Dear Usman
I see nothing on the Delphic Oracles as promised.
Regards
M.
Dear Usman
I see nothing on the Delphic Oracles as promised.
Regards
M.
Dear M.. there is a question regarding oracle of delphi in the begining. i m afraid if u eat some lines while reading fastlyOriginally Posted by MANICHAEAN
well i m impressed of ur good health if its ur real photo?
Regards
Is there any reliable Data of God? 3/4
God knew that the self-praising quality of human intelligence would lead modern Man to dream
of absolute individual and social liberty. This would compel him to act contrary to universal principles on which human welfare depends. The basis of this deviation lies on his reliance on sensory data and evidence. This approach finds fulfillment in the claim that there is no data and evidence of God and that the concept of God cannot be tested in relation to observable facts and principles of reason. Logical positivists, communist sympathizers and philosophers of doubt were all not willing to expend any energy in scrutinizing this claim. They attempted to solve the question of God by seeing Him as a made up notion upon which the downtrodden in society relied upon as their source of hope. Never did these intellectuals approach the question of God in an objective manner similar to that with which they investigated natural and social phenomenon.
The level of intellectual immaturity which science and scientists have displayed in relation to God is unprecedented. This includes those who regard God as merely an idea, those who totally ignore Him, and those who openly oppose Him. How could the ‘worshippers’ of sensory facts accept the reality of a God who exists, is actively involved in the cosmos, and has absolute authority? Surely they would attempt to find a way of getting rid of Him from all aspects of life. As far as the factual data of God is concerned, nobody has taken the evidence that God Himself has presented (the Quran) as worthy of consideration, nor have they examined or analyzed its claims objectively.
The statistical data of God did exist. It did not consist of one or two words and phrases. It was not found in traditional myths and folk tales. Nor did it come in the style of classical fictional literature. Instead, it existed in the form of a masterly manuscript which had been completely preserved. Each comma, word and sentence within it was the word of God; every thought was that of God. Whatever it conveyed was a direct inspiration from God. Its style and mode of expression was utterly unique and totally divine. This was the same God who declared that His previous scriptures had become corrupted and no longer had the seal of reliability and credibility.
How absurd is it then for modern intellectuals to rely upon the data which God Himself has declared as unreliable and use it as a basis for attacking the concept of God! Is it intellectual bigotry which has led the academics of today to repeatedly ignore the text which God has put forward as His proof and evidence? Yet they persist on using those texts, from which He has withdrawn His seal of approval, as incontrovertible evidence. What reason did we have to pursue this flawed approach in relation to God and promote this tragedy of knowledge and understanding? Thinkers such as Bertrand Russell, Wittgenstein, and Karl Marx all fell victim to this way of thinking. These great names of the modern age were accomplices in an intellectual and scientific deceit. It seems that the desires of the age compelled them to intellectual sloth and dishonesty, or perhaps they did not regard the question of God worthy of any importance. If that was the case, their approach was more flawed than using unreliable evidence in relation to God. Perhaps these ‘champions’ of science and philosophy were terrified of discovering the true reality of the cosmos. If not, then they had completely traded their services in exchange of worldly status.
The Quran is not an abstract concept or a hypothesis which should be easily overlooked by all these intellectuals. It is preserved in the memory of a vast number of people, it adorns the pages of a million books or more, it is used in the courts as the final arbiter of justice and fairness in the lives of many people, and it is found in the homes of over one billion people. This data of God was not easy to miss or overlook. Surely, its status could not be ignored when deciding the most important issue related to human life.
I should point out that the issue was not, and is not, about obtaining a judgment or opinion from the intellectuals in favor of the Quran. It is about establishing the existence of a Being without whom every step of life is surrounded with confusion and doubt. The Quran is not obliging you to make one decision or another, and nor is God. Every human being is given the opportunity to make a considered choice, information is being offered to the faculties of intelligence and understanding. The confused and doubting mind is being provided with satisfying answers. The tongue of insult is made silent, and arrogance and power are being taught the lesson of humility. The line between Hell and Paradise is clearly drawn. A solution is provided to end the untold suffering of centuries, and the disastrous consequences of not accepting reality are clearly expounded.
The subject of all the divinely revealed books is the same, and not a single group from the people of the Book (Ahl-e-Kitaab) has ever turned their attention away from its main focus. The topic is God and how we can get to know this Absolute Being. The boundaries of power and ownership are described and answers are given to the fundamental questions about life and death. However, the outward manifestation and legal form of this message has undergone continuous change from the time of Adam (PBUH) until Muhammad (PBUH) to reflect the environmental changes which occurred. The development of the human mind can be compared to that of the child whose intellectual development goes through a period of childhood and finally reaches its maturity in adulthood.
There was a time when the whole of humanity was at the intellectual level of a child. The intellect was not familiar with the tools of progress. Knowledge and understanding of the world was limited. The people of the time had a scripture appropriate to them. There was a Quran before the Quran we have today. A few pages of this preserved book formed the framework of guidance for these ancient legal systems. Humanity had not yet developed the capacity for sophisticated intellectual thinking. They were therefore instructed in accordance with their level and capacity to absorb reality. Knowledge and reality is based on one simple and vitally important fact which is that: Man cannot act without limits and boundaries on the Earth. He is not born like a wild and uncontrollable bull which thrusts himself here and there with a total disregard for the consequences of his actions.
All things exist in exact measure and balance. The law of harmony binds together the land and its inhabitants. The means of life and the number of people have all been determined. There is an unbreakable chain of cause and effect which links actions and outcomes. Situations may change and alternate but the underlying causes remain the same. Life is nothing but the choices we make and the actions we undertake. All sacred laws and prophets have reiterated this message throughout the ages. They have cautioned us of the consequences of our choices, warned us of the dangers of egotistical thinking, and have highlighted the diseases of the heart and mind. However, there was no compulsion or force in their methods. Their approach was to point people to the right path but not to drag them along it. Positive actions should be encouraged and negative ones discouraged, but nobody must be compelled by force. The unique feature of the human mind is its ability to choose. It has been given total freedom in exercising this choice in relation to everything. The paths of desire are many but the ability to choose will decide which one to pursue. The meaning of divine compassion is the encouragement and persuasion which supports us in making informed decisions which will impact on our future existence.
To be continued....
Dear Usman
Yes thats me, with two of my site nurses & my secretary. A happy little crew! Or perhaps you thought I had three wives?
Regards
M.
Dear M,
No i thought u have 3 daughters
Regards
Is there any reliable Data of God? 4/4
The changes in the sacred law throughout the ages did not mean the creation of new religions. The aim was to take into account the changed circumstance, conditions and attitudes, and to provide the necessary preparation and opportunities to lead fulfilling lives. This would alleviate unnecessary hardship and illuminate the milestones on the path to human perfection. The fundamental purpose of every religion has always been the same. It is the recognition of God, an acknowledgement of His governance, and informing us of the consequences of our actions. The purpose of life, reflection and pondering, research and investigation, wisdom and guidance, education and training is summed up by the Quran in one sentence:
Surely we have shown him the path (of success and failure): Whether he be grateful (by choosing the path of success) or ungrateful (by choosing the path of failure), rests on his will (70:3).
Man has been endowed with intellect and understanding so that he may choose either to accept or to reject. Religion has no need to plead for your attention. God really does not need us. It is we who are needy of Him. The life of God is not contingent upon the human race. He is not like the ancient priest who lives on the praise and flattery which his followers shower upon him. Man may be confused about his own status, but his misconceptions of God are much greater. Some perceive God as a mighty dictator who is driven by His supremely inflated ego to govern a world of injustice and oppression without any show of mercy. Others regard Him as needy and dependent on their acceptance of Him for which He is much obliged, and they define Him in accordance with the capacity of their own intellects.
Progress in life cannot be made without first understanding the ultimate purpose of religion and existence. We need to understand whether life is governed by certain principles or a cosmic framework, and to what extent we are free to act as we like. Life without the concept of God perhaps would be similar to the ideas of Western intellectuals today. However, to perceive God in this way is to wander aimlessly both on the intellectual and practical level, without finding any definitive answers. It is astonishing how we can continue to live on Earth without first reaching a conclusion on one of the most important decisions affecting life. How can we possibly regard ourselves as highly intelligent and secure with such a massive gap in our knowledge of the fundamental purpose of life? The argument against God rested on the requirements of data and evidence. It was about understanding and accepting reality. How can we regard this judgment of the modern age as secure, when it is based on evidence which has been rejected by the one against whom we are making the claim? If God has repudiated all previous scriptures and does not present them as His evidence then on what authority can any right thinking and intelligent person use the very same evidence as a basis to reject God? It is impossible to verify the truth of God’s claim without taking account of the text that God has declared as His, and has based the foundation of His claim to reality on it.
The debate on existence is conducted in a futile manner. How seriously can we take the claim of Man that he has fathomed the ultimate force and intelligence that sustains the cosmos, bearing in mind the very short span of human existence, his partial knowledge and extremely limited experience of the Self, the universe and the cosmos? We have not yet managed to develop a detailed and intricate understanding of all that is on planet Earth, or in a single country, city or street. We have not even reached the limits of our own galaxy and nor have we been able to travel into the far reaches of our solar system. Leaving aside space, we have not yet gained mastery of the diseases which afflict us: we have learnt to limit the effects but do not have the power to change the design or laws of Nature. At the level of society we have been unable to wipe out poverty and hardship, or free people from pain, anger and calamity. We have failed to spread fairness and justice on a global scale with the result that vast numbers of the human population do not have access to basic amenities such as clean water. The developed nations of the world have not yet been able to cope with the devastating social consequences of progress. The human species cannot even protect itself from the destructive effects of tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes and flooding. Mankind is not yet free from droughts and hunger. In truth, our data is very limited and our understanding of reality is at a basic level. What right then do we have to pronounce judgment with our partial knowledge on such an expansive universe and of the power which brought it into existence.
This topic can create wonder and ridicule but we can never claim to have acquired a deep understanding of reality. However, is it really necessary to understand the nature and existence of God or is it enough to gain complete knowledge of that which is present? Is it not true that natural phenomenon and events have encouraged scientific research? Is it not possible for us to direct our research towards the path of certainty? Is it necessary for us to struggle and argue on the nature of God when we already have strong and clear evidence of His presence and influence? In other words, is it important to know about the size and height of God, His appearance, color, from where He came and distinguishing marks, or is it more important to establish whether or not He exists?
The greatest tragedy of the human mind occurs when it becomes engrossed in a question which it does not have the capacity to answer. A question which is outside the boundaries of its knowledge and especially one to which it has paid no interest nor undertaken any relevant research. Such a question begins to haunt every single human being, and it depends upon the acceptance and denial of the entire cosmos then it is extremely naïve to ignore it. Many thinkers became the victims of this crisis of human intelligence, and although they were aware of it, their knowledge did not go beyond superficial relationships of cause and effect. They knew that behind the external appearances of cause and effect there was a more intricate and complex system at work to which they were prevented from accessing because of their own preoccupations.
The insight into the nature of cause and effect which God has taught is in the encounter of Moses with Khidr (Surah al-Kahf 18: 60-82), conclusive evidence of the limitations of our superficial intellects and the presence of a deeper dimension of cause and effect. This episode in the wise book (Quran) cannot be the product of an ordinary mind or common intellect. Did Mankind possess any knowledge of this dimension of cause and effect which lies beyond observation before the revelation of the Quran? Of course not. The limitations of scientific knowledge based on sensory data are clearly apparent, but we must acknowledge that it does have its benefits in improving our environment and background. It is out of its depth in relation to deeper reality. The divine proof of God, however, does not require Man to remain in a state of intellectual crisis. It is clear that God, who wants to manifest Himself to the entire human race through the establishing of an irrefutable proof, will not come up with a proof which is only relevant for a specific period in history. Each prophet gave answers to the biggest questions of the day. It is another matter that, throughout history, the denial of God has never been part of Mankind’s thinking.
To be continued... with very interesting chapter "Perspective on Prophethood"
Dear Usman
No not daughters, though they are young enough to be so. Congratulations on the new first baby coming. I've got two daughter & 1 grandchild in the UK & in the Philippines; 3 sons, 1 daughter & 7 grandkids.
On the construction site that I work on in Papua New Guinea we have medical staff, inclusive "site nurses."
Best regards
M.
Perspectives on Prophethood 1/2
Religion appears to have a short history. The origin of the major religions and prophets known to us today only stretches back to a few thousand years. Three prophets have excessively influenced the course of human history. They are Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (Peace Be upon Them). Yet there are signs that many other individuals received divine inspiration before the advent of the monotheistic faiths. Apart from the handful of recorded prophets, it is impossible to quantify the number of other prophets who have existed. This is especially true if you bear in mind the divine principle that throughout history no nation or tribe was ever destroyed until a messenger had been sent for their guidance. What is more, each messenger spoke the language of his people. A brief glance at history shows that there have been thousands and thousands of tribes and communities each with their own language which no longer exists. This would make the number of prophets in human history to be very high. Every religion on Earth has had individuals who received divine inspiration.
Even today, within the Non-Abrahamic religions, it is possible to find the names of some personalities that are respected and revered in a manner similar to the prophets. Ramchandra, Krishna, Zarathustra, Plotinus, Tao and Buddha are some of these great names whose approach is enlightened and whose manner resembles the prophets. The distortion of their teachings is also well documented. The unprincipled manner in which King Ashoka (304 BCE – 232 BCE) manipulated the teachings of Buddha is a historical fact. Despite the monotheistic teachings of Manu, Hindu theology was also made to incline towards polytheism and the rejection of One God, evident from the Bhagavad-Gita. It is false to claim that monotheism started with Judaism. To the children of Adam and Noah, the unity of God was not a long forgotten fairytale. The ‘break-up’ of God was motivated by the primitive desires of religious leaders who worshipped status and had a lust for wealth and riches.
Jewish theology has been the most dominant force against the unity of religion. Its scholars started confining the universal message of God, going to extreme lengths in instilling prejudice and favoritism into His teachings. They were prepared to kill even messengers of God in order to achieve their selfish aims and goals. The misinterpretation of scripture became a common practice. As a nation, the Jewish people became like a parasitic organism feeding on society. In order to protect their interests they shrouded religion in secrecy and manipulated it as a tool to gain power and status. Viewing God as a personal possession, they did not allow religion to go beyond their own ethnic group. They transferred their own habits onto God, and placed limits and boundaries on Him.
Driven by the need to protect their self-interest, not only did they try to manipulate other tribes and nations, they also tried every trick and subterfuge to sabotage the interests of others. The Jewish people confined the search for God to their tribe and promoted religious hatred. Had they accepted Jesus (who was one of them) as a prophet and viewed Christianity as a continuation of divine inspiration, and had the Christians not turned away from Islam, this would have led to the organic evolution of religion; humanity would not have become divided. Those who base their religion on ethnicity, they insult the message of God and are very unlikely to escape annihilation unless they realize and correct themselves.
In general, the Jews of ancient times appear as ignorant and bigoted people. The countless miracles performed by Moses are evidence of the fact that only a robust and shocking response could ever mellow their qualities of ignorance, self-obsession and love of money. The calamities inflicted on Pharaoh, the splitting of the Nile, the raising of Mount Sinai, the hardships of the wilderness, internal discord and bloodshed were all forceful measures designed to eradicate their complacency and craving for wealth. But this did not stop them from reverting to their reptilian instincts; even today they have not managed to rehabilitate their primitive dispositions.
Christianity appears to be a religion of peace, humility and acceptance. In its early periods it also possessed a strong element of bigotry, inherited from Jewish thought. As time passed by, this underlying element became more entrenched, leading it to reject Islam. Religion has been hijacked by its leaders. God could no longer be found in revealed religion. But the search for God did not stop. This was the quest of Salman al-Farsi and Abu Dharr (Companions of the Prophet who decided to search for truth; they didn’t stop themselves at one place and reached at Islam through jewism and Christianity). To the seekers of God, religion is purely a road and pathway not the destination: any religion will not act as an obstacle in the path of finding God. Salman Farsi laid down principles and guidelines of this search. Relying on his road map, the traveler to God did not stop until he reached his destination. Christianity and Judaism had changed the goals of religion. Instead of seeking God they made religion into an institution governed by principles which agreed with their personal ambitions and desires. Knowledge was sacrificed to bigotry. Open-mindedness gave way to shallow thinking. God was pushed out of these religions. The personal rule of the rabbi and priest had begun. It is this that led Salmaan al-Farsi to look for God outside the institutionalized religions of his time.
Incomplete knowledge can never lead to the destination. Nor does it allow complete self-realization. Islam does not claim that it was or is the first religion. In fact it acknowledges the truth of all religions: regarding them as different stages in the search for the Universal God. It revised the scriptures of the past, removing the redundant and the irrelevant. It re-emphasized the message; and by correcting the facts and figures, it brought back into balance the ‘equations’ of religion. Having done this, it told us plainly and clearly that the Quran was the most accurate narration of the message of all the revealed books. The Quran is now the only reliable source which can offer direction and guidance to the person who wants to discover God or religion. After Muhammad, no prophet has influenced the world in a way that his teachings could be regarded as a religion, followed by a large number of the world population, nor has there has been a book which could be declared as divinely revealed. The story of revelation has reached its conclusion with the Quran. No longer is there a need for miracles. The human race is proud of the progress which science and knowledge has made; humanity has reached the peak of its intellect. Lack of knowledge and understanding is not an excuse for people today. In reality, the deeper understanding of Nature’s hidden laws, ‘miracles’ of research and technology touching every aspect of life, voyages of discovery into space, the mass exploitation of the Earth’s resources, and lifting the veil from ignorance and mystery, have all fuelled the intellectual pride of Man. He has discovered a new dimension of himself, leading him to assert his Godhood. The modern-day Abraham faces a challenge of a different kind.
To be continued....
Last edited by usman.khawar; 02-16-2012 at 10:32 AM.
Good to have a big family
Regards
Perspectives on Prophethood 2/2
Early Man made polytheism a habit. He looked for God in everything - and made a God out of everything. Modern Man has abandoned this habit of describing external things as partners of God. Now he wants to become God’s partner himself. Freedom of thought and popular democracy display a dislike for the ethical requirements inspired by God. The idea of God seems like a heavy burden on people’s shoulders, which constantly weighs them down. Error and misunderstanding have become one and the same. Modern Man cannot accept God as anything more than a fairy tale from long ago. Alongside other superstitious and false notions he regards the concept of God as an obstacle in the path of progress. The only difference is that in declaring these other superstitious beliefs as false, modern Man had some justification in the form of evidence. Yet he is prepared to declare the concept of God as false without any serious research. He is happy to accept it as a psychological device that gives comfort in times of crisis, but will not allow it to become part of his theories.
Does modern Man accept the existence of God? Of course, the answer is no. But is this denial based on sound reasoning or deep understanding? The answer is absolutely not. The whole discussion on the subject of God consists of immature self-centered assertions. Modern Man cannot accept that processes of cause and effect have to be created by some external intelligence. He also cannot allow for the fact that he himself is created; nor does he regard it relevant to explore the purpose of his existence. He allows no room for the possibility that he is accountable for his life and actions.
This is a bizarre crisis of intelligence. In a vast and expanding universe Man regards this planet and himself as the only form of intelligence that exists. To him the stars, the solar system, life and consciousness on planet Earth are all an accidental event. The honoring of Mankind is an extraordinary but random act of chance: a miraculous event that is unlikely to ever occur again. The astonishing fact is that modern Man believes in the initial ‘miracle’ of creation but cannot permit himself to even imagine an event or a force which made the Earth, all that exists on it, and human societies to be outside the workings of wider cosmic processes of change. Life on Earth is a cosmic anomaly. Looking at the facts of existence, the possibility of such an external force or event is much greater than the wishful thinking of Man.
The population of the Earth has never been greater than it is today. Within this population it is hard to find a common value shared by all. Religion, like a convenient excuse, seems to be causing divisions between the human races. But religion is not the real cause. The developed nations of the world are becoming anxious about the limited reserves of the Earth’s natural resources. Under the cover of religion and religious bigotry a new form of colonization is under way, driven by selfish ambitions and upheld by force and oppression. Peace and security seem to be a distant dream. The battle to control the supply of resources that are needed for survival, by force if necessary, seems to be advancing without any caution or restraint. The survival of the human race seems to depend on the destruction of each other! The governing instincts of the human species are marching towards one destination. The apocalyptic crisis of death and destruction has entered like a genetic virus into the minds of Mankind. The tragic outcome is crystal clear, yet the intelligence to save humanity from this outcome is absent. Unfortunately the instruments of destruction are now so varied, that the scale of destruction is unimaginable. Towns and cities can be totally wiped out in an instant, with ease. Earlier human civilization was decimated by the Ice Age; today’s human civilization seems to have been sacrificed to the fire of hell. Life is totally insecure. The steps which are being taken to make it safe are changing a spark into a raging fire. Time seems to be slipping away, but we are helpless: having lost our grip on the reins and missed our footing in the stirrup. I recall a verse of the Quran which informs us that God has created the Heavens and the Earth according to a particular design that cannot be altered, and if this is so then God alone can restore the balance.
To be continued with a chapter sharing the modern intellectual methdology of finding God which was used very 1st time in the history by Abraham (Peace be upon Him) " Abraham’s Methodology of Intellectual Enquiry"
As this is weekend so you guys will have 1st of two episode today
Last edited by usman.khawar; 02-17-2012 at 12:07 PM.
Abraham’s Methodology of Intellectual Enquiry 1/2
The Quran declares Abraham as the ‘Friend of God’. This is a noble title that confers great honor and privilege. But is this friendship a unilateral and arbitrary selection by God? Such a friendship confers immense rank: is it therefore, based purely on the personal preference of God the Absolute? This doesn’t appear to be the case. Abraham was a person who proved the truth of God’s faith in Man. He was the first person in human history who used the gift of the intellect and consciousness that Mankind has been entrusted with, to achieve the ultimate purpose and priority for which we were created.
Before the age of philosophy and science, much earlier than the philosophers of Greece and Rome, Abraham was undertaking research in line with accepted and universal principles of intellectual thought and inquiry. A type of research that is absent even today. The people of Abraham worshipped the stars. They did not reject God, but accepted many different gods. The family trees of the gods were larger than those of people. In the midst of all this, Abraham was gripped with a determination to understand reality and establish the facts. In a very objective manner he first observed, analyzed and understood the social customs and rituals of worship, employing both deductive and inductive processes of reasoning to arrive at his conclusions. How could he accept as his God an idol carved from stone which he could trample beneath his feet?
Who or what can be my God? Abraham developed a hypothesis. God cannot wax or wane but must exhibit permanence. If there really does exist a perfect being who has ultimate control of the cosmos, it would not fear disobedience or suffer from decline. Having established his research methodology, Abraham began the process of testing and scrutinizing the gods of his time. He examined the Sun, Moon and the Stars and others like them. He found that they were all dependent on laws of motion and rest, compelled to act in a certain way, and that they disappeared from view at certain times of the day. His conscience could not accept that something dependent could be God. His heart searched for something with total power, a being whose power was divided up between countless statues by his community.
Day and night he thought about and analyzed his data, trying to find the truth. Eventually he gained a level of insight and certainty that even the fire of Nimrod could not shake his confidence and conviction of the conclusions of his research. God took a liking to Abraham. This was the reason why God had created the human race, so that they might find wisdom and guidance through the use of intelligence and reason; that based on knowledge and insight they might come to recognize God; and that through reflection and remembrance they might seek the closeness of God. Abraham was successful, and his reward was the friendship of God. This friendship has never been restricted. All those who have awakened their consciousness can expect the friendship of God. But the unfair and bigoted individual tries his best to disprove the claim of God’s friendship. No matter how many educational degrees he holds, ignorance is still the main characteristic of the intellectual bigot.
Nowadays, educational institutions across the world do not permit any possibility of researching the basic and vitally important question of human purpose. This makes me wonder where people endowed with spiritual insight are going to come from. We cannot rely on religious establishments. They produce students obsessed with the formalities of outward conduct but are totally lacking in religious insight. Shaytaan( Satan, Devil) is repeating the same line of attack, entangling Mankind in external issues at the expense of God. Why should God be concerned about reward and sin? These are secondary issues. If the boundaries of human weakness have been laid out in the sacred book, how much of a victory is it for Shaytaan to push people to commit acts of adultery or gambling? What use is it to Shaytaan if a sin creates feelings of regret which lead a person towards sincere repentance and God’s forgiveness?
It was never Shaytaan’s assertion that he would invite people to acts of sin. His claim was that he would mislead the human race and divert them from their true purpose. He would confuse the priorities dictated by reason and intelligence - turning their focus away from their fundamental purpose. Instead he would lure them towards lesser worldly priorities. His aim was to undermine the trust that God placed in Adam and the human race, that if they arranged their priorities based on reason and insight, and pondered, reflected and observed both themselves and the Cosmos, they would then be able to recognize their Sustainer. Numerically, Shaytaan appears to be very successful. In the midst of a vast and sprawling human population of seven billion the recognition of God is like a long forgotten story. A huge number of laws exist to punish and rehabilitate people for offences relating to the human body. But the crime that most of the human race has grown accustomed to is beyond remedy: perhaps not even Jesus or Mahdi could cure it. It seems that total annihilation, a minor apocalypse, or a sudden calamity is the inevitable outcome for the human race. The attempt to recognize God has itself become a psychological disorder.
To be continued...
Abraham’s Methodology of Intellectual Enquiry 2/2
Shaytaan’s(Devil's) web of deception has blocked the flight path of human reasoning, making them forget their purpose. Their memory only takes into account secondary priorities. Forgetfulness has become the disease of spiritual and worldly life. Humanity has forgotten God, and He has forgotten them. The Skies seem deserted, the Earth barren and dry, and the meadows abandoned. Perhaps this is what led T.S. Eliot to describe it as the ‘Wasteland’. But there is still hope that a spark from the dying flame of human intelligence will transform into a raging fire of research and enquiry, a passion that will produce in a world of doom and gloom, another friend of God like Abraham. It will signal the beginning of a period of illumination and freshness on Earth.
The time of Moses and Jesus was full of miraculous events. The widespread use of magic, sorcery and fortune-telling increased people’s appetites for extraordinary events that defied imagination. On the one hand there where those similar to some people today, who wanted to lay the foundations of a mighty empire with a king who claimed to be God, their aim was to gain control and seek glory. On the other hand there were the dominated and helpless Israelites reduced by slavery to living from hand to mouth. These were the same Israelites who had seen the glory days of Prophetic rule. But now they were forced to witness the dishonoring of their ancestral bloodline. They could find no way of stopping this act of extreme humiliation. There was no hope, not even a slight possibility that could inspire them to rise up against the mighty Egyptians. There was only Moses. It is no wonder then that God had to come to their aid. Because of this an amazing and miraculous event occurred in the history of the world. One man acting alone brought a mighty, ancient empire crashing to the ground. Without the intervention of God, events such as this are rare in history.
What is fascinating is that it was the sorcerers who accepted the truth of Moses. They understood better than anyone the nature of optical illusions and mind tricks. Because they knew the limits and reality of magic they were able to distinguish between illusion and reality at any level. So when the staff of Moses swallowed up their rope snakes they were compelled to acknowledge the power of God. Their acceptance was such that they sacrificed their lives in exchange for this realization of reality. There has to be some explanation behind the parting of the Nile, and perhaps one day Man may understand what it is. But every event has to be placed in its temporal and spatial context. Many miracles of yesterday have become part of everyday life. The destruction of Pharaoh’s army, the prophecy that his body would be preserved, and the deliverance of Moses’ people became part of Jewish history. Miracles are the best hope of the helpless. The long-term effects of slavery meant that education had no influence on the people of Moses. Lowliness and domination by others led to the Israelites being gripped by feelings of negativity and inferiority.
History shows us that the intellectual and moral benchmark of the Jewish people dropped to a low level. Deception and deceit, conspiracies and lies wiped out their reliance on higher morals. Having become accustomed to such ways of thinking they committed the murder of their prophets under some pretext or other. This hypocritical mindset led to the ridiculing of God’s laws, the killing of prophets, and the invention of new and twisted arguments. Despite continuous instruction and teaching this mindset could not be aligned with God. They were dropped from the ‘list’ and the selection of lots fell in the favor of the children of Ishmael. The children of Israel had forfeited the right to be ambassadors of God.
The birth and death of Jesus were both miraculous events. Every moment of his life was a miracle. His mission meant crossing paths with religious bigots who proclaimed their holiness under all circumstances. Extremely hypocritical, rebellious and head strong, arrogant and hungry for glory, full of racial pride, it seems that these people were totally in tune with the mind of Shaytaan. For them there was no room for any sort of spirituality in religion. They manipulated the teachings of the religion of Moses in whatever way they wished to achieve their selfish ends. Religion was a component of worldly power and status. At the same time they adhered strictly to empty knowledge and external rituals. In many ways they surpassed themselves in this. But like the religions of today, their acts of worship promoted only self-interest. The miracles of Jesus in their entirety aimed to show them another aspect of divine submission. Instead of acceptance they chose jealousy and malice that led them to take the lives of prophets.
For centuries God had overseen the experiences of Mankind. Now He too, instead of expressing surprise and wonder, had ultimately arrived at fully realizing the purpose behind creation. If the point of human life was the recognition of God, then the intellect alone was the only thing that could help in achieving this aim. Man’s intellectual development was to be accomplished. Knowledge was to be perfected. The blessing of prophethood was about to be made complete. Time was running out. Life was no longer to be arranged according to reptilian instincts but in accordance with the standards of the intellect. Thus the prophet Muhammad was sent and God’s mercy was perfected. The ball was now in Man’s court. He became the arbiter.
To be continued with next chapter "The Secret Potential of Miracles"
The Secret Potential of Miracles
Miracles are a part of historical reality. Modern Man may come up with explanations regarding these events, but he cannot categorically deny that they occurred. Some miracles were witnessed by thousands of people. However, the ‘intelligent’ man of today is unable to understand the phenomenon of miracles. This is despite the extraordinary experiences of many individuals even today that cannot be explained on the basis of reason alone. At a time when Mankind had not progressed and knowledge and understanding of the world was rudimentary, miracles were used as a proof. For an event to occur that defied all logic and explanation and that appeared to have no direct causal chain, was seen as evidence of a Being who had absolute power and control to act at will in any situation. People of the time felt compelled to accept this external force as the true originator of the miracle.
In modern times the situation is very different. The mysteries behind the most complex phenomenon are being solved and explained at an alarming rate. It was the case once, less than 200 hundred years ago, that any new discovery would produce fear and bewilderment; and it would take a long time for it to become accepted in the minds of people. Nowadays, innovation has become a passion and an obsession. The advance of science has dampened the attitude of sudden astonishment with each discovery. In fact new discoveries are so common and frequent today that they are part of normal life. Scientific objectivity may have advanced, but the boundaries of the imagination have become more limited. What was once fiction has now become reality, even galactic events appear as footnotes to our technological advances. Is the attitude and self-belief that is born from technological greatness behind the modern rejection of God?
Nothing escapes the research and scrutiny of the advanced intellect of modern Man - except God. Why is it that God is not researched and investigated in an objective and thorough manner? Is it really the case that He has not left any clues that would allow us to recognize Him? Is the Earth devoid of any signs that would definitively prove His existence or non-existence? What you will find is that the one-eyed intellect of modern Man refuses to explore the other dimension of existence. This is deception, misdirection and deluded self-worship which has made human intelligence blind to the other aspect of reality. It cannot simply be naivety or forgetfulness. It actually looks like a carefully considered conspiracy which prevents humanity from moving towards the question that is perhaps the most important question both in this life and the next, on it depends the future life of millions of years.
Does it not occur to Man that it is God who has structured the genetic code in the seed, and who has determined the laws and principles of everything: the glimmer of blossom, the scent of flowers, the flow of water-falls, the harmony of the colors of the rainbow? He oversees the growth of the fetus in the mother’s womb. It is God who has evolved the complex and intricate ‘technology’ that enabled the formation of simple cellular life. He structures and places each event along the continuum of space and time, integrating the atoms of space into the dimensions of time. Is it not intellectually justifiable that a force that plays such a fundamental part in the cosmos should not merit even a single question in the curriculum being delivered in our schools? Should students not have a textbook that objectively explores whether God exists in line with intellectual principles of enquiry, and are able to distinguish between actual facts and opinions based on scientific bigotry? Has modern thinking arrived at a definitive conclusion backed by evidence on the existence or non-existence of God? Has it established a scientific law or theory that brings finality to this issue?
Is it really true that the question of God is a private matter, and that the history of nations and civilizations is totally independent from its influence? Is the concept of God so subjective that it can never be accepted as a universal law? Perhaps God is purely a psychological state induced by the imbalanced temperaments of certain individuals. If these claims have been definitively and scientifically proven, then the absence of God from intellectual discourse is justified. If this is not the case, then why have we given the lowest priority to a question of such magnitude? Why has modern Man deceived himself in such a spectacular manner? The Quran informs us that Satan vowed to God that he would deceive all of Mankind. His claim seems to have now materialized, for he has diverted Mankind’s attention from their ultimate purpose and priority. In the past Satan adulterated the sanctified name of God with the filth of idols and statues. Today, he has achieved an even greater victory. He has made humanity lose all interest in identifying its purpose and destination. He has put them on a path that almost guarantees they will never find the direction towards their ultimate goal. On an individual basis people will always continue to focus on discovering the purpose of their existence, but is it possible for humanity as a collective to redirect its focus on the ultimate priority of existence? History tells us that the human race as a whole has experienced a tragedy that has nothing to do with physical catastrophe and disaster. It is a calamity related to modern Man’s disregard for the purpose of existence and adoption of a world view that will lead to the ultimate annihilation of Mankind.
To be continued....
The Secret Potential of Miracles 2/2
The history of human thought has never before witnessed the sudden rate of progress that has occurred over the last hundred years. This has resulted in Mankind developing delusions of grandeur. When a weak and feeble minded man experiences a sudden surge of creativity and brain power he can easily become captive to fantasies of his own majesty and power. For thousands of years the procession of human thought advanced at a slow and steady pace; it managed to produce a handful of achievements and was engrossed with its preoccupation with a limited number of big questions. It was then gripped by intellectual progress and advancement of such intensity that it became captive to a collective delusion of greatness. This tragedy of human thought, which I shall refer to as ‘collective Schizophrenia’, opened up a new wave of human ignorance. The change in circumstances lifted the lid from a Pandora’s Box of mental illnesses. The unprecedented speed of progress led to the production of new technologies, the creation of modern jobs, skills and expertise, and alongside this society began to witness the rise of diseases unheard of before.
The cure for Schizophrenia is well known. The traditional method was to suspend the patient from the ceiling and force him to take in the vapor of burning chillies. The modern approach, in the recent past, was to give the patient electric shock treatment. Both these methods involve an element of shock and pain. Humanity is becoming weary of such rapid change and advancement. Some people have chosen to withdraw their support for this progress; others are gripped by its fear; and those at its forefront suffer from an absolute crisis of the intellect. The only cure for this disease seems to be a social catastrophe involving intense shock and pain. The whole of the human race will be dangled upside down and made to inhale the fumes of hot chillies! If we are to avert total annihilation and destruction, the only other cure is to return to God. In his psychotic obsession with greatness, modern Man cannot accept a God other than himself. Is this not a quality of Dajjaal? How intelligent and yet how stupid is modern Man! However, not everybody can recognise this distinction between intelligence and insanity. It is only those whose intelligence allows them to see modern progress in the broader context of cosmic existence. Even in these tumultuous times they have found a tower of strength to hold on to, a being that lifts the veil of fear and anxiety, and amidst the collective ‘arthritis’ of society gives the power of movement to those who depend on Him.
Modern Man insists that there is no evidence of God and not a shred of data exists to even hint at His existence. There is no way we can believe in Him. I sometimes wonder whether God gets annoyed with the flawed logic of these intellectual dwarves. His glory derided and ridiculed by intellects which have traded their integrity for a few scraps. Can there be anyone more forbearing than God? He is the possessor of absolute power and discretion and for centuries He has reprieved those who continue to reject Him. How sublime is He, and how insignificant are we! How many of us have trampled over the sanctity of His Lordship; insults which would have justified Him in seeking vengeance in protection of His honour. Generation after generation of human beings have cast aspersions and accusations on Him based on their limited, short sighted and conceited intellects. All of this did not make God rush to take decisive action against Mankind. Instead He gave them signs and warnings to show them the consequences of their choices: desolate landscapes, abandoned dwellings, dried up wells. None of these were enough to make Mankind return to God. We cannot regard modern Man as naïve and simple. In fact he is not human at all. Imprisoned in the illusions of Satan, he is no more than a confused and bewildered shell that resembles the body of a human being. He has sold his dreams to the Devil, and has bartered the mercy of God for a life of self-doubt and ignorance.
Is it really the case that there is no concrete evidence and data on God?
Here I am not referring to the philosophical arguments that have become standard in the debate on the existence or non-existence of God. These debates will continue to occur, but neither party is able to convince the other. This is because those against the existence of God do not have a definitive proof or argument for their rejection and those who are for the existence of God have nothing but assumptions based on logic and reason. The argument presented by one side is refuted by a counter-argument from the opposing view. The intellectual proofs of God’s existence that the philosophers and scholastic theologians laid down have not stood the test of time and now indicate weakness of intelligence. It seems like only yesterday that the Poet and Philosopher Iqbal (d. 1938) presented an intellectual defence of Godhood, which has in a matter of years become subject to fresh rejection and doubt.
In contrast, personal conviction in God can be based on a variety of reasons. God is found through prayers in times of hardship and distress and His reply becomes a powerful proof of His existence. The occurrence of a tragic event can provide the impetus to follow the path of God. Disaffection with the rat-race of life and the fear of death are both major factors that make people turn to God. The beauty and splendour of the natural world can leave a trace of the Creator of the cosmos in one’s mind. By reflecting and pondering on the Macrocosm and on the Self in a similar manner, some intellectuals have developed ‘theories’ that attempt to prove the existence of a Designer and Creator. However, the truth is that all of this does not constitute definitive and objective proof of God. This is not the type of evidence that a scientist would present in defence of a theory or hypothesis relating to the physical world. In reality these are just personal feelings about God that we are committed to, but have now found tenuous and superficial ‘evidence’ to support them.
Many personal convictions and beliefs are held on the basis of blind-following and unquestioning acceptance (Taqleed). The human brain just listens to others and prefers not to suffer the inconvenience of verifying the truth for itself. What we believe to be certain largely depends on the group we belong to, those in authority, and social pressure to conform. The scholars of religion may have answers for those who criticise the teachings of their faith, but they cannot provide a convincing reply to the basic question posed by secularism on the existence of God, the basis of all religion. The result of this is that many people have become plagued by doubt. This is not a surprise since the ‘Scholars of doubt’ in fact display some level of intelligence and reason, in contrast to the religious response which is usually defensive, driven by fear and not credible at all. This incapacity of the religious scholars has helped secularism to gain domination over religion at the intellectual level. However, we must ask again: is there really no credible, intellectual and irrefutable proof of God?
To be continued ...with a chapter "What is the Source of Mankind’s Power? "
What is the Source of Mankind’s Power? 1/2
In this chapter let us briefly consider some of the fundamental views that are held about human life. There are two main perspectives that deal with life from birth till the moment of death and beyond death to a period of eternal life. According to one view, life is the result of a cosmic accident that happened by chance, and it was only by a fortunate coincidence that the human species was endowed with qualities that make it superior to all other creatures. In particular, the cause of Man’s distinction and excellence over all other life forms is because of his superior intelligence. This world view on life concludes that Mankind is not indebted to any external power for creating this extraordinary and amazing ‘accident’ of life. This is for the simple reason that there is no other force that Man should express gratitude towards.
He is therefore absolutely free to decide the laws by which to live his life and how to act and behave. His decisions are based on his experiences and are guided by his superior consciousness. He alone is ultimately responsible for the survival or annihilation of the human species. The inevitable fact is that the natural resources of the Earth will not be able to sustain human life forever. However, before this or any other cosmic disaster occurs, the ultimate solution for Mankind would be to transport themselves to another planet or star whose conditions would be able to sustain life. In the event of a cosmic catastrophe that encompasses the entire universe, this amazing life form produced by chance will unfortunately become the victim of a major mass extinction of life.
As far as ethics is concerned, this philosophy of life regards Mankind to be the ultimate arbiter of morality - liberal and secular democracies hold sacred the belief that the decision of the majority should be respected and honoured. This means that the people of a single nation, or indeed the world, could collectively agree to change and wipe out the ethical framework and rules that due to a ‘lack of knowledge’ have for centuries embroiled human civilization in the quagmire of reward and sin. They could replace this moral code with an ethical system that safeguards wealth and privilege, respects personal freedoms and protects the interests of powerful global forces. This could lead to a scenario where all the countries of the world live in the shadow of a mighty and dominant nation who has the ultimate authority of being the Lord of the Earth; it has the right to demand that all other nations and forces abandon their own perspectives on life and offer total allegiance to it. In return, it will offer them protection and will make arrangements for them to have food and employment. It will also help them to protect themselves from disease. If the nations of the world will not live as its feudal vassals offering payments to this master, then they must at least live as its tax payers.
An alternative outcome of this new ethical system is that the nations of the world are divided into advanced, developing and least developed countries. The result of this is that the advanced nations of the world have the right to impose their moral, social and economic values on all weaker nations: this is the price they have to pay if they want support in developing their countries. Gradually, a hierarchy of nations emerges in which countries that are economically advanced and more 'civilized’ are regarded as superior to others. The opinions and sentiments of individuals, regions and nations who dare to question these superior countries are declared to be the result of bigotry and promptly dismissed. If they still persist then they are branded as enemies of humanity and military action is instigated against them to ensure that world peace and security is not threatened by the rise of such divisive forces.
Another feature of this ‘modern’ ethical framework is that it recognizes that power and force are ever present on the ground, and therefore it extends total respect to anyone who possesses the qualities of might and influence. It is maintained that a single world government, ruling a global country in which all people live according to a uniform lifestyle will be able to ensure that human society will become a cradle of justice and goodwill, brimming with food and employment. This dream has inspired generations of Mankind and it cannot be realised without military force and a unilaterally imposed rule of law.
It is assumed that an ethical system that does not include God will empower people to overcome the basic existential realities of life. They will not fall victim to psychological manipulation, brainwashing and ruthless advertising; and nor will they will be subjected to any coercive laws. The uncontrollable and disparate members of the human race will all become indistinguishable from each other, like standardised numbers in a list of data. Without God, Mankind will move to subjugating and controlling the entire universe. The conquest of space will continue and humanity will be in control of an unlimited supply of resources. Means of communication will advance to an unprecedented level. New forms of reproducing and propagating life will be available. Progression and advancement will solely be based on merit and character of individuals.
The constraints of life and death will be reduced, if not totally annihilated. We will conquer death and ensure that unnecessary births are eradicated from the start. Mankind will press forward, and without any fear will establish colonies in space and this will reduce the over-population predicted on planet Earth. The planets and galaxies produced as a result of the Big Bang are so numerous that every single human being could be allotted their own personal star in space! This New world will be governed by a central representative body with an agreed presidential system. Man will be able to claim that he is the master of the universe. The power and control of the President of the Universe can only be described in terms and attributes that are currently used to refer to Almighty God.
This vision of humanity’s future is both a dream and a possibility. The basic blueprint of such a vision has been drawn up and some steps have already been taken in this direction. However, God is the biggest threat in the way of realising this dream. God who has existed pre-eternally, created Man, the universe and the rest of Creation from nothingness: He is the one who established the order of life, opened our awareness to the laws that govern the universe, and made both life and death subject to certain principles. He is the one who controls events and occurrences and is the master of the physical, intermediate and spiritual realms. He has proportioned and structured every atom in due measure in accordance with His master plan (Lauh-e-Mahfooz): and he has permitted no-one to meddle or interfere in His governance of the cosmos.
To be continued....
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