---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: E-Tabligue <e-tabligue@thekhalids.org>
Date: Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 12:18 AM
Subject: 1) Why the West fails to understand the Islamic World.2)"The
To: palashbiswaskl@gmail.com
From: E-Tabligue <e-tabligue@thekhalids.org>
Date: Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 12:18 AM
Subject: 1) Why the West fails to understand the Islamic World.2)"The
To: palashbiswaskl@gmail.com
|
|
| In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful |
Assalam Alikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatahu
"Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism all that Islam orders one to do) forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism disbelief that Islam has forbidden) and it is they who are the successful (Al Imran 3:103) "
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1) Why the West Fails to Understand the Islamic World
Over the past years, strategic and political studies institutes and research centres have pored over an issue that has come to be known in Western academic circles as the 'case of Islam', a case often associated in the minds of those in charge of studying it with terrorism and extremism. In the past, whether during the Cold War or even prior to that, the study of Islam in its religious, cultural and civilizational dimensions was the purview of the Western researchers known as 'orientalists'. These researchers specialised in the Arabic language and in Islamic studies which covered all aspects of Islamic culture. The large majority of orientalists served in the ministries of foreign affairs, or overseas affairs as they were known then, of the colonial powers which occupied the Islamic world at the time, from Indonesia in the east to Morocco in the west. These researchers were prolific, generating a wealth of books and ample research material. They published encyclopedias and books which addressed the Arab-Islamic heritage contained in manuscripts which were in danger of loss and deterioration, using advanced publishing techniques and the scientific approach they developed in authenticating Islamic heritage. It is only justice to say that some of these publications which began appearing in the 18th century and proliferated in a most particular way in the 19th century and first half of the 20th century, have somewhat been of great service to the Arab and Islamic culture. However, in most cases, serving this culture was not the initial purpose sought from these publications which were motivated by colonialist designs.
This class of Western scholars often congregated in international conferences held on a regular basis in European capitals. At other times, they convened in one or the other Arab or Islamic capital in meetings dubbed as the 'International Conference of Orientalists'. The first of these conferences was held in 1873 in Paris at the invitation of the International Federation of Orientalists which was founded in Europe. The 24th and last of such gatherings took place in Munich, Germany, in 1957.
However, the tremendous transformations unfolding in the world, and most relevantly in the Islamic world, and the new developments occurring on the international political scene and in the world of academia, culture and human studies, were all factors that contributed to a move away from convening these conferences under such names. They were thus replaced by gatherings held under different names but which continued to serve the same purposes, albeit through new techniques and under other forms. Orientalists resumed their gatherings but within a new framework, namely 'The International Conferences for Asian and North African Studies'. These are held by the Washington-based Middle East Institute, by the League of Middle Eastern Studies in the United States of America, the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies, or any of the numerous other centres, institutions and societies specialised in this field.
The centres for strategic political, intellectual and cultural studies, and the institutes specialising in the Middle East, or the Near East as it was called in previous times, were not as common or numerous as they are today. Oriental language departments in some Western universities served the pur@pose that was taken over by these centres. In most cases, these university departments employed highly qualified scholars who had acquired an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Islamic world in all its aspects. As such, they rendered valuable services to the government authorities to which they were affiliated. This is a far cry from the situation today. The number of western highly qualified and specialised scholars with an extensive knowledge of the Arabic language, Islamic thought, the Arab and Islamic culture and the situation within Muslim societies has dramatically dwindled. This situation negatively impacts on the studies they prepare and the reports they draw up at a critical time when these studies and reports serve as major reference documents in informed decision making. Decision makers rely on such reports and studies in formulating their policies in the Islamic world in all political, economic, military, security, social, religious, cultural, information and other matters. This explains the confused, unsound and inappropriate decisions taken by official Western circles in how to deal with Arab and Muslim related issues, and on how to establish well balanced and equality-based relationships with the Islamic world countries. This has reached such proportions that the failure of western policies in the Islamic world in general, and most particularly at the current juncture, is largely owed to the fact that the studies prepared by these centres and institutes rely heavily on improvisation and stray very far from objectivity, fairness and scientific integrity. Such studies are founded on unrealistic concepts, on analyses that lack in methodology, and on uninformed conclusions built around unreliable information that is often obtained from unworthy sources or relayed through disloyal parties who choose to leak that information for sinister purposes.
One of the dire repercussions of this situation is the West's lack of understanding of the Islamic world, producing unclear impressions tainted by ill intentions. When it comes to Arab and Islamic-related issues, the policies and choices made by the West are far removed from reality, built around unsound foundations, and unrealistic visions, theories and thoughts. The result is a tendency to heedlessly undermine the higher interests of Muslim peoples, prompting decisions that prejudice relations between the Islamic world and the west, that muddy the international atmosphere, and that ultimately lead to trouble and crises. Consequently, this undermines the rights of both parties and deprives them of the chance to jointly edify a human world order founded on the rules of justice and fairness and where the values of tolerance and coexistence prevail.
Why the West fails to understand the Islamic World is a question that remains unanswered in research circles and strategic studies centres. This same question was in fact distorted to become: why do they hate us? In truth, the objective, precise and convincing answer to the first question implicitly holds the answer to the second one, since the two questions are correlated. If the West correctly understands the Islamic world in a way that is innocent of all ill designs and hidden purposes, if the West acquires an in-depth knowledge of the Islamic world based on correct information, actual facts and on the honest scientific analysis of the course of events, if it becomes conscious of the aspirations and hopes of Muslim peoples, understands their needs and the prerequisites of their growth, development and progress, displays full respect for their rights, their sovereignty over their territories, their constants and their religious and cultural specificity, and civilizational identity, if the West abides by international laws in dealing with the Islamic world and complies with the terms of sound international relations in all the stances it takes, if the West takes such straight path, there would be simply no need to ask the question: Why do they hate us?
The absence of exact information, relying on the writings, studies and reports of a bunch of researchers who claim to be specialised in the study of the Islamic world but who sorely lack in intellectual integrity and scientific and professional honesty, coupled with ill intentions, arrogance and a predilection for hegemony, all of this stands in the way of reaching a proper and sound understanding of the Islamic world in all its dimensions, be they political, economic, social, ethnic, cultural or religious. Here lies the root of unfair judgement calls which often fail to mirror reality, and this is what motivates the taking of decisions which, with the passage of time, turn out to have been hasty, inappropriate, far from serving the true interests of the West, and which provoke Muslims into adopting belligerent stances vis-�-vis the West, out of a self-defence reflex and out of fear from the dangerous repercussion of such decisions and gambles.
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2) "The Goodly Life"
Life is either for a person, or against him. It's hours and seconds, days and years pass him by leading him (by his actions) to the Love and Good Pleasure of Allah until he is amongst the people of Ultimate Success and the Gardens of Paradise or they are against him, leading him (by his actions) to the Fires of Hell and to the Anger of the One, the Just Ruler [Allah]
Life, either it will make you laugh & rejoice for an hour over which you will cry for an eternity (in the Hereafter)
or it will make you cry for an hour over which you will laugh & rejoice for an eternity (in the Hereafter)
Life, is either a great blessing for a person, or an adverse affliction against him.
This is a life which was lived by the earliest generations by our fathers and forefathers and by all those who preceded us. All of them, returned to Allah with what they used to do [their deeds]
"Life" refers to every single moment that is lived within it and every hour spent within it
And within all of these, we live a life that is either for us or against us.
Thus, the successful and happy person is the one who sees life, and recognises its reality and true nature.
For by Allah, it is a life that frequently causes some people to weep, their tears never drying
and frequently makes others laugh, their laughs and joys then never to return
My beloved, Allah has made this life as a trial, a test, an exam, in which is made apparent the true nature of His slaves
Thus happy is the one who is made successful (in this exam) by the Mercy of Allah
while miserable & banished (from salvation) is the one upon whom the Pleasure of Allah becomes forbidden (through this exam)
(Know) for every hour that you live, either Allah is pleased with you in this hour (by your deeds)or the opposite, we seek refuge in Allah from that therefore (by this hour) either you come closer to Allah
or you stray further from Him.
Thus it may be, that you live a single moment of love and obedience to Allah (by your actions)
by which are forgiven the inequities of your life and a lifetime of sins.
And it may be that you live a single moment in which you deviate purposely from the Path of Allah
distancing yourself from His obedience which then becomes a cause of misery & distress, for the rest of your life
We ask Allah for His Safety and Pardoning.
In this life there exist two separate 'callers'. The first, is anything that calls to the Mercy, the Good Pleasure and the Love of Allah (be they thoughts or actions)The second type of caller, is anything which invites to the opposite of that
(Such as) a desire or lust that incites one to evil or a sudden sinful whim that may result in an evil ending (dying in bad or sinful circumstances)
Thus it may be, that a person within a moment of his life, weeps; a weeping of regret and repentance over his negligence towards his Lord; and by (these tears) Allah changes his evil deeds into good deeds (on his record)
But how many a people continue to commit sins? How many a people still indulge in evil? How many a people continue to distance themselves (from Allah), frequently travelling away from their Lord (by their actions)?
Thus all of them are distant from the Mercy of Allah unbeknownst to them, strangers to the Good Pleasure of Allah.
Then comes upon them that hour, that exact moment (of penitence),which is what we are referring to, by "the goodly life", in order that they shed tears of regret and remorse, and that a reason for anguish in the heart may be ignited,
Such that the person realizes how long his alienation from Allah has been and how long his absence from his Lord truly has been so that he may then say, "Indeed I am turning to my Lord repentant, remorseful,
and in hope of His Mercy and Good Pleasure!"
This time (of penitence) is a person's key to happiness and contentment, the time of regret.
It is as the scholars say," Indeed man sins a great deal, but if he is truly sincere in his regret and repentance,
Allah will change his sins into good deeds" Thus his life too then becomes pure and goodly,
by the purity and truthfulness of that regret and repentance and by the sincerity in the very distress and pain felt within himself
We ask Allah the Greatest, Lord of the Honourable Throne, to give life to this blessed caller to His Mercy, within our hearts and to the pain we should feel when we are neglectful towards Allah and His Commands.
My beloved, every single one of us needs to ask themselves a question, we need to ask ourselves day and night,
How many nights are spent awake in activity? And how many hours are passed (in this way)?
How many have laughed in this life? And (most importantly) was Allah Pleased with this laughter?
How much of this time was spent in entertainment and enjoyment in this life? Was this enjoyment one that Allah was Pleased with? How many nights were spent awake (in activity)? Was this staying awake (and what you did in those nights), pleasing to Allah?
And so on and so forth,(These are) questions that he should be asking within himself
But a person might wonder why he should be asking these questions (i.e. what's the point)?
Yes! You must ask yourselves these questions as passes not the instant of a blinking of an eye,
nor a fleeting moment in your life, except that you are living in and experiencing the Blessings of Allah!
Thus it is from great respect and humility towards Allah that a person remains constantly aware of the greatness of the Blessings bestowed upon him.
From this humility is to truly feel and acknowledge that the food we eat, belongs to and is provided by Allah.
And that we quench our thirst with a drink created by Allah. And that we are shaded and sheltered by a roof provided by Him. And that we walk forth upon a ground provided by Him, and that without doubt we are living in and experiencing His every Bounty and Mercy So what could we possibly have to offer Him in return?
(So it's important) a person asks himself these questions.
(For example) doctors say that there exists a substance in a person's heart, that if it were to increase or decrease by 1%
he would die instantly...So (think) in which courtesy and kindness,
which mercy and compassion from Allah does mankind enjoy, experience and live in!
(Even if) a person asks himself about the Mercy of Allah alone, When he wakes up in the morning, possessing his hearing, possessing his sight, possessing his physical strength; who is the one safeguarding his hearing?
Who is the One safeguarding his sight? Who is the One safeguarding his intellect?
Who is the One safeguarding his very soul?
He must ask himself, who is the One protecting all of these things? Who is the One who Bestowed him with good health and wellbeing?
(Think of) those who are sick, lying on white beds (in hospital)those who are sighing and in pain (from illness),
By Allah, through these great blessings Allah conveys His Love for us, the great blessings of good health, wellbeing, security and safety. All of these are provided purely so that we may live a goodly life.
Allah, praised & exalted is He, desires two things from His slave: The first is that he carry out his obligatory duties (e.g. prayer)and the second, is the abandonment of all Allah has forbidden and held him back from.
As for the one who claims that closeness to Allah entails a life of suffering or limitations.
Then such a person without doubt has erred greatly in how he perceives Allah.
For, by Allah, if you do not purify and make good your life by closeness to your Lord,
you will never be able to do so by way of anything else
And if you do not purify and adorn your life by carrying out your obligatory duties to Him, and abandoning all that He has forbidden, then by Allah, you will never be able to so by way of anything else.
A person may experience every single pleasure life has to offer but by Allah, he will never experience anything more pleasurable, more beautiful than servitude to Allah by carrying out his obligations to Him
and leaving all that He has forbidden him from.
(In life) you are subjected to two choices: whenever you are faced with a matter, you have the choice to either do it or not do it. If you decide to go forth and do anything in this life, ask yourself, "Has Allah permitted you to do this thing, or not?"Since the human being himself is owned by Allah the hearts are all owned by Allah and the souls are all owned by Allah.
Thus a person should, whenever he wants to do something or hold back from it, ask himself, will Allah be pleased with you (by this action)?If so, then let him proceed Or, will Allah not be pleased by this action?
If not then he should hold himself back.
For, by Allah, a person does not proceed with an action nor hold back from it, requesting Allah's Mercy (and counsel in the decision), except that he pleases his Lord in the process.
Therefore true happiness and a "goodly life" are only to be found in closeness to Allah
Closeness to whom? To the King of Kings, the Controller of the Heavens & the Earth, to whom belongs the Ultimate Command, all creation and the perfect arrangement and measure of all that exists.
Thus you may find that man is always in a state of anxiety and weariness.
You may find an individual who has everything he desires. But by Allah, you will find most of those who have all they desire suffer from mental or psychological problems, from anxiety and depression,
most of them are extremely unhappy and dissatisfied with their lives.
Go and look for the wealthiest person and you'll most likely find him to be from the most miserable people in life.
And has made the sweetness and savour of life to be found, in being close to Him.And has placed the key to a pleasurable, amiable life, in a pleasurable, amiable relationship with Him
(If we look at just) one prayer that a person performs from the 5 obligatory daily prayers;
at the moment of completing his bowing and prostrating and completing his servitude to his Lord,
then at leaving the place of prayer, he feels a great sense of ease and peace within himself!
By Allah, even if he were to spend all the wealth on the earth (in attempt to buy this feeling)He would be unable to seek a way to it.
Thus the "goodly life" is found only in closeness to Allah
A pleasant, comfortable life will only be found by a closeness to Allah
If a person does not purify and make good his life through this close relationship, then by who (or what) will he....?
Life is either for a person, or against him. It's hours and seconds, days and years pass him by leading him (by his actions) to the Love and Good Pleasure of Allah until he is amongst the people of Ultimate Success and the Gardens of Paradise or they are against him, leading him (by his actions) to the Fires of Hell and to the Anger of the One, the Just Ruler [Allah]
Life, either it will make you laugh & rejoice for an hour over which you will cry for an eternity (in the Hereafter)
or it will make you cry for an hour over which you will laugh & rejoice for an eternity (in the Hereafter)
Life, is either a great blessing for a person, or an adverse affliction against him.
This is a life which was lived by the earliest generations by our fathers and forefathers and by all those who preceded us. All of them, returned to Allah with what they used to do [their deeds]
"Life" refers to every single moment that is lived within it and every hour spent within it
And within all of these, we live a life that is either for us or against us.
Thus, the successful and happy person is the one who sees life, and recognises its reality and true nature.
For by Allah, it is a life that frequently causes some people to weep, their tears never drying
and frequently makes others laugh, their laughs and joys then never to return
My beloved, Allah has made this life as a trial, a test, an exam, in which is made apparent the true nature of His slaves
Thus happy is the one who is made successful (in this exam) by the Mercy of Allah
while miserable & banished (from salvation) is the one upon whom the Pleasure of Allah becomes forbidden (through this exam)
(Know) for every hour that you live, either Allah is pleased with you in this hour (by your deeds)or the opposite, we seek refuge in Allah from that therefore (by this hour) either you come closer to Allah
or you stray further from Him.
Thus it may be, that you live a single moment of love and obedience to Allah (by your actions)
by which are forgiven the inequities of your life and a lifetime of sins.
And it may be that you live a single moment in which you deviate purposely from the Path of Allah
distancing yourself from His obedience which then becomes a cause of misery & distress, for the rest of your life
We ask Allah for His Safety and Pardoning.
In this life there exist two separate 'callers'. The first, is anything that calls to the Mercy, the Good Pleasure and the Love of Allah (be they thoughts or actions)The second type of caller, is anything which invites to the opposite of that
(Such as) a desire or lust that incites one to evil or a sudden sinful whim that may result in an evil ending (dying in bad or sinful circumstances)
Thus it may be, that a person within a moment of his life, weeps; a weeping of regret and repentance over his negligence towards his Lord; and by (these tears) Allah changes his evil deeds into good deeds (on his record)
But how many a people continue to commit sins? How many a people still indulge in evil? How many a people continue to distance themselves (from Allah), frequently travelling away from their Lord (by their actions)?
Thus all of them are distant from the Mercy of Allah unbeknownst to them, strangers to the Good Pleasure of Allah.
Then comes upon them that hour, that exact moment (of penitence),which is what we are referring to, by "the goodly life", in order that they shed tears of regret and remorse, and that a reason for anguish in the heart may be ignited,
Such that the person realizes how long his alienation from Allah has been and how long his absence from his Lord truly has been so that he may then say, "Indeed I am turning to my Lord repentant, remorseful,
and in hope of His Mercy and Good Pleasure!"
This time (of penitence) is a person's key to happiness and contentment, the time of regret.
It is as the scholars say," Indeed man sins a great deal, but if he is truly sincere in his regret and repentance,
Allah will change his sins into good deeds" Thus his life too then becomes pure and goodly,
by the purity and truthfulness of that regret and repentance and by the sincerity in the very distress and pain felt within himself
We ask Allah the Greatest, Lord of the Honourable Throne, to give life to this blessed caller to His Mercy, within our hearts and to the pain we should feel when we are neglectful towards Allah and His Commands.
My beloved, every single one of us needs to ask themselves a question, we need to ask ourselves day and night,
How many nights are spent awake in activity? And how many hours are passed (in this way)?
How many have laughed in this life? And (most importantly) was Allah Pleased with this laughter?
How much of this time was spent in entertainment and enjoyment in this life? Was this enjoyment one that Allah was Pleased with? How many nights were spent awake (in activity)? Was this staying awake (and what you did in those nights), pleasing to Allah?
And so on and so forth,(These are) questions that he should be asking within himself
But a person might wonder why he should be asking these questions (i.e. what's the point)?
Yes! You must ask yourselves these questions as passes not the instant of a blinking of an eye,
nor a fleeting moment in your life, except that you are living in and experiencing the Blessings of Allah!
Thus it is from great respect and humility towards Allah that a person remains constantly aware of the greatness of the Blessings bestowed upon him.
From this humility is to truly feel and acknowledge that the food we eat, belongs to and is provided by Allah.
And that we quench our thirst with a drink created by Allah. And that we are shaded and sheltered by a roof provided by Him. And that we walk forth upon a ground provided by Him, and that without doubt we are living in and experiencing His every Bounty and Mercy So what could we possibly have to offer Him in return?
(So it's important) a person asks himself these questions.
(For example) doctors say that there exists a substance in a person's heart, that if it were to increase or decrease by 1%
he would die instantly...So (think) in which courtesy and kindness,
which mercy and compassion from Allah does mankind enjoy, experience and live in!
(Even if) a person asks himself about the Mercy of Allah alone, When he wakes up in the morning, possessing his hearing, possessing his sight, possessing his physical strength; who is the one safeguarding his hearing?
Who is the One safeguarding his sight? Who is the One safeguarding his intellect?
Who is the One safeguarding his very soul?
He must ask himself, who is the One protecting all of these things? Who is the One who Bestowed him with good health and wellbeing?
(Think of) those who are sick, lying on white beds (in hospital)those who are sighing and in pain (from illness),
By Allah, through these great blessings Allah conveys His Love for us, the great blessings of good health, wellbeing, security and safety. All of these are provided purely so that we may live a goodly life.
Allah, praised & exalted is He, desires two things from His slave: The first is that he carry out his obligatory duties (e.g. prayer)and the second, is the abandonment of all Allah has forbidden and held him back from.
As for the one who claims that closeness to Allah entails a life of suffering or limitations.
Then such a person without doubt has erred greatly in how he perceives Allah.
For, by Allah, if you do not purify and make good your life by closeness to your Lord,
you will never be able to do so by way of anything else
And if you do not purify and adorn your life by carrying out your obligatory duties to Him, and abandoning all that He has forbidden, then by Allah, you will never be able to so by way of anything else.
A person may experience every single pleasure life has to offer but by Allah, he will never experience anything more pleasurable, more beautiful than servitude to Allah by carrying out his obligations to Him
and leaving all that He has forbidden him from.
(In life) you are subjected to two choices: whenever you are faced with a matter, you have the choice to either do it or not do it. If you decide to go forth and do anything in this life, ask yourself, "Has Allah permitted you to do this thing, or not?"Since the human being himself is owned by Allah the hearts are all owned by Allah and the souls are all owned by Allah.
Thus a person should, whenever he wants to do something or hold back from it, ask himself, will Allah be pleased with you (by this action)?If so, then let him proceed Or, will Allah not be pleased by this action?
If not then he should hold himself back.
For, by Allah, a person does not proceed with an action nor hold back from it, requesting Allah's Mercy (and counsel in the decision), except that he pleases his Lord in the process.
Therefore true happiness and a "goodly life" are only to be found in closeness to Allah
Closeness to whom? To the King of Kings, the Controller of the Heavens & the Earth, to whom belongs the Ultimate Command, all creation and the perfect arrangement and measure of all that exists.
Thus you may find that man is always in a state of anxiety and weariness.
You may find an individual who has everything he desires. But by Allah, you will find most of those who have all they desire suffer from mental or psychological problems, from anxiety and depression,
most of them are extremely unhappy and dissatisfied with their lives.
Go and look for the wealthiest person and you'll most likely find him to be from the most miserable people in life.
And has made the sweetness and savour of life to be found, in being close to Him.And has placed the key to a pleasurable, amiable life, in a pleasurable, amiable relationship with Him
(If we look at just) one prayer that a person performs from the 5 obligatory daily prayers;
at the moment of completing his bowing and prostrating and completing his servitude to his Lord,
then at leaving the place of prayer, he feels a great sense of ease and peace within himself!
By Allah, even if he were to spend all the wealth on the earth (in attempt to buy this feeling)He would be unable to seek a way to it.
Thus the "goodly life" is found only in closeness to Allah
A pleasant, comfortable life will only be found by a closeness to Allah
If a person does not purify and make good his life through this close relationship, then by who (or what) will he....?
Courtesy: http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f40/goodly-life-sheikh-muhammad-mukhtar-ash-shinqetee-34457/
__,_._,___
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Complied, Edited, and Adapted by Khalid Latif.
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