CULTURE OF ISLAM

94 Reading-In to the Aayaths

Imtiaz Muhsin 14-Sep-12

The main objective of these talks (and therefore the scripts of these talks), is to stimulate thinking. Sensible, rational and logical thinking. So, my message, think, think & think! Be sensible, be rational and be logical.

Please Note
1. I have had the great privilege, (since Aug 2010), of presenting talks on the weekly Radio Program Culture of Islam [Every Friday 8 to 8.30 pm, Radio Sri Lanka - FM 97.4] 2. Since these are Radio Talks, I refer to, or address the audience as listeners 3. I am well aware that the audience to these talks would consist of people belonging to a variety of faiths. So as to make people of all faiths feel included, I very often use words and names that are common to all religions. 4. For these reasons, I use the name GOD, as well as Abraham, Moses, Jesus etc as well as the names Allah, Ibrahim (Alaihis Salaam), Moosa (Alaihis Salaam), Easa (Alaihis Salaam) etc 5. Muslims by habit usually say Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam, when the name of Prophet Muhammad is mentioned, and Alaihis Salaam' when the name of a Prophet is mentioned. However, in these series of talks I have reduced the use of these prayers & sayings to the bare minimum. 6. Muslims, also by habit, use a number of Arabic prayers or sayings, such as Alhamdulillah, Insha Allah and so on. Again, I have reduced the use of these prayers or sayings to the bare minimum. 7. Sometimes I have to write Arabic words in the English script. I have devised my own way of writing Arabic in English, as follows;

th TH

s Ss SW

DHL DHZ

H h

Gh GH

Information on these talks along with all download links can be found on my on my Blog (http://imtiazm.wordpress.com/) The dates or the schedules of these talks can be viewed on the Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/ImtiazMuhsin786) The Scripts of these talks can be downloaded from www.ScribD.com (www.ScribD.com Author Imtiaz Muhsin) The audio files of these talks can be downloaded from YouTube (YouTube Channel Imtiaz Muhsin) The YouTube Link to this talk is at http://youtu.be/QqAx_sylJjY

All Praise and Thanks is due to Allah and Allah alone

94 ReadingIn to the Aayaths

94 Reading in to the Aayaths

Dear Friends, Assalamu Alaikum, Last week I shared some of my thoughts on the attributes of God, God possesses infinite attributes and every one of these infinite attributes is infinite in scope And then I brought this thought that if God has infinite attributes and each attribute is infinite in scope, then each statement or each Aayath or even each word in the Quran must express meanings which in themselves are infinite in depth and significance. I was able to discuss some Aayaths of the Quran keeping in mind this concept; it was to me, a thoroughly enjoyable exercise. On tonights talk I wish to focus on man and what the Aayaths of the Quran are pointing out to us regarding the nature of man. To get a clearer understanding, I would like to delve a little on a point I discussed last week. What is that point? It is a point that fascinates me I see an unusual connection in the design of the Earth and in the design of the Universe and in the workings of the inner psyche of man. There is, as I said, a fascinating connection. Let me explain. First let us look at the Earth. Have you not noticed that almost every landscape that is unspoiled by man is very very beautiful. It is the buildings, road, factories and other manmade objects that spoil the beauty of these landscapes. When we visit mountainous areas, we are so enraptured by the beauty surrounding us that we express our desires to build our homes there, at least a retirement home. When we visit river Valleys, Jungles, Forests, grasslands, beaches or even lakesides we are all taken up by the beauty of the landscape and again we express our desires to build our homes there, at least a retirement home. This is the beauty of Nature, designed by the Creator God Almighty. No other living being appreciates this beauty. Even at night, on a dark clear night, the night sky is so magnificent. We just want to lay a mat, out in the open, drink in the beauty of the night and just fall asleep there. Now then, let us look at ourselves. Why do we want to settle in these beautiful surroundings? True, we like to be surrounded by beauty, but then in nature there is something more than just beauty, there is an environment, an ambience, it is this ambience that fans or stimulates this urge to meditate.

94 ReadingIn to the Aayaths

It is an inner urge, an inner urge to meditate. It is a natural urge, it is a deep urge. Now, what do we want to meditate about? When we come down to it, we want to meditate and unravel the mysteries of creation. Why were we created? What is the purpose of my life on Earth? Who has created all this? How do I get to know more about this great Creator? What happens when I die? Do I not go out of this physical environment? How would that environment be? How could I satisfy myself that that new environment would be to my liking? When I die, I die alone. My family members, my friends or my wealth does not accompany me. So what would I have there? And so on Each line of thought sprouts out many other lines of thought each of this has to be worked out. The yearning to work this out is within us. We have come in to this earth equipped with this natural yearning. Just like we yearn for food, yearn for shelter, yearn for clothing, yearn for company, yearn for wealth, yearn for knowledge, yearn for recognition and so on, similarly we yearn to meditate and think out the mysteries of life, think out the mysteries of death, think out the mysteries of the Creator and think out the mysteries of creation. This is natural. We are not human if we are not disposed to this yearning. No other animal in the animal Kingdom yearns to learn or to solve these mysteries. They are just not equipped with the faculties. Now again briefly, what are these special faculties? There are 8 such features or faculties described in the Quran; They are the; 1. The Baswar or the faculty of processing what we see 2. The Samgha or the faculty of processing what we hear 3. Afidha or the faculty of processing our feelings or emotions 4. The Qalb or the Heart an intuitive faculty 5. The Swudhoor or the Chest a faculty that receives or holds knowledge 6. The Aql or intelligence 7. The Nafs or the perception of self or even described as ego 8. The Ruh or the Soul. No other animal from the animal kingdom have been provided or blessed with these faculties. These faculties did not evolve but have been shaped and gifted by God to all human beings. Now taking another view, we have the Holy Quran. The Quran has been sent to us by Allah, by God, by this same creator whom we want to meditate about. We want to meditate about the creator and His creation. And it is through the Quran that Allah guides us to learn these enlightening truths. Now there is another peculiar or should I say special quality in the Quran.

94 ReadingIn to the Aayaths

What is that special quality? When we read the Quran there is what I call this reflex questions that keep on popping up in our minds what are these questions? Let me explain. But before explaining that point, it would be easier to understand, if I were to read to you one of the objectives of the Quran, which appear in Surah Saad

(38:29) This is a blessed Book We have revealed to you, so that they deliberate in its Aayaath, and so that the men of understanding may do Zikr.

So when we read the Quran there are 2 things that we can do 1. We can (Li Yadhdhabbroo Aayaathihi) deliberate or ponder on its Signs or Aayaath, or, 2. If we are men of understanding (Ulul albaab) we would do Zikr Now Zikr is obviously a higher status than just thinking or contemplating or meditating. Now, the beauty of the Quran is that just reading it creates a sort of a reflex urge, urging us to contemplate, to meditate to work out its meanings; Let me elaborate. Taking the 1st Aayath in Surah Baqarah What does it say? it says: ALM My Reflex response from deep within: ALM? What's that? What does that mean? Why does God tell us ALM??? What does it say next? Zaalikal Kitaab - In THAT Book My Reflex response from deep within: - In THAT Book, not THIS Book? What Book? What does it say next? Laa Raiba Fee - There is no doubt My Reflex response from deep within: No doubt?? But then so many phrases make no sense! Surely it looks like there are many contradictions? No doubts!!!??? What does it say next? Hudhal lil Mutthaqeen - (there is) guidance for the MuttaQeen (the God fearing) My Reflex response from deep within: The MuttaQeen? Who are the MuttaQeen? What does it say next? Allazeena Yu'minoona bil ghaib - those who believe in the unseen My Reflex response from deep within: Believe in the unseen??? How can you believe in something you cannot see? and what something??? What does it say next? Wa Yuqeemoonas Salaath - and establish Salaath My Reflex response from deep within: Establish Salaath? Not, perform Salaath? How do we establish Salaath? We can understand establish a business, but establish Salaath What does it say next? Wa Mimmaa RazaQnaa Hum yunfiQoon - and spends out of what we have provided

94 ReadingIn to the Aayaths

My Reflex response from deep within: That is what I am doing. Surely that is what everyone is doing. so does that mean that even those non Muslims are part MuttaQi because they too are spending from what God provides? Or is there some other meaning? Does it mean, that out of what I have, could it be that some things cannot be categorized as 'God given'? If so what are they? How do I identify them? How do I avoid them?? and so on, and on, and on, and on, and on ........ Now the obvious connection between the 2 (the points I have mentioned above) is that we have to ask the questions and we have to meditate, and the world is made for meditating. Let me repeat that; 1. The Universe, the World, the Earth, the many landscapes, the sky - even at night is designed for meditating it is a place for us and the message is that it is a place for us to meditate. 2. Every Aayath in the Quran compels us to think, to ponder to meditate. And what is the objective of the Quran?

(38:29) This is a blessed Book We have revealed to you, so that they deliberate in its Aayaath, and so that the men of understanding may do Zikr.

Now is there not a huge message in this connection? Should we not work it out? Today the talk is on the nature of man or the quality of man as described in the Quran. In the Tafsir Ibn Kathir or the Commentary on the Holy Quran by Ibn Kathir, in the section that covers the beginning of Surah Baqarah we are told that; "Four Aayath at the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah describe the believers, two describe the disbelievers, and thirteen describe the hypocrites. '' Now, that sounds interesting, it is something all of us must go through. We must seek with the thought, am I Mumin (a believer) or am I Kaafir, a rejecter or am I a Munafiq (a hyopocrite) the best way of finding out and correcting ourselves would be to read the Aayaths in the Quran and think out our plight. Now, every statement in the Quran triggers of a question I call it a reflex question. There are some Aayaths in the Quran that trigger off more questions than the others. I would like to share these thoughts with you.

94 ReadingIn to the Aayaths

To me the most frightening Aayath in the Quran is Aayath no 8 of Surah Baqara or Surah No 2, which states as follows; (2:8) And among men there are some who say, We believe in Allah and in the Last Day, yet they are not believers.

For a person to say I believe in Allah and I believe in the Hereafter, we would all recognize him as a Muslim but then Allah tells us that there are some of these people they are not Believers. Now that is a frightening thought. Like I mentioned earlier, this Aayath would automatically trigger many reflex questions. Let us listen to some of the more obvious ones. 1. Who are these people? 2. Am I one of them? 3. Allah also tells us; (2:2) This Book has no doubt in it - a guidance for the God-fearing, (2:3) who believe in the Unseen, and are steadfast in Salh (prayer), and spend out of what We have provided them;

So Yuminoona bil ghaib wa YuQimoonas Swalaatha wa Mimmaa RazaQnaa Hum YunfiQoon are some of the qualities of a MuttHaQi Whilst some of those who say Aamannaa BilLLaaHi wa bil Yaumil Aakhir we believe in aAlah, we believe in the Hereafter are not Muslims What is the difference? Or What are the differences?? Does not, Aamannaa BilLLaaHi wa bil Yaumil Aakhir, both come under the heading Yuminoona Bil Ghaib? Now in the next few Aayaths, Allah describes them further. Let us listen to this description. (2:9) They try to deceive Allah and those who believe, while they are not deceiving anyone except themselves, although they are unaware of it.

94 ReadingIn to the Aayaths

The four points that emerge from this Aayath is that 1. They try to fool or deceive Allah 2. They try to deceive the Mumins or the believers Now who are these people trying to deceive Allah and deceive the Mu;mins not deceive the people but deceive the Mumins So it looks like people who pass themselves as believers as Muslims whilst they are pretenders, thus trying to fool Allah about their belief and trying to fool the Believers about their Islam-like activities. 3. They are only fooling or deceiving themselves 4. They do not realize (2:10) In their hearts there is a malady, so Allah has made them grow in their malady; and for them there is a grievous punishment, because they have been lying.

Well Allah tells us the reason they are going to be punished is because they have been lying. Lying about what? Remember, the Aayath started by informing us about Wa maiy yaqoolu amongst men there are some who say Now Allah tells us they have been lying Which means their statement Aamannaa BilLLaaHi wa bil Yaumil Aakhir we believe in Allah, we believe in the Hereafter is not true Now the 2 big questions. 1. Who are these people? and 2. Am I one of them? (2:11) When it is said to them, Do not spread disorder on the earth, they say, We are but reformers.

Now Allah describes another of their qualities; Remember these are people who pose as Muslims When they are told do not do mischief they reply why, we are doing islah or reformation (2:12) Beware, it is, in fact, they who spread disorder, but they do not realize.

And then Allah tells us, they are not doing reformation, they are mischief makers. Allah also uses the phrase Wa Laa Kinlaa Yashghuroon they do not realize. In other words we are told that these people realize that reform is necessary but they do not realize that what they are doing is not reforms but mischief. I leave it to listeners to work out who these people could be.

94 ReadingIn to the Aayaths

And I also leave it to listeners to seek within themselves whether they too are involved in the work of reformation and then to honestly look in to the activities and search whether we are involved in reform or is it some mischief. Is this not good advice? Abc (2:13) And when it is said to them, Believe as people have believed, they say, Shall we believe as the fools have believed? Beware, it is, in fact, they who are the fools, but they do not know.

Allah uses the phrase Wa laa Kinlaa Yaghlamoon they do not have knowledge or they do not have ilm. In other words, we are told that these people call others fools because they think they have ilm or they have knowledge,but in fact they do not have ilm. So there are 2 reflex questions, 1. Who are these people who think they have ilm and others are fools? 2. Am I one of them? Now Allah describes the third category or a third recognizable quality in them. (2:14) When they meet those who believe, they say, We have entered Faith; but when they are alone with their satans, they say, Indeed, we are with you; we were only mocking. (2:15) It is Allah who mocks at them, and lets them go on wandering blindly in their rebellion. (2:16) These are the people who have bought error at the price of guidance; so their trade has brought no gain, nor have they reached the right Path.

So Allah informs us of their 3 diagnostic qualities in described in 3 categories. 1. The category of those who claim to be involved in reformation uplifting society or the community 2. The category of those who think that it is they who are knowledgeable, that they possess ilm, whilst others are fools. 3. The category of those whose business brings them loss because they side with the Shaithaans, they take pride and delight in the company of Shaithaans.

94 ReadingIn to the Aayaths

So we find that all 3 vocations of humans the vocations that humans take pride in are pointed out to us. 1. The Reformists or the social workers. 2. The knowledgeable ones 3. Those who indulge in business. Are we not involved in all 3, we should honestly search our intentions and hidden thoughts and try to become true believers and true Mumins. May Allah Taaalah guide us all and accept us all.

Imtiaz Muhsin Colombo Sri Lanka crescent786@hotmail.com

You Tube Channel - HaneefanMusliman

The YouTube Link to this talk is at http://youtu.be/QqAx_sylJjY

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94 ReadingIn to the Aayaths