the Invisible

The invisible 

“There is more than what can be seen.”

This is the cornerstone of our belief, and the third verse of al-Baqara that we believe in the unseen. 

Our belief goes further than that, for we believe that the unseen is far, far, greater than all that can be seen. 

Indeed it is a poor man who does not feel the connection with the Most Gracious, who is at at one and the same time the God of all, and the God of each. 

It is indeed a poor man who can not submit himself to the infinitely merciful, creator of all. Who does not know how to pray, and does not feel, at least once within their lifetime, the sublime happiness within prayer.

Indeed it is a poor man that gets lost in the minutiae of his small life. Who does not, and cannot, contemplate on the vastness, and intricateness of our World, and the consummate smallness of our common place within it.

Indeed it is a poor man that runs away from the richness of faith, because he believes that he cannot do justice to what he sees in the religion as intricate, and complicated, requirements and dues. He runs because he lacks faith in God’s good grace and knows not the Hadith Qudsi in which God says “whoever comes to me walking, I will come to them running” *1

Within prayer I ask at times, “O Allah bless me that I might be amongst those that praise you, and my children too.“

I affirm the reality of hell, even though I cannot see it and ask that I be saved from it. And I affirm the reality of heaven, even though I cannot see it, and ask that I be entered into it. 

And it does not make me arrogant, rather the realisation of these things that are far greater than me, humbled me. That my fate is not mine own to decide. 

That we believe in the hidden greater realm does not make us any less rational. For the verse that precedes that third acts as a spur towards the removal of doubt, by stating that it is (from) a book (the Qur’an) without doubt. 

There are two mechanism towards that end, the removal of doubt, the first is experience and the second is reason.

That the Qur’an challenges us to use our rational minds at the very first, with its above statement, and then later redoubles that challenge in a verse that directly mentions it, is of major consequence. *2

Succinctly then that same third verse, that we are concerned with, provides a formula for the attainment and actual realisation of glimpses of the hidden greater realm, that abounds around us:

“Who establish the prayer and spend (on others) out of what we have given to them”

To enter into Islam is in to enter into this, and it is an experience that is the most telling and cannot be known except through that experience. 

“Verily this religion is firmly solid, so study its depths (or enter into it) with gentleness”. 

The best gift that you can give to any man Is the gift of prayer, out of gratitude, that you make it conducive for others to submit themselves in prayer to the Most Gracious. That you establish the prayer in yourself, and help to establish it in others whose life yours touches. 

And then when you make not yourself the centre of your World, but you make the fulfilment of the needs of others the centre of you. 

Then the door unlatches, and you see and experience glimpses of things that are not of this World. 

The salutations of peace from the Angels when your heart is troubled, or the smell of flowers en route to the mosque in an alleyway, where there are none, or even a true dream.  

But the best of it is when you surrender yourself in the prostration of the prayer, and feel awash with the harmony of true self-effacement, and an involuntary smile lights your face. 

What I have said here is my considered opinion. If it is wrong then that wrong belongs to me. 

Knowledge is sought through study and contemplation, not via lectures, nor speeches, nor this above. 

END

*1 Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah Almighty says: Whoever comes with a good deed will have the reward of ten like it and even more. Whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed for one evil deed like it or he will be forgiven. Whoever draws close to me by the length of a hand, I will draw close to him by the length of an arm. Whoever draws close to me the by length of an arm, I will draw close to him by the length of a fathom. Whoever comes to me walking, I will come to him running. Whoever meets me with enough sins to fill the earth, not associating any idols with me, I will meet him with as much forgiveness.” Collection of the sayings of the Messenger, Muslim. 

*2“And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Sura (chapter of the Quran) like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true.” V23 Baqara. 

Exploitation and Freedom

Exploitation and Freedom

When we look at the mantra that governs the Conservative Party, or the Republicans, and not what they advertise about themselves but who they actually are...

You would be hard pressed not to find the following unsaid motor...

“Exploitation is necessary to create growth”

Or even 

“Exploitation is a necessary evil “. 

This meme has rooted itself within our thought pathways so completely, so much so that we fail to recognise both its pre-eminence, and then also fail to challenge it.  

To question its validity and the validity of it’s argument is not difficult, but what is difficult is to see its dire effects on us each individually and as a people. 

It’s claim to validity lays on its reversal, that “Growth or Wealth are created when someone, who matters little, is exploited.”

Now that it’s stripped of its disguise maybe we can appreciate its true worth. That it’s true that when someone is exploited, the exploiter gains innumerably and often very quickly, but at what cost. And does the gain justify the cost. But also when reversed the argument doesn’t logically hold; X=>Y, doesn’t necessarily mean that Y=>X. 

That whilst exploration leads necessarily to prosperity for the exploiter, that it does not hold that the only means towards prosperity is through exploitation. 

Indeed there are other more wholesome ways to ensure prosperity, not for the few- but for all. And it is Adam Smith in his magnum opus “The Wealth of Nations” who argued in that vein, that true wealth is created by open and free trade. Exploitation is neither open nor free. 

When Nations are free of exploitation, each Nation in its turn will progress more fully in what it does best. And the free movement of myriad goods and services will make us all wealthier, precisely because each will be that much more affordable (less costly). 

We should be in no doubt that the mantra that sustains exploitation and oppression throughout our World, is not there to make us all more prosperous. 

It is there to keep the few that prosper at the expense of the many. 

It is not about freedom, nor is about democracy, nor is it about anything good. 

It is this mantra that sees India and China tagged as great Powers, even when they cannot or will not provide for their own citizenry. It is the very fact that they are ready to exploit others, even if it is their own people, that makes our Politicians and Media call them “powerhouses” or the “Worlds biggest Democracy”. Both of which they are not, and both of which they wouldn’t be without exploitation.  

 

In the last couple of days we have each given and been given wishes of future prosperity by our fellow countrymen:

“May the New Year bring you prosperity”. 

The Conservative Party is viewed as being the Party of Aspiration by the vast majority of our countrymen. 

That the country does not aspire to honesty, nor to truth, nor to helping one another is a damning realisation. 

That they accept and aspire to exploitation is another damning realisation. 

That we must challenge those assumptions that allow and encourage exploitation is a must. 

We need, all of us to remember, how fully against exploitative behaviour our religion is. 

And for that it is enough for us to remember the words of the Messenger (saw):

“Do not intercept goods before they reach the market.” (Narrated by Imam Ahmed). 

Even in that most simplest of aspects, we are not to hinder men nor women from gaining their true worth. 

Knowledge is sought through study and contemplation. Not lectures, nor talks, nor this above.