Looking for a Mirror

In the era where the knowledge fashionably become the dreams for every young generation as a way to get better future especially in the sciences area that command to be more marketable and applicable which is seemed to be valuable. those do not contribute to the marketability of the seekers such as history, philosophy, literature, humanities and even religion are regarded as less valuable.

This new trend in learning has led to the loss of meaning education. At the same way, education is aimed to the material pursuit and the hedonistic lifestyle where the souls and spirits are ignored. This issues I thought has been raised by many Muslims scholars, yet, it has fallen on deep ears by the most people. Worse still, education has been reduced to the "dehumanisation' of human beings that lead people into such a machine rather than human being itself. Moreover, this issues being infused in the Muslim countries especially in the Malay world.

How the Muslims in the Malay world deal with such viruses which is originally not from their own tradition?. At the same time, these viruses are still going on in the mind of Muslims world and human society will continue to change with time, consistent with different element it faces.

Everything keeps changing right now. We have to find a way to more equitable development of the world's resources without ignoring the spirits and the souls with balancing the worldly matter and the day afterlife. It means that worldly matter is a tool to open a way to the knowledge and love of God. This knowledge is 'the noblest and highest' due to the true intention which is only for Him.

One of the solution is holding conversation on Islamic tradition to keep in building a great civilization that has been established by the Muslim scholars. Knowing our own tradition could build our confidence to be a Muslim. In other words, whenever the world changing his trend, yet, our spirit still in line with the True path. Its like a big tree that has stems and leafs and never forgetting the fundamental exists of the roots. it has no problem with ongoing changing of the stems and leafs, yet, the source is still remained exist.

Note of summarizing from the last week seminar (more detail), here we are analysing Muslim ulama - intellectuals rose in different parts of the Malay world to lead and guide the ummat in its confrontation with the foreign civilization, toward reform or social transformation. Among them were Shaykh Daud al- Fatani of South Malaysia, Munshi Abdullah, Shaykh Ahmad al-Hady, Tok Kenali and Za'ba of Malaysia, Shaykh Abd al-Samad al-Palembani, Imam Zarkasyi, Mahmud Yunus, Hamka and Harun Nasution of Indonesia. each of them has contributed significantly in transforming the Malay/Islamic social landscape.

Most of them are continuity of thought in line with Islamic tradition as taught in the Holy Koran and Prophetic tradition, yet, they still keep on responding the condition and social condition without directly attacking with the conflict. such as Imam Zarkasyi, Mahmud Yunus, Shaykh Ahmad al-Hady and also there were some traditionalists (Sufism) such as Hamka, Tok Kenali, Shaykh Abd al-Samad al-Palembani.

However, some of them are recognized changing rather than the continuity such as Munshi Abdullah and Harun Nasution. Anyway, still we should analyze it critically especially Harun Nasution thought because he changed most of the philosophy of IAIN (State Institute of Islamic Studies) into western philosophy approach rather than Islamic approach which has different world view. For more detail please read these books 'a Critical Evaluation of Harun Nasution's Thought' and 'Reclaiming the Conversation Islamic Intellectual Tradition in the Malay Archipelago'

Finally, the way we understand history affects our perception of the present which influences the alternatives we postulate to solve existing problems. To reclaim the conversation with our intellectual tradition is to always examine the tradition in order to understand its possible meanings, hence enabling us to relate reality of the present and to understand the future challenges with the different planning and strategies while still using the same path (revelation) and Prophetic tradition which is applicable anywhere and anytime.

Where There is a Will, There is a Highway

I wanna be a student forever (for more detail). Being a student is to keep continuing on creating learning environment. Sometimes, I need to push myself on it. There are so many ways to express its culture, one of them are attending seminars or become a part of historical conversation with our seniors.

National Seminar on Islamic educational thought in the Malay World: Reclaiming Conversation (IETIM) was one of the seminar that I have been willing to attend since 2 month ago. The seminar held on 25th November 2010.

Initially, I read the brochures regarding of this seminar, however, the fees was out of my budget (RM 150). At another day, I found out the form to fill in for those students who want to be part of volunteers in this event. Without any doubt, I just wrote my identity on the form with the hope that I could get some lessons from the event.

Where there is a will, there is a highway. A week before seminar, one of my friends called me to be a part of the committee members. Ehmm..the call brought my dreams came true. I could stay on the seminar as a committee member. It is amazing for me to be a part of committees involved in this event. As long as I could share my time and getting some valuable knowledge, it was not problem not being paid. Ultimately, The event taught me many things academically and empirically without any charge as I worried earlier.

Thanks to my friends that support me to be what I want to be right now.
My next coming post will be the core of the seminar that I could I highlighted besides the task stuffiness during the seminar.

The Hijakers

One day a huge airplane with the specialist pilots, group of their crew and the passengers went to some destination.

Unconsciously, among of them were willing to hijack the airplane. The hijackers arrested the pilots and shot some of the crews as well as tried to control the whole things including steering of airplane. Surprisingly, no one of the hijackers even knew on how to handle an airplane while at the same time the pilots was demolished on their ability in a way of controlling airplane. They tried to call their partners to come and accede with regard of handling the steering through navigation controls. Well..airplane could be stabled afterward.

The hijackers might could go on handling an airplane and could be landed into some islands that depend on the them. Yet, not of the same destination as the first specialists pilot wanted to be.

Physically, the airplane wasn't change while the only pilots it does change. However, the reposition of the pilots possibly lean on the massive deviation of the passengers.

Is that a true story??
No, its just an Illustration about an existence of an Islamic Institute in some where right now.

When the Holy Prophet (may God bless and give him Peace!) said:

إذا وسد الأمر إلى غير أهله فانتظر الساعة

"If affairs are not leaning to the experts, then wait while its destruction (of Judgement)"

Reading the Path of Orientalists Thought

Attending a public lecture jointly organized by IAIS Malaysia and Centre for Civilisational Dialogue, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur on 21st Oct 2010. The title was The Qur'an in the Popular American Imagination delivered by Prof. Dr. Carl W. Ernst Considered as one of non-Muslim specialist in Islamic studies.

What I highlighted from his quested about outsiders reading and understands of the Qur’an are:

1. They Believe that Qur’an supports violence against non-Muslim extremist reading that favor the most violent interpretation.
2. Crude assertation doctrine of abrogation (nash) so that as word verse (9: 29) cancel all verses of peace and tolerance.
3. Belief that Qur’an commands hostility toward Christian and Jews
4. Belief that Qur’an oppress world.

It becomes our next tasks that should be evaluated for those Muslims who qualified in explaining the sign of Gods based on Qur’an and Islamic methodology in order to correct these misunderstanding in an Islamic context created a great deal of confusion in the works of Orientalists attempting to assess modern Muslim thinkers, including those who were educated in the West.

After listening his lectures and rereading on the other resources, the Carl's notion is the same as his senior such as Bernard Lewis, W. Montgomery. Actually, they were trying to question of 'reformation' in Islam with little disguised aim of changing the Muslim view of Islam and bringing it as near as possible to Christianity.

” In the always asserted in one place that Islam, like Christianity, was 'offspring' of Judaism , and in another they look 'the Judaeo-Christian inheritance Islam' as an established fact. (Historians of Middle East, edited by Bernard Lewis and P.M. Holt (O.U.P., 1962) P.2,11.)”

“W. Montgomery Watt says that Muhammad ‘was aware of the Jewish teaching’ that he ‘was trying to make his religion more Jewish’ and that the Qur’an shows dependence on ‘Blibical tradition’. (W. Montgomery Watt, Muhammad: Prophet and Statement, Oxford 1961, p.15.39) see the review A.L. Tibawi, p10”

‘A lecture in University of London deserves that the author of the ridiculous dictum that 'Islam must be baptize change in its spirit or renounce its own relevance life. (N.J. Coulson, A History of Islamic Law, Edinburg, 1964)’ it cited from A.L. Tibawi p 14.

The notion of Carl W.E that show these statements could be observed on his next coming book "How to Read the Qur'an: A Reader's Guide to the Qur'an as Literature”. However, I haven’t read it yet. I just listened on his preview on this book from the author its self. then, I could summarize that the idea still the same as his seniors said earlier in their books.

In addition, they are trying to deconstruct a new path on reading and understanding the Holy Qur’an and turn into another view of others religions especially Christian. However, Christian religion itself still have many conflict including chiefly Paul who departed from original revelation and true teachings based on it, and who began preaching a new religion which later came to be called Christianity. Hence Christianity, by virtue of its being created by man, gradually developed its system of ritual by assimilation from other cultures and tradition as well as originating its own fabrications(further reading: Islam and Secularism, p28).

Strangely, When one of the participants were asking (Abdul Karim, here) opposing and re-convincing the speaker (Carl) that Islam is conformity the previous religion of Islam (Al Ahzab: 40, here) (Al A’raf: 158,here) (Al Maidah: 48, here) .

Yet, he answered (Carl) “ignorance keeps coming up” it means that he has her own belief on how to understand Qur’an and you (as Muslims) we have your own path.

However, Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas (1978) said in his book “Islam and Secularism” that those ideas could be said as the process of ‘secularization’. He said:

‘It deliverance of man ‘first from religious and then from metaphysical control over his reasons and his language.’ (p17) so he added also that secularization has its roots not in biblical faith, but in the interpretation of biblical faith by Western man (p20).

However, some ridiculous things are the non-Muslims advocates of reform that on the one hand they profess that Islam (in what sense they do not say) is too rigid and cannot be reformed in the law undermine the shari'ah (A.L. Tibawi, p6).

Al-Attas said that Islam is the subjective, personal religion of the individual as well as the objective, pervading self-same religion of the Community – that it operated as the same religion in the individual as a single entity as well as the society composed collectively of such entities. It is implicit in our exposition that Islam is both belief and faith (Iman) as well as as submission in service (Islam); it is both assent of the heart (qalb) and mind (‘aql) confirmed by the tongue (lisan) as well as deed and work (‘amal); it is the harmonious relationship established between both to God as well as to Holy Prophet (may God bless and give him Peace!); it is accepting whole heartedly the truth of the Testimony (Kalima shahadah) that there is no God but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah – Islam is the unity of all these, together with what the entail, in belief and in practice, in the person of the Muslim as well as in the Community as whole (Islam and Secularism, p71,72).

I do believe that seemingly Carl missed and ignored the critical point of Islam as Al-Attas said at the first essence Muslim beliefs. If non-Muslim thinkers on Qur’an interpretations and they keep on producing their books and thought. So that we just accept it without critical view of their works. ultimately, it would lead to the Muslims reform (islah) means either ‘restoration’ of Islam to its pristine essence or ‘purification’ of the practices of Muslims from unauthorized accretions. Ironically, we are being object of reformation in the Western sense of the term and it might be possible that Ka’bah would be removed from the Mecca into the West. Then ironically, we just keep on silent and just believe it. Ho ho ho

If they did so, there is no way to believe of what he believed because he never cares of what we believed it. “To you be your Way, and to me mine (Al-kafirun: 6)”.

I agree as A.L. Tibawi said "I do not write in any retaliatory spirit and my sole aim to be the re-establishment of truth which I love more..".

Considered superficially, if history is merely information about past events...In reality it is insight and verfication, accurate discovery of origins and cause. Ibn Khaldun (d. 1406) in the Muqaddimah (Beirut, 1900), pp, 3-4. cited from the book Tibawi (1976).

Now is the time for us to stand up and become messengers and ambassadors of the truth we profess. This is the only way we will beat back the lies, distortions, and propaganda that have made even some Muslims question the possibility of a positive future for Muslims in the western world.

Note: For further reading please read these books:

• Al-Attas, S.M.N (1978). Islam and Secularism, Art Printing Works Sdn. Bhd. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• Tibawi. A.L (1979). Second Critique of English-Speaking Orientalists Their Approach to Islam and the Arabs, The Islamic Cultural Centre, London.
  

• Tibawi. A.L (1976). Arabic and Islamic Themes Historical, Educational and Literary Studies. Luzac & Company LTD. London.
  

Attending Unknown Topic

This Morning at 9.30 a.m, I will attend a talk by Hillary Rodham Clinton at ISTAC (IIUM KL Campus). She is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama and also a wife of former a U.S president Bill Clinton. for further information Here

Why should be in ISTAC?
It is my question that unanswerable. In my opinion, as a distinguished guest it should be in CAC anyway. Is there any agenda behind? owwh..this is out of my business. Just wait and see :)

What about the topic?
As participants, we haven't know the topic will be discussed in the talk.
as we heard from the committee, the topic is not being informed by the participants. However, one of our friends from Phd student who attended Hillary talk in California six months ago, he guesses that the topic will be bridging the gaps between U.S and other regions or religion.

What about the discipline?
As participants, we had such a briefing to be discussed yesterday. The committee listed us for those students who are willing to ask a question during talk. In addition, we have to bring our ID or passport to identify our personal lists.

Hopefully, the agenda will flow smoothly without any heaving trouble that lead to the big issues.

These questions are only my negative perspective that should not be worried about. Yet, Its depend on you. this posting is the only an ax to break the frozen sea in my mind.