, yet they do not acknowledge the West
or offer thanks. The Muslim media, must thus totally stop spreading
negative news, and, instead, must engage in the task of highlighting
positive news.
As for the general Muslim public, they must not participate in political,
disputes and agitations at all. They should concentrate solely on
earning their livelihood. They should remain indifferent in matters
pertaining to politics. These are some ways in which the phenomenon
of terrorism in the name of Islam can be combated.
Islam is a spirit-based religion,
not a form-based religion.
Terrorism in the name of Islam has definitely impacted wrongly on
some Muslims’ self-perceptions and self-confidence. In the face of the
growing incidents of terror engaged in by self-styled Islamic groups in
different countries, some Muslims hesitate to identify themselves as
Muslims in front of people of other faiths. When in the company of
non-Muslims, they tend to conceal or down play their Muslim identity.
Some of them even develop feelings of self-hatred. Some have even
lost interest in Islam. What is the solution for such people?
There is a better choice available to such Muslims—that is, to disown
the terrorism done in the name of Islam and to present the true picture
of Islam before non-Muslims. They should tell people that they need
to differentiate between Islam and Muslims, and that they should
judge Muslims in the light of Islamic teachings, not vice versa. They can
take this as an opportunity for carrying out dialogue and dawah work,
that is, inviting people to God's path. When people are now talking
about Islam, even negatively, they can take this as an opportunity for
presenting to them a true picture of Islam.
If Muslims remain silent on the wrongful interpretation of Islam that
is employed to justify terrorism, they are giving non-Muslims an
opportunity to form wrong notions regarding Islam. Thus, it is the duty
of all Muslims to speak out and to correct this wrong image of Islam.
Radical Islam is the product of the political theory of Islam. Those
who are influenced by this interpretation, too, have to be explained
that this is not the right interpretation of Islam. Once they are
convinced, they will themselves abandon all activities directly or
indirectly connected to militancy.
DUTY BEFORE RIGHT
In The Right Order
THE guiding principle for nation-building was given by Mahatma
Gandhi in these words: Duty before Right. It is not merely a
Gandhian formula. Rather it is a historically tested formula
applicable to every country.
The best society is a duty-conscious society. The worst society is a
right-conscious society. This is a universal principle, and there is no
exception in this regard.
Enjoying one’s rights does not happen simply by demanding them.
Rather, obtaining ones rights is an outcome of hard work. If you demand
or protest for your rights, your efforts will be in vain because there is no
one to hear your protest and fulfil them. In such a situation, demanding
your rights is bound to be useless. Complaining or protesting for your
rights is like crying in a desert where there is no one to hear your voice.
Perform your duties, and you will automatically
receive all the things that you want.
On the other hand, when you perform your duties, you become
deserving of obtaining your rights. Performing one’s duty is like sowing
a seed in fertile soil. Such a seed is destined to produce fruit according
to the eternal law of nature. Abiding by one’s duty always results in
becoming able to accessing one’s rights, but merely demanding your
rights cannot bring you any positive results.
Our world is based on natural laws. One such law can be referred to
as the Give and Take Principle. Saint Francis of Assisi has rightly said in
his famous prayer:
For, it is in giving that we receive.
If you are a duty-conscious person, you give something to the society.
And, according to the law of nature, you certainly deserve its return. But
if you are a right's conscious person, you give nothing to the society.
And so, you do not deserve to receive any favour from society.
All ‘super-achievers’ in history were the ‘super-givers’ of their times.
Their ‘super-giving’ made them eligible for ‘super-receiving’. If you want to receive something from others without giving anything to them, you
are living in a fanciful world of your own imagination. Your wishful
thinking will not work in this world!
The best principle for a successful life can be expressed in these simple
words: Give your best, and find the best. Your ‘best’ is like your money,
and the world of opportunities is like a shopping centre. If you are
ready to spend your money, you can obtain the things you desire from
the shopping centre. But if you are not ready to spend your money, the
doors of all shopping centres will remain closed to you. You cannot find
entry into any shopping centre anywhere.
When you perform your duty, you become deserving
of obtaining your rights.
Performing your duty means exerting the abilities given to you by
nature. You have to use your abilities with full vigour, and only then
will the world be ready to give you, your rights.
There is a saying: Work works. This is a simple rule for success in this
world. If you are ready to do your job, this formula will certainly work
and, sooner or later, you will obtain its results.
If others complain about you, take it seriously. Adopt the maxim:
Blame thyself. Try to find out your own shortcomings. By removing your
shortcomings you will become acceptable to others. Simply demanding
your rights will not yield you any positive results.
Examples abound of people who engage in constant complaining and
demanding for their rights from others, but who actually gain nothing
at all. On the other hand, there are numerous examples of people who
perform their duties without asking for any rights, and their work was
immensely appreciated and they were given their due.
Perform your duties and you will automatically receive all the things
that you want. Obtaining one’s rights is subject to performing one’s
duties, but not vice versa. This is a universal principle. No one can
achieve anything by going against this universal law.
LESSONS FROM A ROAD BLOCK
Road Block, Not Mental Block
WHEN a road is under repair, a notice bearing the words
'ROAD CLOSED' is put up to warn unwary travellers. But
this does not mean that the path to one’s destination is
irrevocably barred. There are always other highways and by-ways
that one can take—it is just a question of looking around for them.
Sometimes, one can reach one’s destination just as well by zigzagging
through narrow lanes and alley-ways. The only difference is that this
takes somewhat longer, and one has to keep one’s wits about one to
negotiate the narrower roadways and sharper turnings. But arrive, one
finally does.
Life’s journey is very often like this. One would like to proceed by the
broadest and straightest route, moving as fast as possible and reaching
one’s goal in the most direct possible way. But often such roads are
blocked, and so getting to one's destination begins to seem very
difficult, if not impossible. Yet, for every major route which is blocked,
there are always several minor roads that are open. It is just a question
of having to go about doing things in a slightly roundabout manner.
This is particularly true if you meet with an adversary and feel that you
are unable to confront him head-on. It is then that you must find some
indirect means of dealing with him. Often, compromise or adjustment
is the best solution.
For every major route which is blocked, there are
always several minor roads that are open.
When in one particular field there seems to be a discouraging lack of
opportunities, one can search for and certainly find opportunities in
some other field. When you fail to find a place for yourself in the front
row, you can always make do with a place in the rear until a place
up ahead finally falls vacant for you. When you cannot find people to
extend you a helping hand, press on fearlessly and strike out on your
own. When you need things from people to help you in life and no one
seems ready to be generous, stop thinking of how deprived you are
and try, instead, to earn God’s blessings.
For every closed door, there is always another which is open—but
only to those who have the eyes to see it, and the courage to march
through it.
THE SPIRITUAL TREE
Personality Of A Believer
A TREE is a physical illustration of the spiritual life. It has a unique
quality. It begins from a small seed, and then it grows and grows,
until it becomes a full-fledged tree. How does this miracle take
place? It is due to an inner quality of the tree. It is able to take food
from everything: from soil, water, air, and sunlight.
A seed is small, less than half-an-inch perhaps, but when it grows, it
becomes a large tree, sometimes a few hundred feet tall. Man, also, is
initially a seed. He is born with great potential. When he grows up, he
can become like a giant; a superman. When he is born, he is
like a seed. He possesses all the great human qualities.
But all these things are in terms of potentiality, not in
terms of actuality. It is for Man himself to turn this
potentiality into actuality.
But there is a difference here. A seed
grows automatically, following the
law of nature. Man however, is
required to develop his personality
by his own efforts. This requires
conscious planning. Man should
discover himself and plan for his
development accordingly.
We live in a world where we
face different situations, both
negative and positive, wanted
and unwanted. All these are like
food for human beings, food for
our growth. We must extract
this nourishment for our
development from all things,
including negative things, and
unwanted situations. We can
learn much from these, too.
This is the course of human
development in this world. Man
must take food from everything.
When he is angry and controls his anger, he is developing in his
personality the art of turning negativity into positivity. When he faces a
crisis situation and manages to keep his patience, he is developing the
ability of positive planning. If he faces a violent situation and refrains
from reacting, he is developing his personality in such a way that he
can maintain his peace of mind no matter what condition he finds
himself in.
This gives Man the ability of not wasting his energies and, instead,
of devoting himself totally to constructive work. When he faces a
provocative situation and maintains his balance, he develops selfcontrol.
It is as if he has enrolled for a course in intellectual development.
By developing self-control he is developing in himself a mindset
that will enable him to manage the crises everyone faces in
life, at some time or another.
All these situations are like intellectual food for
us. If you try to face these situations
with a positive attitude, you will
be helping yourself grow. You
will be enhancing your creativity.
You will be developing your
personality on positive lines.
One who adopts this course will
surely emerge, sometime or
the other, as a well-developed
personality, like a full-grown tree.
Every person is born into this world
with tremendous potential, but
he or she has to work hard to
unfold this innate potential.
This potential is provided by
nature, but its unfolding is
entirely every person's own job
to do.
Nature never discriminates against
anyone with regard to the blessings
that it showers on one and all. It is
Man who makes himself either a
success or a failure.
SALAH
The Islamic Prayer
Salah is the second pillar of Islam. It consists of a series of
movements and words repeated several times. Each series or cycle
of this movement is called a raka’a (or 'bowing'). In salah, chosen
passages of the Quran are recited. It is the duty of every adult Muslim
to perform five daily prayers, individually or in congregation. For salah
to be acceptable to God, it should be performed at the proper times,
in purity, and facing the Qibla, the direction of the Kabah. These five
obligatory prayers have to be observed at fixed times. Prayers which
are missed at the correct times should be made up afterwards.
Prayer as a general duty or service is frequently enjoined in the Quran.
Prayer is the second of the five fundamental principles or pillars of
practical devotion in Islam. It is a devotional exercise which every
Muslim is required to engage in five times a day
Prayers remind us five times daily that we are
accountable to a God who is watching us.
The five daily prayers are:
• Early morning prayer: Two raka’as; — between dawn and sunrise.
• Noon prayer: Four raka’as, between noon and mid-afternoon.
• Late afternoon prayer: Four raka’as; — between the time when the
shadow begins to be equal, until the setting of the sun.
• Sunset prayer: Three raka’as; — between sunset and early evening.
• Evening prayer: Four raka’as; — from the disappearance of twilight
until dawn, but preferably before midnight.
In addition, every Friday there is a congregational salah. The Friday
prayer brings together large numbers of people from different
neighbourhoods. This increases their sense of community. This prayer
has to be performed in congregation in a mosque, and consists of two
raka’as, preceded by a sermon.
Other exceptional prayers are those that are performed on the occasion
of festivals. On the morning of the festivals of Eid Al-Azha and Eid Al-Fitr, there are special prayers of two raka’as. The whole community
gathers together in a special prayer ground.
According to a hadith, the Angel Gabriel came and performed salah five
times, at the right times of the day and night. The Prophet joined the
Angel in prayer to learn it from him.
Salah is performed in the following manner: First of all, the believer
performs ablutions. Then, he stands in the direction of the Kabah, in
Makkah. He holds up his hands and says aloud:
God alone is great.
Then, he submits himself to the will of His Lord. After praising God
by reciting some passages from the Quran, he begins to feel God's
majesty. Then, he prostrates touching his forehead to the ground.
Prostration is an acknowledgement of the majesty of God.
One who performs his prayer in its true spirit cannot
be forgetful of God when his prayer is over.
Muslims have been advised in the Quran to be steadfast in their prayer
(THE QURAN 29: 45), for prayer keeps away indecency and evil. When
the Prophet of Islam was asked about this verse, he said: If a person
does not keep himself away from indecency and evil his prayer is not really
prayer at all.
How does prayer become the means for inculcating these virtues in the
faithful? It is because prayers remind us five times daily that, we are
accountable to a God, who is watching us.
One who performs his prayer in its true spirit cannot be forgetful of
God when his prayer is over. Prayer is a manifestation of the fact that
one’s heart is full of the fear of, and love for, God. And so, if one prays
in the true spirit of prayer, one’s prayer will surely fend off indecency
and evil.
The aim of prayer is to enjoin upon believers to think of God, to bring
people closer to God, to keep them from indulging in indecent and
forbidden activities, to purify the heart, develop the mind, to comfort
the soul and to demonstrate obedience to the Creator.
The Prophet once asked his Companions, “Tell me, if any of you had a
rivulet before his doors and bathed five times a day therein, would any
dirt remain on his body?” The Companions replied, “Certainly not.” The
Prophet then explained that, in the same manner, the five daily prayers
as ordered by God will erase all minor sins.
Prayer is a manifestation of the fact that one’s heart
is full of the fear of, and love for, God.
Prayer is frequently enjoined in the Quran, while the appointed times
and the mode of saying prayers were clearly prescribed by the Prophet,
exemplified in the manner he himself practiced them.
The Quran says:
Say your prayers morning and evening, and during parts of the
night; surely good makes amends for evil. This is a reminder
for people who pay heed.
(THE QURAN 11: 114)
Believers are under the obligation to say
their prayers at the appointed hours.
(THE QURAN 4: 103)
The actual spirit of salah is the remembrance of God. The purpose of
human life according to Islam is to worship God. However, there are
other demands of life as well, which do not allow people to be engaged
in worship twenty four hours a day. That is why it has been arranged
that every day for a certain period of time, one should be able to spare
time from one’s daily engagements and engage in the worship of God.
The time-bounded prayers are intended to refresh our remembrance
of God, so that even when we are engaged in worldly activities we
should remember God constantly. In this way, our entire life will be
coloured in the hue of divine worship. Besides, salah is also a very
effective means of moral training. It instils modesty and self-discipline,
which are the root of all noble qualities.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (1925-2021) was an Islamic scholar, spiritual guide, and an Ambassador of Peace. He authored over 200 books and recorded thousands of lectures giving the rational interpretation of Islamic concepts, prophetic wisdom, and the spiritual meaning of the Quran in the contemporary style. His English translation, The Quran, is widely appreciated as simple, clear and in contemporary style. He founded Centre for Peace and Spirituality (CPS) International in 2001 to re-engineer minds towards God-oriented living and present Islam as it is, based on the principles of peace, spirituality, and co-existence. Maulana breathed his last on 21 April, 2021 in New Delhi, India. His legacy is being carried forward through the CPS International Network.
What God most earnestly desires from human beings is worship. The Quran says: “I have not created jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” ( 51:56 )
