Shikwa – Allama Iqbal

Interesting read.

http://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B4%DA%A9%D9%88%DB%81

Illumination!

Purity of one’s soul [tazkia e nafs], the paths of divine love and true knowledge of the creator, the total reliance on God [tawakkul],  the perpetual remembrance of God [zikr], Finding the profound meaning of existence and human being…… What ever we name it and how ever we define. Mysticism [sufism] has deep roots in all the major cultures and religions of the world. There have been Mystics in religions[Hindus, Buddhist, Jews] but the concepts the Islamic Mysticism take this ‘ism’[if it is] to the next level [in my opinion].

طاعت میں تا رہے نہ مے وانگبیں کی لاگ
دوزخ میں ڈال دو‘ کوئی لے کر بہشت کو
(Ghalib)

گفت رومی ہر بنائے کہنہ کہ باداں کنند
توندانی اول آں بنیاد را ویراں کنند

رومی)
(جس پرانی عمارت کو آباد کرتے ہیں تو نہیں جانتا کہ پہلے اس بنیاد کو ویران کردیتے ہیں)۔
(An answer to Iqbal’s question)

انہیں حقیقت در یا کی کیا خبر امجّد –

جو اپنی روح کے منجھدار سے نہیں گزرے-

…The truth is that all search for knowledge is essentially a form of prayer. The scientific observer of Nature is a kind of mystic seeker in the act of prayer. Although at present he follows only the footprints of the musk-deer, and thus modestly limits the method of his quest, his thirst for knowledge is eventually sure to lead him to the point where the scent of the musk-gland is a better guide than the footprints of the deer…
(Iqbal – The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam – The concept of God and meaning of Prayer)

A debate is always ON between the different interpreter of the religion; whether the Mysticism is part of the religion or it is something intersecting with the religion or something parallel to it. I am leaving it to you to decide.

Help yourself for the other parts.

The cudgel of faith

I have been asked from several sources to comment on French Pres. Sarkozy’s suggested hijab ban. I refused because I really felt I have nothing to add to what is being said and what was said over five years ago when French Pres. Chirac floated a similar idea. You cannot “free” women from male control by having different men control them. However, the recent fervor around this round of stupidity had me thinking more deeply about the issue. I realized I do have something to say. I agree with Freud. Never did I think I would say such a thing, but I do. Everything is about the male penis.
What do Sarkozy and Mullah Muhammad Omar have in common? A penis! (They do not share one penis. They each have their own penis. They share the context of the penis-owning.) What does all their thinking? A penis! Why? Because they worship it. Omar worships from fear and Sarkozy worships for a promised reward.

http://www.altmuslimah.com/a/b/b/3191/

Bold question & an impressive answer!‏

A bold question and an impressive [thought provoking] answer. Do listen to both the parts.

But before you listen to any of these. I just want to say that we cannot just rule out some one based on some smear [propaganda] campaigns that is going against him/her. Do listen to what some one had to say… Do a comparative analysis then listen again before criticizing someone. Only “Healthy criticism” is the way to raise the level of maturity[knowledge] of a society.

Islamic System

A very nice discussion between the two popular Pakistani scholars on the “Islamic system”. I do recommend you to watch during the weekend (in free time off-course). Share your feelings/comments. But do raise yourself above those ‘personality barriers’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbn2FBIkAOk