Real vs. pseudo Scholar

Aalim bil Haq-vs-Aalim bil Iktisab (almathqaf/ashtal kutub)         (Religious Scholar vs. Secular Scholar)

Awliya-Allah (bondmen of God) who, understand the intricacies of the spiritual maze, have done this by virtue of being Arifeen (Knowers of Allah). They also understand that the revelation of esoteric knowledge is through the heart. A heart cleansed of malice and hypocrisy to receive the divine knowledge. (Knowledge sanctioned and inspired by Allah).

Note: Awliya-Allah are far superior in status and station than the scholars.

Meaning: People spend all their life in reading and writing (like a bookworm/   عثة الكتب) but alas! (All their efforts go in vain as) they fail to gain Union with Allah; which ought to be the actual objective of a real scholar. Real knowledge is that which prevents one from self-conceit, lust and is inspired by Allah. Whosoever has not got the knowledge from the divine; is surely a seeker of the world; intending to be called/known as a scholar, is a sinner. To gain the real knowledge one has to first of all sacrifice the four birds (shades) of Nafs i.e. cock of lust, the crow of greed, the peacock of fake beauty and the pigeon of the desires. The lowest level of Nafs is Nafs-e-Ammara i.e. the ill commanding Nafs, the second level is  Nafs-e-Lawama i.e. the Nafs which repents after committing sin, A better level is Nafs-e-Mulhima which prevents from sin by inspiration and the best level is Nafs-e-Mutmaina i.e. the satisfied self which is never inclined towards sins.

An Aalim bil Iktiasb (Islamic-Bookworm) [I would refrain from using the term Aalim-e-Soo] operates without the auspices and inspiration of the divine and presents the argument/reason/logic to confound his audience at the time/occasion. An Aalim bil Haq, on the other hand, is constantly inspired and guided by the divine; hence enlightens his audience with the argument/reason of universal nature; valid for all times/occasions, without falling victim to self-contradiction. [An Aalim bil Iktisab is also known as “scripturalist” somewhat, but not exactly, similar to Pervaizis/Qura’anist]

An Aalim who eschews from the spiritual aspect of Islam deprives himself of the blessed title of an Aalim Bil Haq. The reason is that the essence of human being “Indestructible Soul/Spirit” emanates from the Aalme-Amr of Allah (SWT). Spirituality, therefore, becomes an inevitable threshold to the esoteric dimension of the Divine Knowledge, which obviously demands pondering over and contemplation about the creations (ayat/signs) of Allah. It has been repeatedly elicited in the Holy Qura’an by posing questions, such as; “Don’t you contemplate?”, “Don’t you ponder over?”, “Don’t you observe?”& “Don’t you have intellect?”, hence becomes imperative of human essence/nature and cannot be ignored.

When closely scrutinized, one would notice that the Muslim scientists of the old used to be Awliya, first and peripheral scientist of any other discipline later. Most of their knowledge was inspired rather than acquired (eruditional, as is today). They did not have access to highly sophisticated laboratories and scientific gadgets like today.

Knowledge (of religion) is exoterically related to prayers and levels*, *(level of veracity by blessing them [the seekers] with the knowledge of verification (4:69). This is the level about which it is said: Perseverance is better than miracles).

while esoterically it is related to:

1) The inspired knowledge.

2) The knowledge which directly comes from the Divine.

3) The knowledge gained through the undoubted Book of

Allah-The Quran, when (its hidden meanings are) revealed.

These three kinds (of esoteric knowledge) can be sought through the ways of contemplation given hereinbelow. Their practice would show the spectacle of both the worlds.

 “Tasawur-e-Tareeq” (Contemplation of the Divine Way),

“Tasawur-e-Taufeeq” (Contemplation of the Divine favor),

“Tasawur-e-Tehqeeq” (Contemplation of the Divine Verification) and “Tasawur-e-Dariya-e-Ameeq” (Contemplation of The Deepest Ocean of Divinity).

Prophet (PBUH), before being endowed with prophet-hood, for such contemplation often used to seek solitude in the cave of “Hira”. It, therefore, becomes imperative; for him being an unlettered person; that he would have no other preoccupation there for days, but busy pondering and contemplating.

Allah (SWT) has also advised spending time worshiping/contemplating in the last/later parts of the night for it is suitable for coherence/concentration. According to a hadith Allah descends to the first Heaven to grace the invocations, plights of late night worshipers.

“Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and the tongue] and more suitable for words” (Q, 73:6)

“[He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of [your] affairs” (Q, 73:9)

“Indeed, this is a reminder, so whoever wills may take to his Lord a way” (Q, 73:19)

A hadith gives the prescription for recognizing a real scholar (Aalim-bil-Haq) as follow;

The one meeting him would remind you of Allah and also makes you eager to meet him again.

Firstly, while choosing a religious scholar/sheikh to follow, one should ensure that the deeds and words of such a Scholar/Guide are in accordance with the Sharia’ah.

Secondly, he should have complete knowledge of exegesis of the

Qura’an and Hadith i.e. he should know; what is annulled and what is not, which orders of the Qura’an must be practiced and which not. He should have the insight to differentiate the importance of one order of the Qura’an from the other, because, though it is essential to believe in the whole of the Book of Allah it is not obligatory to act upon every word of it. Some orders are obligatory, some are desirable but not obligatory and some are allowed but not desirable.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

One should not pick and choose a verse to present/form his (skewed) point of view instead of a collective outcome, of all the verses on the topic. Such a deduction then should be the guiding and binding. (Q, 2: 85 & 4: 150)

 

Sources used for this piece, apart from Qura’an, Hadith, Sunnah and Islamic literature is, Sultan Bahoo’s “Kashf ul Asrar”{excerpts/concepts improvised for clarity and ease of comprehension}

(I seek, Allah’s forgiveness and refuge, for any inadvertent misrepresentation or misstatement made)

SAVE—-ROHINGYA, UGHER, PALESTINIAN AND KASHMIRI MUSLIM FROM STATE-SPONSORED GENOCIDE. RECLAIM—AFRICA— A MUSLIM CONTINENT. (Use and share this slogan as often as possible)

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Existential Amiss

Common sense, Reason, Logic, Causality, Imagination, Morality & Ethics!

 

I intended to write this piece in a secular fashion but the overwhelming relevance of the Divine wisdom kept piercing through my thought canvas, hence surrendered making it part of the discourse. Human discourse or argumentation, anyway, barely scratches the obvious externalities of the issues while the Divine wisdom put forth the internally woven realities in a succinct yet aptly simple manner. One may notice the examples of such Subtleties in the course of reading this treatise.

Had Common sense, reason and logic been potent enough to reach the absolute certainty of the conclusions drawn, there would have been no need for the Divine religions to barge in. All of these tools are perceptual or experiential outcomes of human endeavors which; given the deficient nature of human faculties; are incapable of coming even remotely close to the level of Divine Wisdom; Revelation, the only fait accompli. (A subtle hint/deduced from Q, 17; 37) Hence some of the precepts of the religion are above and beyond the realm of human commonsense, causality, reason and logic, exuding perfect certitude and submission. (A state of affairs enormously repugnant and conceptually unacceptable to the secularists, anti-religionists and non-believers)

Note:- similar debate has been going on for long. a brief excerpt is quoted here.

[The innovative Jahmiyyah and Their Relatives from Ahl al-Kalaam Asharis and Maturidis fought the greatest battle and contention between the followers of the revealed Books and the sent Messengers and between the followers of the Hellenized Jews, Christians and Sabeans. Those who contradict the revealed texts with their reason (aql), and think the reason is definitive over the revealed texts].

Common sense is really not as common as perceived. Variegated sense perceptions render it somewhat-common, partially-common, quasi-common or purely individualistic rather than really-common in the true sense of the word.

  Reason and Logic are even more disparate; propitious-reason and logic; sometimes referred to as rationality; are used to justify a conclusion, one is at home with. (Rational bias) A slightest dissension or differentiation would entail disapproval or divergence. Therefore, all these tools may create some sort of near or quasi-convergence but not an absolute or conclusive one. Logic is derived from the Greek word “logos”. In Muslim Philosophy another Grecian alternative “monads”*1 is used instead, to justify a position/stance by distinguishing a good reason from the bad one. It is only the Divine revelation (wisdom, word) which is flawless, absolute and ultimate-truth; authoritative in its perception, understanding and validity…worthy of even blind-Faith.

Kurt Gödel puts it succinctly as follow:- 

The logical axioms that underlie everyday things like arithmetic depend on us accepting as reasonable the notion that infinity comes in several different sizes.

In Islamic parlance, however “pristine-reason” (Haq al Yaqeen); in the absence of a human messenger; is considered to be potent enough for a rational being to come; at least, to the cognition of the existence and oneness of God, hence obviating disbelief. “Pristine-reason” here, is “elevated to the status of a “non-human-messenger” of God, for reason gains an edge when the logic fails rational being. (Deduced from Q, 17: 15)

Contemplative tools; human faculties, given the amiss, may help us reach the level of most probable/likely certainty (in the temporal, ancillary and ritualistic matters) but not that of an absolute certitude (in the core matters of belief/faith); which is only possible by Divine consent/intervention through the heart (Q, 10:100), as in the above case of cognition of God’s Oneness. Here the externality of this intervention cloaked in the garb of; “pristine-human-reason”, is upgraded to the status of “non-human-messenger”

Non-believer’s obstinate rejection of the Divine, religious injunctions and that of hereafter; though based on (tenuous and vitiated) reason, logic and common sense, amply explains their state of affairs.           (Q, 10:100)

*1 Universal Spirit, the first cause, singularity, Divine, Intermediary agent etc.

Imam Ghazali;- “With regard to sense-perception says; it made him very hesitant to accept the infallibility of reason. He believed in the testimony of sense till it was contradicted by the verdict of reason. Well, perhaps there is above reason another judge who; if appeared, would convict reason of falsity and if such a third arbiter is not yet apparent it does not follow that he does not exist.”

When Imam Ghazali could not reconcile the philosophical dispensations with the Divine wisdom, (Obviously there is no comparison between the two; one represents the mundaneness, while the other, word of the Divine) he turned to Sufism.

In quantum physics (Double-Slit) experiment, our act of observing something seems to change what’s observed – we are ourselves part of the experiment. Is this the ultimate problem of self-reference, one that suggests a limit to how much we can ever reason about—our surroundings—the universe?

 Role of the religion, therefore, becomes inevitable; for it presents us with flawless and absolute truth; which is perceptually-authoritative and practically valid, engendering “Taqwa”. [Innate reverential-fear (Awe) of Allah (SWT). Distinct from the usual fear of other (agencies)]

An incisive consideration and pondering, on just two of the aspects of the divine religion: 1) Belief in the hereafter. 2) The contentment would vouch for and warrant religion’s inevitability.

Belief in the hereafter is often considered a conceptual absurdity and theological fallacy hence rejected by the non-believers. Belief in the hereafter, however, is the source of immitigable hope and equity, which no atheistic belief/doctrine/philosophy may even, conceives to offer. Unbelief in the hereafter renders one scuttled of many realities. Such as; ultimate-reality; ultimate-hope; ultimate-triumph, and ultimate-Justice. One, without the belief in the hereafter, is like, latching onto the event-horizon of a black hole of hopelessness and despair. The statistics, available on depression/hopelessness resulting in suicide and homicide, is a vindication of this fact. Conversely, in the overwhelmingly religious affluent Middle East, there are hardly any such issues, hence NO mental hospitals needed.

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/scuttling-the-mental-capacity/

Contentment is a huge blessing for a rational being. When someone (even a non-believer) is suffering; no relief in sight; distressed/desperate, resorts back to God, is blessed with His mercy. (Q, 27:62) Overwhelmed with gratitude, he takes a sigh of relief and the most joyous sense of contentment sets in. (One’s resorting back to God while distressed, means un-recalcitrant-submission; invigorating the innate impulses; meeting the pre-requisites; of belief in Him, His injunctions, including the belief in the hereafter).

“Is He [not best] who responds to the distressed/desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth?” (Q, 27:62)

“Deprived is the one who has been deprived of the reward of enduring distress”  (Khidr–a.s)                                                                                                                                          Fasting in the month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk is a fine practical example of it; whereby one is patiently content (nafs-al-mutmai’nna) all day long, hoping the accrual of the temporal and divinely rewards at the end of the day.

Faculties of thinking and the exercise of Free-will (choice) are also signs of deficiency on the part of the creation. Allah does not think but intends; for He is omnipotent; causer of both, the cause and the effect. Nothing wrong/bad may emanate from His essence (Q, 48:23); but from His schematic creational activities, such as the creation of rational beings inseminated with good and bad. “Indeed, Our word to a thing when We intend it is but that We say to it, “Be,” and it is” (Q, 16:40)   On the other hand; when rational beings would exercise the option of intention; in the similar fashion; (without thinking and deliberations) it is bound to be fraught with pitfalls, for rational beings are created with an existential amiss.

Imagination is of non-local (metaphysical/spiritual) origin; for it traverses both, the local and non-local domain. Therefore, those who accuse believers of worshipping an “imaginary God” are, unwittingly, admitting this reality. God inculcated, in the constitution of the rational beings, two-pronged sense of imagination (topical and non-topical); a schematic molding, hence the relevance and necessity of Divine and Divine religion becomes inevitable. God does not think but “Wills” whereas man’s will (choice) subsists in God’s will whereby He equilibrates it with the elements of hope and fear, (existential amiss) rendering it rationally operative. (Q, 17:57)

People need religion because it is the blueprint for the functioning of the “Soul” in the temporal realm. Voltaire, an archpriest of rationalism, alludes to this inevitability in a mundanely best possible way: “Man would have to invent God, even if He does not exist”

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/?s=inevitable+God

Religious Truth is multifaceted. It is comprised of science, logic, philosophy, history, ethics, and experience all mixed together. It is, in a sense, a different kind of knowing, not ignorant of the other kinds of truths (known and yet to be known), asserting the inevitability of the religion.

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2018/02/03/scientific-elaboration-of-surah-at-tin-fig-95-verse-4/

 (Hadith) Every child is born on Nature— (his natural disposition/course. Resorting back to/linking with the Creator)

“It is asserted here that fitrah is the essential condition and state of existence in which God fashioned mankind; with innate impulses/urges including the sense of good and bad; fear and safety; pain and relief; cognition of God; submission, transgression and arrogance etc. (existential amiss–Imperfection, tendency/choice to swerve). It is present in the very essence of the creation and is inextricably kneaded into the very substance of the “rational beings” (Q) which is acutely elicited in the following verse.

 

إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الاٌّمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الإِنْسَـنُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ
نَظَلُوماً جَهُولاً –

 “We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it;- He was indeed ignorant  and foolish” (Q, 33:72)

 

Ordinary beings, given their basic knowledge of the religious fundamentals, are tested for their weaknesses (existential amiss). The window of forgiveness is wide open for them; even if they have a mountain of mistakes/sins on their back; as long as they keep seeking forgiveness with utmost sincerity and a commitment not to repeat the same. (There is no numerical or time limitation)  This is an esoteric expression of the unbounded mercy of the Creator; for the people of knowledge and intellect who understand.

Men of knowledge (Aalim/Scholar), given the higher degree of knowledge, are tested for the equitable dissemination of the knowledge while acting upon it themselves as is due. Their test becomes harder and their failure attracts equally harsher punishment, for they are given the knowledge as the inheritors of the Prophet (PBUH).

Prophets; given the highest degree of knowledge and the duty of disseminating the message entrusted to them, often face the hardest of the tests for their perseverance, firmness, devotion and endurance instead. They are immunized of the mundanity (existential amiss) to a large extent due to their highest station/status. (Protected from major sins—Asmah/Masoom); which keeps them even from minor sins but some rare slips. (Q, 4:31)

“If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance [into Paradise]” [Q, 4:31]

Hadith: when a companion asked the Prophet, despite being a Prophet of Allah why do you always keep asking for His forgiveness? He replied; “for any moment passed without His remembrance” This emphasizes the point that one, regardless of his station, should never be oblivious of the innate existential amiss and always keep asking for His forgiveness.

“Cause and effect” is a phenomenon of the sequential morphing of things/ideas in the space-time spectrum. It, however, can’t continue ad-infinitum. It also cannot fully transcend back into the metaphysical/spiritual realm. Therefore, becomes unhitched, regressive, and even ineffective. ‘Ex Nahilo’ is an outright negation of temporal phenomenon of “causality”. God (SWT); the very first (primal) cause, therefore, is the sole cause/causer of the Universe. (Creational activity in the space-time realm is known as “Khulq/Takhleeq” )

“When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, “Be,” and it is” (Q, 2:117)

In the absence of space-time spectrum, there is but an intention/will (ordinance {Amar}), of the primal cause, for the matter/idea to come into being. In the metaphysical/spiritual realm, contrary to the physical realm, no material/tangible cause has to exist to produce a material/tangible effect. Divine causality, therefore, is inimitable by the rational beings in the space-time spectrum. (Creational activity in the absence of space-time spectrum is known as “Takween”)

Takween is derived from the word “KUN” fayakun. It is beyond and above the physical laws of the universe and does not need the matter, time or space for a thing to come into existence. (Ex Nihilo=Out of Nothing). Bypassing the temporal physical laws or the temporal causality is also called Takween. {creation of Adam and Jesus Christ—PBUT}

 Temporal causality vs. Divine causality

Here are vivid differences.

In temporal causality, a causer may activate the cause but may not have the capability to determine the effect. He would also not have the capability to alter the effect (outcome) of a cause. A rational being may be dealing with a clear cause or INUS (insufficient but non-redundant parts of conditions; which in itself unnecessary, but sufficient for the occurrence of the effects). This distinction would not exist in the Divine causality.

In Divine causality, The Causer of the cause and effect is the same. The Causer is omnipotent to alter/determine the effect(s) as He wills. The Causer is also competent to produce an effect without cause (Ex-Nahilo). The Causer may pre-determine effects or causes in multiple, and then afford the medium (sentient beings) the application of Free-will (Choice) to commensurate effect(s).

“And when We would intend to destroy a township We had sent a commandment (warning) to its people of authority leading easy lives; who yet disobeyed and transgressed; so as a result of our Judgment passed, We annihilated it with complete annihilation” (Q, 17:16)

Note:- (Ghazali’s views on causality, read: http://www.ghazali.org/articles/gz-aylon2.pdf)

Morality, mortified by the psychology of innate fear, sprouts from the Divine religious injunctions. Although it lays the ground-rules for this word, the effects also transcend to the next.

Morality, based on reward and punishment, (retribution) works wonderfully due to the psychology of “innate-fear” of being monitored unimpeded and continuously by the “Invisible”. Religion (Islam) “submission” was enacted simultaneous to the Creation (forbidding Adam and Eve from eating the fruit) and the punishment for its violation was established by the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Heavens. Satan (Lucifer) was also expelled for his disobedience due to his avarice and pride. They were not simply expelled but with specifically (and schematically) mandated rights, roles, and responsibilities; which, in specifically Islamic parlance could be called “Sharia’a” and in everyday parlance “Morality”.

Ethicality is developed by the rational beings, in the light of their past collective experiences. It regulates the immediate, contemporary cultural, societal or communal behavior. It is limited to temporality in scope, optional in its practicality; often floutingly by-passed without compunction. Needless to say that, the resourcefulness of Morality is unsurpassable by the man-made ethicality.

Ethics (Laws) are devised by the people for a community, society or culture; monitoring whereof is also done by people (an agency) employed for the purpose. The compliance would simply depend on either one’s call of the conscience or the fear of being caught by the monitoring agent. The physical absence of the monitoring agency would offer all kind of inducements to flout, as it cannot be established and no penalty would ensue.  This is the weakest aspect of the man-made ethicality.

A distinct difference between Divine law and the man-made law is that Divine Law compassionately seeks avenues to forgive while the man-made law is hell-bent on seeking evidence to punish.

Those who envisage morality, without religion, in fact, misconstrue ethics as morality.

After all, man is created with an existential amiss.

 Innate Fear, Psychology of fear is employed by the Divine to elicit the compliance of the religious injunctions without the presence of a physical watchdog.

• An infant, when made to hold a bar, would continue clinging to it due to the innate fear of fall and hurt until made to feel safe to let it go.
• In a situation of distress, “heightened state of fear/anxiety” (even in the case of a non-believer) all boundaries and impediments are dismantled; a connection between the Lord and the distressed-servant is immediately activated, and the call of the distressed is heard by the Almighty. (Q, 27:62)

Innate-fear, therefore, is not just a predicate of punishment, as often complained, but also that of an “SOS” signal, in the situation of distress.   

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Topics covered:- Logic, reason, pristine reason, common sense, causality, Temporal/Divine causality, revelation, Divine wisdom, Inevitability of religion, Non Human Messenger, Gazali’s falsity of reason, imagination, Imaginary God, belief in the hereafter, Contentment, Voltaire’s rationalism, Fitrah, khulq/takween, Ordinary,/ scholar/ prophet, Psychology of Innate fear, Morality, Ethics and  The-Distressed.

West, a trembling hive of Hypocrisy

Western,  especially the US’s, virtues are tailored to justify hegemonic policies, wars and covert activities.Where,

Attacking Blacks is Racism.

Attacking a country is Terrorism                                                                                                (Except when attacked by a western country or Israel)

Attacking Homosexuality is Homophobia

Attacking women is Gender discrimination

Attacking Jews is Semitism

Questioning holocaust is still forbidden in some countries.

But, attacking Islam, Qura’an, Muslims and the Prophet, is all a fair game, as it mysteriously, in a snap, changes to, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, EXPRESSION.

Recently a ray of hope, however, has surfaced on the barren wilderness of the west; 

ECtHR decision to uphold the decision of A Vienna court convicted her in 2011 of disparaging religious doctrines, to an Austrian woman in her late 40s where she was fined $547 plus legal costs, declaring that “The Strasbourg-based ECHR ruled that insulting Islamic prophet Muhammad “goes beyond the permissible limits of an objective debate” and “could stir up prejudice and put at risk religious peace.”

The ECHR said the Austrian court’s decision “served the legitimate aim of preserving religious peace.” The court also said the woman’s comments were not objective, failed to provide historical background and had no intention of promoting public debate.                        https://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/FS_Hate_speech_ENG.pdf

The Dutch government has sought to distance itself from Wilders’ contest, with Prime Minister Mark Rutte calling it provocative, but saying that there were protections of freedom of speech in the Netherlands.

“The aim is to provoke rather than to force a debate about Islam,” Rutte said this week. “Wilders is a politician who provokes and he is free to do”

that.”https://www.dw.com/en/anti-islam-dutch-politician-geert-wilders-cancels-muhammad-cartoon-contest/a-45298935

Read related article:-

https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/islamophobia-through-yougove-poll-pew-research-center-study/

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Re-alignments in the Middle East, In the wake of, Receding West.

 

 

The Arab–Israeli conflict was primarily seen, for many decades, as a conflict between Arab-states and Israel, rather than between Muslims and Israel. Periphery doctrine; an Israeli foreign-policy strategy; was used by P.M Ben Gurion to develop close alliances with Non-Arab Muslim states in the Middle East, to counter the united opposition of Arab states to the illegitimate existence of the state of Israel.

 Contemporary politicking is characterized by uncertainties, low probabilities for good and high consequences in terms of deceit, destruction, and miseries.

 Strategic-interests of the Israeli government converged with those of the Turkish and Iranian governments of the time. Turkey’s (Military lead government) sought integration with the free-market economies and democracies of Europe, a member of NATO and the EU. The Shah of Iran, being a major ally of the United States, facilitated the dialogue between Israel, Iran and Turkey.

In 1950, both Turkey and Iran became the first, and for a long time, the only Muslim states to have diplomatic relations with Israel. Both Turkey and Iran developed extensive military cooperation.  During the 1967 Six-Day War, Iran supplied Israel with essential oil and petroleum. Israel helped in the industrial and military development in Turkey and Iran.

With the rise of Arab nationalism under Nasser in the sixties the relationship between Iran and the Arab world started deteriorating (The Persian Gulf was dubbed as “Arabian” Gulf).  This further strengthened the relationship between Israel and Iran.

The overthrow of the Shah of Iran in 1979 was a major setback to Periphery Doctrine. The Islamic regime of Ruhollah Khomeini severed relations with Israel. Ironically, however, throughout the 1980s no one in Israel said anything about or considered Iran a threat—the word wasn’t even uttered.

During the peak of the Persian Empire, Jews are thought to have comprised as much as 20% of the population. Jews trace their heritage in Iran to the Babylonian Exile of the 6th century BC and have retained their ethnic, linguistic, and religious identity. Now their number, however, has dwindled to mere 9000.

Zionist Organization was first established in Persia by the Jewish elders and Rabbis. The Jews of Persia understood that “Zion” is the biblical name of Jerusalem and Zionism demonstrates the end of exile and the beginning of redemption.

Rumors, during the time of Hitler, cropped up in Iran that Hitler has secretly converted to Islam and has taken the name Heydar (the title of Imam Ali). What made, European and Jews, panic was that Hitler is planning to reveal his true religion after defeating the deceitful British, the godless Russians and the Jews.

Unfortunately, the Bible has a little good to say about Gentiles (and barely any about Jews) with the exception of Cyrus the Great; who was the first Zionist, yet exalted in the Bible. Persians and Medes, according to Old Testament, are the only people who hadn’t oppressed Jews or committed atrocities against them. There was Jewish royalty in Iran, including Queen Esther, buried there (as are Daniel and Mordecai). Iran, thus, logically, becomes the second holiest land in Judaism.  Israel, nevertheless, is Iran’s arch-enemy always conspiring to destroy or at least weaken it.

Is there any possibility of a raproshma between the two?

It seems too late. The chances, by far, are getting slimmer by every passing day; for the World’s naiveté, despite all the neo-conic, fascist and populist strategies employed by the retreating west, is eroding. Iran, despite being a pariah ( Shia’a state), is increasingly gaining acceptance in the comity of nations as a Muslim-dominated, relation-worthy sovereign state. Bedouin Pentagon, on the other hand, is losing its Shia’a-Sunni (sectarian) tug of war.

It would have been most probable if the Palestinian state was created and the West’s fosterage of Israel forsaken; to let it exist and grow on its own; cultivating relationships on mutuality, rather than arms twisting by its sugar daddy—the USA.

On the other hand, ironically, in the vein of strange realism, Western Intelligentsia and the Academia have already started contemplating and discussing the Post-Israel-Middle East.

After the Iranian revolution in 1979, the country set out to export its brand of revolutionary Islam. As Iran became an Islamic republic, Sunni Islamists were not only jealous of the triumph of the Shia’a Imamate (State) but became even more determined to establish their version of the Islamic state.

The relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran has oscillated between indifference, hostility, rapprochement and tension over the decades. Prince MBS appears determined to intensify the rivalry with Iran as he continues to raise Riyadh’s concerns over Iranian expansion in the Arab world and beyond.

Saudi Arabia exported Wahhabi Islam, to counter Iranian revolutionary Islam, across Africa, Asia and even Europe. Saudis are notorious for stoking sectarianism. The two countries entered a fierce battle over the souls of Muslims with Saudi clerics augmenting their anti-Shiite rhetoric and the Iranian counterparts playing down their Shiism to appeal to Pan-Islamic, anti-imperial and anti-Western sentiments among Muslims. Saudi Arabia, despite President Obama’s realistic understanding of the Middle Eastern issues, continued pressing the USA to bomb Iran.

The Saudis see the resurgence of the Iranian influence as a revival of the Old Persian nationalism. Blowing-up the Iranian threat magnifies MBS’s role as the savior of Bedouin-Pentagon from Persianization and Shiification.

Saudis see the brutal war in Yemen, where the Shia’a-Houthis are supported by Iran, as a battle for survival for the Saudi nation and the hegemony of Arabness over Persianization. Prince MBS’s Vision 2030 for the Kingdom excludes Iran from the greater regional integration with the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt and Israel.

Muta’a Doctrine (marriage of convenience) in Politics

During the Cold War, Saudi Arabia and Iran worked together with the United States against the Soviet Union. They accepted a division of labor: Iran provided military capabilities; Saudi Arabia provided theological ammunition and funding against the Soviet Union. Now Iran is replaced as a new enemy for the Soviet Union and Israel as a friend for Iran. A toxic nexus has emerged between the US, Saudi Arabia and Zionist Israel in the rapidly changing situation in the Muslim East. Saudis maintained discreet relations with the Zionist-Israel, hiding this illicit relationship from the Muslim World. Now, however, they arrogantly flaunt it as a badge of honor due to the changed political compulsions.

As is already well-known; the Saudi and Israeli common cause against perceived Iranian influence and expansion; in places like Syria, Lebanon and Iraq of late has forced the historic bitter enemies down a path of cooperation as both seem to have placed the breakup of the so-called “Shia’a crescent” as their primary policy goal in the region at any cost. For Israel, Hezbollah, seen as an Iranian proxy contingent, has long been its greatest foe, present right up against the Jewish state’s northern border.

This new arrangement, on the one hand, mitigates the Kingdom’s fear of losing its role as the “loyal regional villain”, while, strengthening the “Triangle of Hate” on the other. Saudis have presented the Islamic awakening, sweeping the Muslim East, an Iranian inspired plot.

Saudi Arabia, despite the huge reduction in its oil revenues, is trying to maintain its role as a “cash cow” and the “lynchpin of America’s Muslim East policy”. Saudi Arabia’s worst nightmare is the fear of American abandonment for a new regional partner. This will bring Saudi Arabia’s relevance, regionally and globally, to naught.

 

The rise of the  Justice Development Party of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2000s led to a steady deterioration in Israel–Turkey relations. Unlike, previous Turkish governments, Erdogan’s government openly condemned Israel’s policies towards Palestine and blamed it for the conflict. Relations between Sunni-Turkey and Shia’a-Iran are on the rise.

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Reminiscing the Past, Aspiring the Future, Neglecting the Present.

Reminiscing and relishing the past has always been at the heart of all the present generations. This seems to be an intuitive, ongoing thought-process; overcasting the present, morphing into platitudinous future. It is, but, the way of the vulgar; who overlook the present thence, ruin the future. Past, despite its lingering reminiscence, is nothing but inaccessible permafrost of memories/history. Selects ones live in the present only, their acute attention to the demands of the present endows them with a blissful future. God Almighty, always in the present, is watching the traversing Creation from the present to the illusory future while by-producing an inaccessible past. It ought to infuse a contemplative mind to ponder on the imperfection and insignificance of the “Best of the Creations” who is but a quarreling-arrogant. A Man, in reality, has access only to the present. “Man is but ungrateful”(Q,100:6) Vulgar whine when inflicted with hardship, ignoring the bestowal of good. Select, on the other hand, knowing fear and hope; relish the present oblivious of its ostensibility, earn deliverance. Vulgar ought to remain ungrateful regardless.

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The Great Migration (1915-1960)

 

Back and forth serial migration caused a permanent scar on the psyche of the Blacks. They, obviously, would have felt like an undesirable, unwanted heard of aliens. Permeating the reactionary attitude towards; in particular the whites, and the society in general. It is harming them (the blacks) the most rather than the intended whites or the society. Had they been systematically relocated according to the opportunities, skill level etc; throughout the country; mixing up with the whites and other communities; they would have lifted themselves up; owing to natural compulsions of their surroundings, assimilating and growing at the pace of the national development.

America, most likely, would have nurtured them (the blacks) into the most productive, intelligent and socially cohesive part of the multicultural mosaic.

Unfortunately, they are still being treated as pet-scavengers for political exigencies; by exploiting their naiveté and ingrained reactionary attitude, in return for Food-stamps, WIC-vouchers, and other handouts. They are being kept on the dole-out to be used as and when needed by the old masters donned with a new garb of Politicians.

It is a historical fact that most of the African Slaves brought to West were Muslim or those forcibly converted to Christianity before shipping, by the Dutch, British and French colonial masters. 

Ironically, now a class of well-groomed middle-men (Black’s representatives/activists/clergies etc) has emerged, to muster them and make them available, whenever wherever needed.

The face is the index of the mind

(First published on 9^th Feb 2015 on FB)

Though it is a famous quote may warrant some explication. In general, good features of a person are presumed to be a sign of his or her being witty. It may be true in some cases but is not a rule of thumb. The probable reason for that is that such a person was lucky enough to have lived a comfortable and affluent life. (This might have contributed in sharpening his/her mental faculties).

A poor person, on the contrary, would normally be scathed by the bad times. Only Saints and Sufis would be able to endure such a torment without a scathe on their personality. An ordinary person often is affected so immensely that his whole personality would be disfigured reflecting itself in his every movement, let along his thinking. It would continue reflecting in his coming generations through mutilation of his genetic make-up. A redress would require several generations to pass enjoying comfort and affluence. Affluence is not the only but major factor. Freedom of thoughts and movements would rank 2nd in restoration.

It, however, does not mean that an ugly person cannot be witty. Such a person would normally develop some supplementary traits; exuding wit and garnering respectability, hence becoming likable. Some cosmetic changes in his/her overall demeanor might be helpful in amending the state of affairs. It could mean that such a person is on the accelerated track of recovery.

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Partial Belief in Islam

 

Islam is not a “Belief by Implication”, but by absolute and total submission and certitude coupled with an oral attestation by uttering the “article of faith”—-”There is God but no god….”

One is either in it or out of it——there is no continuum of agnosticism in Islam.

Secondary, ancillary sources/matters (Ahadith & Sunan), may, however, be differed, debated or contemplated. (Though no outright denial or rejection is permitted)

“Those who wish to discriminate and say, we believe in some and disbelieve in others, and wish to adopt a way in between -Those are the disbelievers, truly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment” (Q, 4:150-152)

Indian Muslims and Conquest of Mecca!

 

Indian Muslims are braving a predicament which they never imagined, would be staring them in their faces. After living in India for generations their loyalty, citizenship, and even presence are being challenged by the Indian Government and Hindu extremists; the main constituents of Modi’s BJP and its government.

 

Two press reports, Presented here below, amply highlight the gravity of the situation.

 

The Times of India

Nowadays Hindu extremism is out of control and Indian Muslims are its major target. A Few days ago BJP MP Vinay Katiyar said that “Muslims should not even be living in this country, they should go to Pakistan or Bangladesh what business do they have here”, reported. Previously many Muslim iconic figures of India have reported problems faced by them in renting or buying property in Bombay. There is hardly any Muslim employed in the Indian defense Industry. Due to Indian government discriminatory policies, Muslims are deprived of employment opportunities in the almost entire public sector, resulting in a forced living below the poverty line.”

The New York Times

“Over the last three years, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party’s government, some of the League’s fears in the 1930s and ’40s have returned to haunt India’s Muslims — who account for 172 million of India’s 1.3 billion citizens. Punishment for cow slaughter, which is proscribed in most states of India, has become more severe. A conviction can lead to sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment.

 

The foot soldiers of Mr. Modi’s party (BJP) and its affiliates have run aggressive campaigns demanding that, apart from giving up beef, India’s Muslims must not date or marry Hindu girls or women. They should reconvert to Hinduism, the B.J.P. and like-minded others say, because their ancestors were Hindus who were forcibly converted by medieval Muslim rulers. They must sing “Vande Mataram,” the national song, these proponents say, to prove their loyalty to India, and their children must perform yoga in schools to show respect for India’s culture. The markers of Muslim identity — beards, skullcaps and headscarves — invite frowns, even violence, in India”

Indian Muslim’s decision to stay back and an inevitable remedy thereto, already provided by Allah (SWT), is looked at from a different angle.

 When the Prophet (PBUH) ordered the Meccan Muslims to migrate to Medina there were some Muslims who did not comply and stayed back—like Indian Muslims at the time of partition. It may be argued that Meccan Muslims were given the order by the Prophet (PBUH) whereas the migration to Pakistan was an after effect of political wrangling/war/partition. The point missed in this argument, however, would be that Pakistan was created by Allah (SWT), like Medina, as a sanctuary for the persecuted Muslims. The obvious reason for these stay backs (in both the cases) was nothing but the love for worldly assets (fitnah) and the disregard for the blessings of migration*1.

“And be aware that your wealth and your children are but a trial and that with Allah there is a great reward” (Q, 8:28)

Hadith:- “Hijrah (migration) erases all sins which existed before migration”

Hijrah from “Darul-Harb/Kufr” such as India to “Darul-Islam” such as Pakistan is obligatory, and (wajib) necessary under certain conditions (as were at that time in India) while (Mustahab) recommended and desirable in others.

They failed to fulfill the trust of Allah (SWT). To regain the lost trust and bounty of Allah (SWT) here is a way already chalked out:-

“Oh those who believe, if you fear Allah (SWT) He will provide you with a criterion, (to distinguish between the right and wrong { what to do?—conquer Mecca} and will write off your evil deeds and will forgive you. Allah (SWT) is the Lord of great bounty. (Conquest of Mecca). (Q, 8:29)

 The rational demand for huge blessing presented, in the form of Pakistan, would have made all Muslims jump on it, but since the opportunity has been wasted by those who stayed back and no Prophet is going to come to conquer the Mecca for them, they have to do it themselves. This is the only logical, rational and definite way for them and their generations.

Any slothfulness would be devastating, for them and their generations.  They will suffer in this world and the next for their complacency and dismissal of the criterion provided by Allah (SWT).

 

According to the majority of scholars, the essence of granting “Furqan” to those who fear Allah (SWT) is to help and support them in whatever legitimate objective they embark on. No enemy can hurt them and success goes with them, for it is “kaffarah” for their slips and mistakes.

 

The right of self-determination is enshrined in UN Charter, Chapter 1, Article 1, part 2

The right of people to self-determination is a cardinal principle in modern international law (commonly regarded as a Jus Cogens rule), binding, as such, on the United Nations as an authoritative interpretation of the Charter’s norms. It states that a people, based on respect for the principle of equal rights and fair equality of opportunity, have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no interference.

East Timor & South Sudan (both Christian states) was created by the West {Out of Sovereign Muslims states} by manipulating the clauses in the old independence/ decolonization agreements (drafted by the western criminal-states) and arms twisting.  {Read the related article;- https://shakir2.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/break-up-of-ottoman-empire-through-british-conspiracy/}

Kashmir & Palestine (both the people facing systematic genocide), however, cannot be freed for they involve Muslims.

*1) Here are some verses from the

 Holy Qur’an praising those who migrate:- Qur’an 2: 218 says, “Those who believed

and migrated and struggled in the way of God are those who are hopeful of the

mercy of God. God is Forgiving and Merciful.” Another verse says, “Those who

have migrated surely I will forgive their sins” (Qur’an, 3:195). A common element

in these verses is the combining of faith and migration. One verse asks those

who were persecuted yet did not migrate: “Wasn’t the land of God large enough

that you could have migrated?” (Qur’an, 4:97). As part of the same narrative, the

Qur’an actually encourages believers to migrate and states that those who chose

to migrate when they are oppressed will find success: “Those who are migrating in

the way of God will find refuge and prosperity” (Qur’an, 4:100).

 

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Poverty VS Wealth

 

 

 

 

The Sufi Sheikhs who prefer wealth to poverty do not use the term “wealth” in its popular sense. What they intend is not an acquisition of a benefit but acquisition of the “Benefactor”

At one occasion this question was discussed by Junayd and Ibn Ata. The later maintained the superiority of the rich. He argued that at the Resurrection they would be called to account for their wealth and that such an account (hisab) entails the hearing of the Divine words, without any mediation, in the form of reproach (itab): and the reproach is addressed by the Beloved to the Lover. Junayd answered: If He will call the rich to account, He will ask the poor for their excuse; and asking for an excuse is better than calling to account. A very subtle point.

In True love, an excuse is “otherness” (beganagi) and reproach is contrary to unity (Yaganagi). Lovers regards both these things as a blemish, because excuse is made for some disobedience to the command of the Beloved and reproach is made on the same score; but both are impossible in true love, for then neither does the Beloved require  expiation from the Lover nor does the lover neglect to perform the will of the Beloved.

In a social setting [sociological dimension], however, The Beloved has favored the poor companions of the Prophet (PBUH), such as Salman Al Farsi despite his tattered dress and dervish look. Prophet was ordained to “hold himself contented” Keep tied to them for they are the ones; who attract the help and support of Allah (SWT), keeping busy morning and evening, seeking His countenance. Don’t let your eyes overlook them distracted by the worldly allurements. (Q, 18: 28)

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