The Mind, Stop Abusing the Prophet, The Heart
Issue 323 » April 22, 2005 - Rabi-al-Awwal 13, 1426
General
| Living the Quran |
Al-Anam
(The Cattle)
One cannot possibly purify his heart unless he puts his mind to work, allowing faith and security into his heart. Mind and reason are an essential part of Islamic thought and legislation. One could not exist without the other. What exactly do we refer to when we talk about the mind? There are two kinds of reasoning by the mind that have been identified. The first is intuitive reasoning that includes: the capacity to comprehend, make rational conclusions, form speech and behave sensibly. The second kind of reasoning is acquired from our environment, such as the things we have been taught or become familiarized with. The Quran refers to the mind in different ways depending on the nature of the task being dealt with:
The qualities of the mind discussed are fairly indisputable and it is accepted by most people that a person who lacks these qualities will be seen as unreasonable or lacking in various ways. Thus the Quran has reminded us that certain behaviours are inconsistent with an intelligent and sound mind. We must remember also that there are many verses of the Quran that do not specifically mention the mind; but indicate that thoughtful and reasonable people will be able to follow the way of Allah - making good use of their God-given gift: the mind. Source: |
| Understanding the Prophet's Life |
| Stop Abusing the Prophet It is abusive to partially quote the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, thus distorting what he said. How many times have you heard the Hadith "Paradise is under the shadow of the swords?" I have read and heard this so many times that I assumed that the Prophet, surrounded by enemies and a small Muslim community, must have said this to encourage fellow believers. Well, that's only partly true. Here is the full text of what he actually said: "Do not look for a fight with the enemy. Beg God for peace and security. But if you do end up facing the enemy, then show endurance and remember that Paradise is under the shadow of the swords." This is recorded by Sahih al-Muslim. The full Hadith pretty much fits with the historical context and the character of the Prophet, who was sent as a mercy to humanity, and cared so deeply about not just human beings, but animals and other creatures as well. He would go out of his way to maintain peace and avoid a war, unless the enemy forced him to it. That is why there is no word in Islam similar to "holy war". War is never holy. It was always a last resort forced upon the Muslims. But it is the earlier, partial reading of the Hadith that is oft repeated by firebrand speakers, since it fits into their theology of anger, while the full Hadith negates that culture. On one occasion, I heard a Muslim argue with the help of another partial Hadith: "help your brother whether he is a wronged or is a wrong doer." The person was using it to justify political support of Muslims, regardless of if they are right or wrong. This behavior goes against the Quran, which asks Muslims to be just even towards their enemies, even at the risk of hurting their self-interest. (Quran 4:135). The Prophet cannot go against the Quran. What he said in a lengthy statement included the explanation that "the way you support your wrong doer brother is by stopping him from that bad action" (as reported by Sahih al-Muslim). This above-mentioned selective use of Hadith to support nationalistic behavior is contrary to Islamic principles. Muslims must never subscribe to the "My Country Right Or Wrong" theory. Source: |
| Cool Concept! |
The Status of the Heart The people of knowledge have said that the body is the kingdom of the self and its city. The heart is the middle of the kingdom. The members are like servants, and the inner faculties are like landed estates of the city. The intellect is like a concerned wazir (minister) who advises the king. Appetite is a seeker of the servants' provisions. Anger is a policeman and a foul cunning slave who assumes the aspect of a counsellor, but whose advice is deadly poison, and whose untiring habit is always to quarrel with the counselling wazir. The faculty of imagination is at the front of the brain like a treasurer, the faculty of thought is in the middle of the brain, and the faculty of memory is in the rear of the brain. The tongue is an interpreter. The five senses are spies. Each one of them has been entrusted with making one of the arts, so the eye has been entrusted with the world of colours, hearing with the world of voices, and so on for all the others, for they are means of gathering information. They are doorkeepers which bring that which they have grasped to the self. Hearing, sight and the faculty of smell are like capabilities from which the self looks. The heart is the king, so that if the shepherd is sound, the flock will be sound, and if he is corrupt, the flock will be corrupt. His soundness is only obtained by his safety from inner sicknesses such as malice, spite, greed, miserliness, pride, ridicule, showing off, seeking reputation, deceit, covetousness, ambition, and discontent with the decree. There are many illnesses of the heart amounting to almost forty, may Allah heal us of them and make us of those who come to Him with a sound healthy heart. Source: |
