Idolatry and Superstitious Beliefs

Assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Meaning of Idol

Europe

The word idol in English as a noun refers to an image or representation of a deity used as an object of worship. It also refers to a person or a thing that is greatly admired, loved or revered. The word originated from the Middle English through Old French idole and it was derived from Latin, idolum which means image or form in the sense of idol. The cognate word in Greek was eidōlon from eidos which means form or shape.

South Asia

When I informally studied Buddhism, I had come across with the words such as vigraha, oṃ rupa, pratima or murti. I did not follow Chinese Buddhism but I followed Theravada Buddhism which is the school of Buddhism adopted in Thailand and Sri Lanka. The working language for the school is Pali and Sanskrit which represent previous Brahmin traditions and commoners speech since Siddartha Gautama has many Brahmin disciples while he is a Kshatriya. The cultural background of the school is Indian in its spirit. The word murti generally means an image of deity which itself is considered divine once it is consecrated through special ceremony and it literally means embodiment.

The word murti refers to an image which expresses a murta or a divine spirit. It is a representation of a divinity, made usually of stone, wood, or metal, which serves as a means through which a divinity may be worshiped (Klaus, 1989). Hindus consider a murti worthy of serving as a focus of divine worship only after the divinity is invoked to embody the subject matter for the purpose of offering worship (Singh Nagendra, 1997). The depiction of the divinity must reflect the gestures and proportions outlined in their religious tradition. It is a means of communication with Brahman or the Highest Self.  

The term murti in Sanskrit is meant to point to the transcendent "otherness" of the divine when substituted with statue or idol and the inherent meaning is lost since neither is a correct translation of the word murti (Britannica, 2011). The worship of murtis is recommended for the Hindus, especially for Dvapara Yuga as described in Pāñcarātra texts (Garuḍa Purāṇa; 1.223.37, 1.228.18). Indian stonemasons only producing images of the deities within orthodox Hindu religion after there were remarkable expertise in the portrayal of Buddha figures and of animal and human (John, 2011).

There is also a note made by scholar such as Steven Rosen that the term murti as an equivalent to the word "idol" in European languages is a misconception. Early European missionaries were largely responsible for conflating the two terms by informing the local Hindus that "idol" was the correct translation of their word, "murti" (Rosen, 2006).  Scholar such as Diana Eck explains that the term murti is define in Sanskrit as "anything which has definite shape and limits; a form, body, figure; an embodiment, incarnation or manifestation". Then, the murti is more than a likeness; it is the deity itself taken the "form". The uses of the word murti in the Upanishads and the Bhagavadgita suggests that the form is its essence (Eck, 1981). As such, a murti is considered to be more than a mere likeness of a deity, but rather a manifestation of the deity itself. The murti is like a way to communicate with the abstract unimaginable God known as the Brahman which creates, sustains and dissolves creations.

South East Asia

Basically the indigenous and natives here are closely related to ancient Indians and ancient Southern Chinese. The word for idol in Malay is berhala which literally means something to focus. The Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka which is the Malay language council stated that it means "statues of deities worshiped by some groups of non-Muslims". The meaning in Indonesian language which also uses the same word as according to the Great Indonesian Dictionary stated that, berhala is a noun which means, "statues of deities, and it in broader sense refers to any creatures such as the Sun, the Moon, angels, animals or things other than the God the Highest" (Surah al-Zumar 39:38). 

When the word is articulated as a verb such as to idolize or to deify could also have a slightly different meaning where it does not mean that the person who idolizes something or someone is saying that the person he idolizes is a god worth to be worshiped. It does nit means that the person who idolizes something or someone is prostrating before it or him. It might also means to admire but in a stronger sense. It could also means to admire or to love something more than the admiration or the love toward the God the Highest. For example to fear something or to love something more than the fear and love toward the God the Highest. 

In Thai language which is used across the Siam Empire in South East Asia, the word idol is translated into Thao Rūp which means the "image of an elder". It is closely related to the ancient Indian thought regarding the religious symbol.   

Arabia

The word idol as according to the Quranic Arabic could be referred to different things. They would be used differently as according to context of the sentences where the word is being used. 

• al-Aṣnām which refers to anything made from wood, rock, gold, silver, copper and everything from the earth which is later molded to form living creatures such as human, animals or any large sized plant which becomes an object of worship. The meaning of the word is broaden to refer to idol.  
• al-Awṯān are anything made of things mentioned in the previous but it is more general from the previous since it could take the form of anything which is formless or formed in different sizes from the smallest to the biggest ones. So, the previous word becomes the sub-category of this word.
• al-Anṣab is a kind of stone which has no specific form which is used as a place to slaughter cattle and being used as an altar for heathen gods. It is also referring to a kind of stone which is not formed but worshiped as a symbol for something. I understood this word as a kind of statue which is erected or installed in a closed place, cave like holes or in open surroundings.          

Most Arabic dictionary equates these words into only one meaning in other languages and people could not recognize the terminological meanings as it becomes ambiguous.  

Idolatry in Arabian Peninsula

In the history of paganism, a tribe would never do anything in a blink of eyes but in few stages. Human-being in a certain region would certainly be influenced by others from the neighboring regions. Arabia in the Age of Ignorance had adapted idolatry from neighboring nations such as the Assyrians and Phoenicians. 

Among the apprentice of the idolatry in Mecca was 'Amr bin Luḥay and he was a chief of the Khuza'a clan of the larger Azd tribe from Southern Arabia. He and his tribe entered Holy Mecca and fought with the Jurhumites and the Ishmaelites who lived side by side there around 4th century. Later, he ruled Mecca and the Ishmaelites had to move to sub-urban area. 

When the pilgrimage season comes, the Arabian tribes from around Arabia would come to Mecca and they would also receive the idols which would be brought back to their hometown. Each tribe had erected the temples at the outskirt of their villages. 

The historians who analyzed the development of paganism in Arabia around the 2nd H said that before prophet Muhammad s.a.w was born, there were many forms of paganism practiced by the Arabs. Most of the Arabs approached the deities in the form of idols and slaughtered their camels for the deities. Sometimes, they would slaughter human as according to superstitions such as in the case of Abd al-Motallib, the grandfather of prophet Muhammad s.a.w who almost close to slaughter his own son for deities, Abdullah who is the father of Muhammad s.a.w.

Slaughtering Human

The mention about Abd al-Motallib was trying to slaughter his son is quite ambiguous since Abd al-Motallib is also mentioned as a Hanif who follows the traditions of Abraham a.s, which is his ancestor. The narration is that Abd al-Motallib has made a vow to the God the Highest may He bestow him with 10 sons and one of them would be sacrificed.   

This incident happened after Abd al-Motallib repairing the Zamzam well. Most of Quraish in Mecca trying to stop him from digging the well. Only his son, Harit defended him. Later on, the Quraish approved that Abd al-Motallib has the authority over the supervision of the well and his dream of having 10 sons comes true. 

Abdullah was the most beloved son of Abd al-Motallib. Abd al-Motallib would be escorted by his sons when he perform the circumambulation at the Cubicle Shrine and he would have to fulfill his vow. So, he met the priest at the Cubicle Shrine. The priest conducted a superstitious election before his deities and the election falls for Abdullah. As to stay true to his promise, he decided to slaughter Abdullah though he loves him so much. The Quraish had tried to stop him where he brought his son to be slaughtered before a deity known as Isaph. He was so stubborn that he did not listen to his tribes word until they fought each other and the head of Abdullah accidentally being injured.

The reason why the Quraish tried to stop him was that, he was a respected noble man in Mecca and people would follow his example as a custom. They afraid that everyone would have to sacrifice their 10th sons. However, Abd al-Motallib had vowed and he must fulfill his promise. So, he went to a priest from the Sa'ad clan. The priest asked on how much would be paid for an independent man who is killed among the Quraish? They said, 10 female camels. So, he advised Abd al-Motallib to do the election again on 10 camels but they could only check the sex of the camel after the election is made. If the camel is male then he has to release another 10 camels for election until he reached the female one. He did that for three times and altogether there are 100 male camels. So, the priest told him to slaughter the camels as the ransom for his son life and releasing him from the vow. 

And prophet Muhammad s.a.w said that, "I am a son of two men who were almost slaughtered". The first one was Ishmael a.s and the second one was his father, Abdullah.

Superstitious Beliefs

In Hejaz such as in Yatrib and Taif besides practicing paganism, they were also familiar with other kinds of beliefs from the closer regions. Some opinions stated that there were animism and dynamism among rural Arabs. These kind of beliefs were portrayed in ancient poems about various aspects of social life for e.g politics, thoughts, economy, culture, religions and beliefs in Arabia.

They believed in omens and superstitious and were largely bounded by those silly practices...

Death

Some of them believed that the soul of a man who was killed by another takes the form of a bird known as hamah and cries over the grave saying, "Give me drink (of blood)". The bird remains crying days and nights until the man of his family and tribe avenge the blood of the dead man.

They believed that after the month of Ṣafar, calamities and disasters befall on men. Some stated that, those pagans believed that there are worms in bellies which bite men and produce jaundice.

In case of a child died during infancy, they believed that the children would live again if the mother walked seven times over the slain body of a distinguished person.

When a person of distinction died, a camel would be confined in a pit near his grave and was not given any water or fodder so that it might die and the dead person might be riding on it on the Resurrection and might not rise on foot. Keeping in view the fact that a person while alive used to slaughter camels to entertain his kinsmen and guests and as a mark of respect and recompense to him; his successors would also cut off the feet of a camel near his grave in a painful manner to the animal.

Rain

They believed that rain falls down as according to the change of stars or the moon. Since many areas of Arabian Peninsula experienced drought. To ensure coming of the rains the people of such places used to procure the branches of trees known as Sala' and 'Ushr which catch fire easily. They tied these branches at the tail of a cow and drove it to the top of a mountain. Later, they set fire to these branches. On account of the presence of inflammable material in the branches of 'Ushr flames rose up from the fire and burnt the body of the cow. Owing to the pain and suffering caused by burning, the cow began running and crying. These people committed this foul act treating it as a token of resemblance with the thunder and lightening. They treated the flames of fire and the cries of the cow as representing lightning and thunder respectively and considered this act as effective in calling the rain to fall.  

Arrow and Omen

A superstitious Arab desired to make a journey or to take a wife, or to join a warfare or undertake other important tasks would draw out "divine" arrows at temples, on one of which was written, "My Lord has commanded me", on another, "My Lord had forbidden me", while the third arrow remained blank.

Some would send birds to fly before starting their work. If it flew by the right side, then it was a good omen. If it flew the left side, it was bad omen. 

If a person who has an intention to get something and was unable to get it so he would not enter his house by the front door but by the back door and continue doing so for a year.

While traveling they feared immorality on the part of their women. To gain assurance in this behalf they tied a thread to the stalk or branches of a tree. If the thread was intact at the time of their return they were satisfied that their women had not been guilty of immorality. If however, they found the thread untied or missing they slandered their women and punish her.   

Honoring Gods

They would set free certain animals in honor of their tribal gods believing that they would get prosperity by such an act. They would set free Bahirah or female camel with slit ear, Saibah or any female animal which having brought forth females at 10 successive births and Hami or stallion camel that was considered unlawful for riding or being used as a beast of burden. All of them were set free to graze anywhere they like and the female milk is forbidden to be taken.

They used to attribute particular supernatural powers to their respective idols, which were stationed within the Cubicle Shrine. They thought that the God the Highest entrusted the discharge of the various functions of the universe to different gods and goddesses which were invoked to reside within the idols. Therefore they prayed for blessings from the idols especially of those stationed in the Shrine in Mecca. There were about 360 idols within this ancient shrine belonging to different tribes before the opening of Mecca to the light of Revelation.

Submission to Evil Spirits

There was the belief about evil spirits whom they would conjure up in solitary places. They attributed various kinds of diseases to them. They said the the mother of Queen Sheba was a female genie and the father of Alexander was a male genie. Those who believed in a life after death would tie a camel at a tomb and starve it to death, thinking that the deceased would mount on its back on the Resurrection.

When they reached certain places without any human there, they would seek refuge to the genie who guarded the area with words such as, 'I seek refuge with the genie of this area". This is a kind of polytheism within Islamic faith because the genie was positioned as a partner besides the God the Highest.

When they arrived in a village and were afraid of some contagious disease or evil spirits, they would bray 10 times like a donkey at the gate of the village. At times they also hanged bones of a fox round their necks. If they lost their way while traveling in the desert, they wore their shirt turning it inside out.

Diseases and Evil Spirits

If a person was bitten by a snake or scorpion, gold ornaments were put around the neck of the victim. They believed that if such a person carried copper or tin on his body and he would die.

As regard for rabies due to being bitten by a dog, they treated it by rubbing a small quantity of blood of the chief of their tribe on the wound. And in case sign of madness appeared in anyone, he would took refuge in dirt, dirty rags and bones of the dead being hung around his neck as to drive away evil spirit.

To ensure that their child should not sustain injury from evil spirits, they tied the teeth of a fox and cat to a thread and put it around his neck. As and when a child developed boils or pimples on his body, his mother would put a sieve on her head and went around the houses of the tribe to collect bread and dates which she gave to dogs so that boils and pimples of her child might be healed. Other women of the tribe took care that their own children did not eat those dates and bread least they too should contract the same ailment.

If a person contracted a skin disease for e.g a disease which had a rasping effect on the body, he would treat it by rubbing his saliva on the spot. If the illness prolonged, they imagine the patient had killed a snake or some other animal which has connections with evil spirits. In order to beg forgiveness of the evil spirits therefore they prepared clay images of camels and loaded them with barley, wheat and dates. They left all these things in opposite to a hole in a mountain and visited that place on the following day. If they found that the said things had been consumed by something, they considered it a sign of acceptance of their offerings by the evil spirits and concluded that the patient would be cured. If however the position was otherwise, they thought that it is not accepted by the spirit. 

This is some brief account of the innumerable superstitions which had darkened the lives of the Arabs during the Age of Ignorance and had restrained their intellects. They are not the teachings of noble sages and prophets of the God the Highest but comes from ignorance on the surroundings. These still happen in most of the nations around the world even until today. It was not easy to be uprooted in a day. It took hundreds thousands of years to enlighten everyone. 

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Northern Arabia: Waṯani

Assalamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

We learned in our sīrah about this kind of religion or method of worship within Arabian Peninsula. Those who perform worship with the focus to statues or to idols claimed that, they are not worshiping those stuffs. They know that, the God the Highest is the God but the idols are just the wasīlah (connector) for them to communicate with the God the Highest. 

They believed that they are not worth to directly communicate with the God the Highest so they needed a representative to bring all of their wishes to the God the Highest and to communicate with the God on their behalf. Generally, there are two kinds of wasīlah in Northern Arabia during the Age of Ignorance The first one, the people would find certain respected living people such as shamans, religious person, and so on to pray for them or to fulfill their wishes as for shamans. The second, are those who connect themselves to the Lord of the universe with idols, statues and others.

Experience

I had a Buddhist experience for about five years so it would be long for me to elaborate about the practice of iconography within non-Muslim Indian traditions such as vigraha and murti. Icons were used as an example for practices and there is also the history of the idol-making and iconography in ancient India.

I did not prostrate before Buddhas' icons but I just kneel in front of certain icon at the monasteries that I visited while reciting the three refuge sentences and precepts of noble conducts in Pali because the teachers taught me not to worship the icon as in connecting oneself with any power who ruled the universe. I prostrated only when there is no icon during a discourse known as personal meditation. In this practice of reaching the facts of life, there is a practice known as the "stations of mind" with regard to meditation objects. The practices of Buddhists could be different as according to regions, conditions and personal temperaments. Some would only meditate, some honoring their teachers, some would only bow and some prostrate. They would do everything according to the stage of mind and for Southern Buddhists there are various literature with regard to meditation, psychological studies and others such as yoga and breathing techniques to control one self. 

I had once kept a picture of Buddha in my wallet while I was a lonely young boy because my family are entirely Muslim by inheritance which also makes me a "Muslim". I cannot mix around with Malay kids due to my background. It makes me easier to perform the pujas (honor) and taking the example of the enlightened teachers for myself. I secretly did all the sadhanas (spiritual practices) with the help of those prescribed subject matters such as the offering of food (hospitality), three sandalwood sticks if I could get ones, some white flour, some sugar, a banana or any fruit that I have that I would share it with or other beings or some flower buds. If there was no offerings then I would perform them mentally through the method prescribed in anapanasati bhavana.

The offerings are offered in the form of devotion to enlightened teachers and as a symbol of respect to other creatures or souls. I did know that the picture does not eat the food. But it was a training to treat our guests and other creatures like that... Symbolic. When guests come to us, we would also practice the same thing and offer them with hospitality and welcome. The reason why I am telling this experience is that I would like to inform those who preach that they should not generalize everyone because this life is not as simple as we think. Do not low-estimate your audience and never insult their intelligence. Respect everyone and practice humility so you will reach the love of the heavens and the earth.

Idolatry: Muslim View

As according to Muslim worldview, idol is an object made of human hands which resembles living creatures or anything from heavens and earth being deified or worshiped. This is based from the Quranic verses which means:

"Do they associate the God the Highest with idols who can not create something else? While the idols themselves are the hand-made of the people?" (Surah al-A'araf 7:191).

"Those whom they invoke besides the God the Highest create nothing and are themselves created" (Surah al-Nahl 16:20).

"Not one of the beings in the heavens and the earth but must come to the Most Gracious as a servant" (Surah Maryam 19:93)"

Among the great signs of the Resurrection is that, there would be nations who would return to the idolatry which says, "Abu Hurairah reported, prophet Muhammad s.a.w says, 'Resurrection would never happen before the waists of the women from the Daws tribe giggling around the Dhu al-Khalash, which is an idol worshiped by the Daws in Tabalah during the Age of Ignorance'" (Muslim Compilation, No. 5173).

Ibn Kaṯir in his Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyā' writes that, the first paganism happened in the world when human-being made the statues such as the Wadd, Suwā, Yaġuts, Ya'uq and Nasr. All of these figures were religious teachers who live in the time-span between Adam a.s and Noah a.s. They were the sons of Adam a.s. and Wadd was the eldest one and a devoted son (Ibn Abi Hatim; Urwah bin al-Zubayr; Ibn Katir in the Qiṣāṣ al-Anbiyā': Story of Noah section 105). 

Most important rituals in the later paganism are generally related to illegal sex and war. Any form of worship toward the idols is viewed as focusing toward the satisfaction of passions, acquiring worldly physical strength and to achieve worldly "paradise".

There is no transcendental aspect within all teachings related to paganism. While the teachings related to patriarch Abraham emphasized higher achievement in life which is transcendental within the concept of eternal spiritual happiness in the hereafter.

Origin of Idolatry in Arabia

Ibn Abbas

Ibn Abbas has compiled the narration that idolatry appears in the age of sage Noah a.s. The origin of the idol names were taken from their holy men who had once lived among them. In order to keep those holy men in their memory, to remember their contributions to the people and to boost up the spirit of people in worship; so they made images, carvings which represent those holy men and symbols to visualize the physical of those deceased holy men. Generation passed by and those idols and holy men were deified as divinities beside the God the Highest as the God Himself.

From Ibn Abbas, "The idols being passed to ancient Arabs and it becomes Wadd, the name for the tribe of Kalb; suwa, the idol of the Huzail; the Yaguts, the idol of the Gutaifs; Ya'uq, the idols of the Hamdanites, the Nasrites and the Himyarites" (Bukhari, no. 4920; Ibn al-Munzir and Mardawaih).

Idols from the Period of Noah

Sage Noah a.s. is among the prophets respected by the Muslims and the narration and the exegesis of Ibn Abbas reported that some of the idols worshiped within Arab nations as originated from the idols of the people during the era of Noah a.s just before the great flood.

Among them are:

Wadd who was worshiped as a god by the Kaybites in Dawmat al-Jandal.   

Suwa who was adopted as a guardian in Yanbu' region closer to Medina. She was a goddess for the people in Ruhat and the Lihyanites were the servants involved within the services and the maintenance for the god.

Yagūts was worshiped in the form of lion by the Muradites. It was also venerated by the Gutaifs at the mountain slopes located in the Sheba city, by the Huras in Madhaj in Yemen. Others who venerate it were the An'um of Thayyi'. Ibn Kalbi mentioned that those from Madhaj and the Jurashites worshiped the idol. 

Ya'uq which was worshiped by the Hamdanites and the Kinanites as the god of horse. Its idol was erected in a village known as Khaywan, which took two nights to reach Mecca from there.

Nasr the god worshiped by Himyarites of Balkha in Yemen. It was assumed as the god of herring and the offering services were patronized by the Dhi Kila family.

The God the Highest says through the Revelation, "And they said, 'Never leave behind your gods and never leave Wadd or Suwa' or Yaguts and Ya'uq and Nasr!'" (Surah Nuh 71:23).

Each tribe worship different gods and having different temples for their tribe. The position of those gods were different. Later, the practice of venerating carving idols passing down from the nations before the great flood to the Arabs within the Arabian Peninsula since they mingled around with the Rasibites and those who lived among the Rasibites in the south of ancient Iraq.  

I think this topic would be an elaborate one since it is also related to some other cults and regions. I would try to make several different posts for this just for references for those who are interested in the history of ancient Arabia, inshā-Allah. We cannot understand things only in few minutes but we need to ponder and evaluate things with observations...

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!

Fractions due to Branch Matters

Assalaamu'likum w rahmatullah

I just watched the program, Khawater Shaab this evening. Ahmad al-Shughairi also talked about this issue. Sometimes, there are conflicts from the arguments about branch matters which would bring everyone into enmity and vengeance. For e.g about the intention before the performance of salat services whether it is a sunnah to be recited aloud or in silence. Or whether it is an innovation to stand while reading the marhaban in memory to the mawlid al-rasul event. Whether it is a sunnah or an innovation to read the talqin or teaching the "dead" few lessons just after the body being buried. 

There are also fractions in the discussion on the issue such as whether the merit of Yaasin recitation would be received by the soul of the death. This is from my personal experience... As far as I know, the majority Twelver Shi'a Muslims also recite the Yaasin for the dead besides the al-Fatiha like the traditional Shafi'ie Sunnah Muslims. Other things in traditions which I guess shared with "them" from the tabi'ien era is like thrusting the hand on the hump on the new grave of related people or family members. I actually prefer to be known as a Muslim. Only an orthodox Muslim. Not a Muslim of any group whether "Sunnah, Ibadhi or Shi'a". 

At this point, we could see a difficult edge where if these matters are not discussed; the "religion" would be stiff. There would be no more researches in order to find the closest practices to the sunnah of prophet Muhammad s.a.w which also means no academic researches for religious practices. However, when the issues being discussed; there would also be arguments, objections and those who defend certain practices. Later, fanaticism would manifest out of these arguments, objections and defending activities. They are firm in their opinion whether to defend certain practices or to reorganize. From here, the elder groups and younger groups like what we had discussed in previous post took form. So, this fits the warning of Allah Ta'ala in the Quran and what has been narrated in the hadith reported from prophet Muhammad s.a.w. 

We should also bear in our mind in our effort to understand the hadith and several verses from Quran pertaining this issue. We are not prohibited from discussing and researching religious matters for e.g the essential of religion, the branches of religion, the decision-making related to the way of life and differences of opinions. We are determined by the religion itself to discuss and talk about these since the God the Highest commands us to think, to ponder and to use our mind. However, it is prohibited to force our opinion on others or by using the force enforcing our opinions on others and looking at others who are not of the same opinion as our enemies! It would be more disgusting if these conflicts are to be made a background for political brawls or to defend the position of certain groups like what I could see now! It also includes labeling others as infidels as the result of the previous.

"Indeed those who divides their "divine law" and makes them turning into groups; you are not with them in anything! Their affair is only left to the God! Then He will herald them on what they used to do" - Surat Al-An'am 6:159

In the verse above, the God mentions that prophet Muhammad s.a.w is not from any of the side of any group or the sect which has divide itself from one another although all of them claim that they are closer to prophet Muhammad s.a.w in term of practices and sunnah. This is not only intended to "Sunnah" Muslims but also to "Shi'a" Muslims because Shi'a Muslims also have the "Sunnah" as according to their standards. Prophet Muhammad s.a.w only siding with those who are united with one another. United here does not mean the unity in term of forcing the opinions on one another. United here means respecting one another as prophet Muhammad s.a.w as according to the hadith still mentioning about 73 fractions. But all of these 73 fractions are still his nations. 

It means: "Behold that the messenger of the God had once stand in front of the public and said... 'Indeed from the people of the scriptures before you, they would be 72 fractions and my nations would split into 73 groups. The 72 would be cast into the Fire but the ones which would be put into the paradise are the jama'a". - Abi Dawud

In our history, there are the Khawarij groups, the Shi'a groups, the Mu'tazilites, the Ash'arite, the Maturidi and those claim themselves as the Ahl Sunnah wal Jama'a. There are movements like Muslim Brotherhood, Tabligh, Sufi Brotherhood and so on. If fanaticism of the group is at its peak, everyone of these would claim that only their group is the righteous one. Others are all wrong!!! While if we make a new analysis, we could make a conclusion that in each of these group; there are rights and there are also errors since most of them are the result of opinions. Though the door to exchange opinions is closed with extremism and fanaticism, there still is a space for observation to correct whatever errors that we have and to be in accordance with whatever is right as the noble prophet Muhammad s.a.w says:

"My nations would never assemble on deviation"

Which means, no one decides the "general" path that they follow is the strayed path! As for me, the schism between "Sunnah" and 'Shi'a" is the most pathetic thing that ever happened in the history. There were also the partition of "Shi'a" groups when some became the "Khawarij" groups. Those especially of "Sunnah" and "Shi'a" are so ego till they would kill one another because of differences in furu' matters. There are also accusations on one another for e.g on monotheism issues based on over-generalization and it becomes nauseating when it is mixed with worldly political matters... repeated... and repeated... 

Even now, when I am returning to the path of Muhammad s.a.w and ancestors. I still have to be careful and not to take "anything" from preachers in any side as the final word of the God. I refuse to be within all of these groups too if all of them keep accusing one another with suspicion but only remaining as a Muslim, a follower of Muhammad s.a.w path and a servant in service under the Glorious God the Highest.

Sealed with prayer for mercy, peace and love, amin!      

An Arab Peranakan Schooling Memories

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

  

Alhamdulillah all praises due only to Allah. I just had my supper with some drinks. Just had a walk outside for fresh night air and drink some tea that I bought from Indian department store. I just had some splash of memories when sitting alone under the tree at the soccer field behind the department store. So, I am just writing it again as it also has connection to previous posts about our education system.

When I was a little child, I was put in the mosque supervised by the federal territory religious authority maybe when I was around five to six years old. Before that, I was also educated back at home and in our villages at times when we spend holiday by the elders during religious occasion which is also treated as family meeting. Basically we are familiar with the way of salat performance according to Shafi'ie school of jurisprudence and we were also taught with few orthodox practices in salat which could actually be omitted or practiced if we know the evidence according to sunnah chains or hadiths. We were taught with the life of prophet Muhammad s.a.w through occasions known as qaseedah. I don't know if qaseedah is haram according to people of other movements but they are not mentioned by elders as mandatory but being presented to people around as a way to teach everyone about the life of the noble prophet s.a.w. There are many ways to teach religion to people without being so puritan and stiff but still in accordance to the Quran and Sunnah such as nasheed, lectures, poetry, kitab recitations with everyone, explanations of tafseer and others.  

Pre-School Education

I had problem then with Islamic nursery teachers because of difference in cultural traits. I am a peranakan Jawi and we're not purely thinking or behaving like Malays especially we're of northern Malaysian states and around early 1990s the situation is quite different as nowadays when media in our country widely exposing people around with northern Malayan cultural traits in movies and dramas. By the way Jawi here in northern Malayan Peninsula refers to people of Arabia especially Yemen and Northern Indian with Arab origin of the past from Gujarat which also includes those from Persian empire but speaking in fluent classical Malay language with lots of Arabic and Persian words. Now this term is also extended to include Indian Muslim from Southern India because they began to marry our women after independence from British. So, I refuse to identify myself as Jawi Peranakan anymore but using Peranakan Arab as a precise ethnicity identification. Jawi also refers to Arabic script used to write religious books in Malay language in South East Asia. It is almost the same thing as Hui is used to refer to Chinese speaking Muslims in China because they paternally were of Persian, Turkish or Arab origin of the past. I skipped the pre-school education for a year and I enjoyed watching TV at home, haha. 

Primary School

I was enrolled in national primary school when I was seven I guess around 1993. I didn't know how to read and write roman script but I can write and read Arabic script since my mother and grandma taught me at home using the script. My grandma till her deathbed could never read roman script. I began to be influenced by Chinese culture when I was around this age and it continues because the area I lived at that time was the area populated with Chinese community. The school that I went was known as Sekolah Kebangsaan Batu 3 1/2, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur. I can't even remember when I began to speak in Chinese language though I was not educated in Chinese national type primary school like three of my elder sisters, haha. I mingled with non-Muslim Chinese at the neighborhood and my mother also has Chinese relatives in Perlis. In the evening, we were sent to state religious authority supervised primary religious school. 

So basically we learned Islamic education twice a day. In secular school we learned Islamic Education and simple Fardh 'Ain lessons while in religious evening school we learned subjects such as: 

1. Tawheed which refers to Islamic monotheism

2. Akhlaq or noble morality and ihsan 

3. Fiqh which deals with Islamic jurisprudence for daily life disciplines from the school of Imam Shafi'ie

4. Tajweed and Qira'at for Quranic recitation in Arabic

5. Arabic language 

I had problem with lessons as the way they taught in the evening religious school is so different to what we're taught at home. We recognized the dots at the as nuqta and the baris atas, baris mati, depan bawah were confusing for me. I was taught by elders at the village and home with fatha, kasra and damma. The way they pronounce Arabic words seem so complicated while we don't have to pronounce them with difficulties because we integrate Arabic words in spoken Malay and we only alter the pronunciations when talking with Malays to make them feel comfortable. To tell brothers and sisters, I hate both religious school and secular schools equally. I had no problem in literacy as I am quite fast in term of recognizing letters and symbols. I studied in Kuala Lumpur for two and half years before shifting to Kedah Darul Aman. My parents always thinking to return to Kedah state as that is the only home for them and our grandparents live there our ancestors tomb and graves are there. We as children also viewed the state as our only home. My father was offered a position in Wisma Darul Aman to serve the state under the chief minister, Mr. Usman 'Arof.

In Kedah, I was registered in the school known as Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Ahmad Tajuddin in Jitra, the Kubang Pasu district town around the end of 1995. My first ancestors' mausoleum is in this town. I didn't have time to spend with friends or making good friends with school mates and in Kedah state I didn't have evening religious school like in Kuala Lumpur. We lived like refugees. I only made one good friend known as Saiful when I was in standard four. My father also tried to open up a business which is a photo shop in Jitra town just in front of Taman Indera. But we end up having problem to roll the capital. Our relatives who worked there had stolen the money for their own usage without being recorded in the account, the tax imposed on us by state tax office came in no time and we had no modern machine to print out pictures. We were the only "Muslim" photo shop at that time in the midst of non-Muslim photo shop dominated by Chinese community. In school I was viewed by my classmates as outsider though I spoke in fluent Kedah Malay. It was not easy back then to fit our selves. 

In the mid of 1996, my father packed up his things when the chief minister position was held by Mr. Sanusi Junaid and not Mr. Usman anymore. I am not sure there was election or not at that time or just the end of term and why my father was so honest for not offering his self to the new chief minister. So, my father has to return to his old company in Jalan Riong as he was jobless being a reporter. We lived in Hulu Langat and I was schooled in Sekolah Kebangsaan Batu. 9. I was also forced by especially my mother to be registered in evening religious school and at that time I was in standard five. Again I had to face problem to fit in and schools were so tormenting for a half and one year. Early at that time, I hardly could mingle with other pupils around. Even in the evening religious school, I was insinuated by few Javanese kids (they're children of newly arrived immigrants from Indonesia in Selangor state) and I was like confused with the syllabus related to Arabic and Quranic recitation. Some of my classmates during standard six that I could still remember were Naim, Aladin, Felix, Shanmukam and Mastura. Perhaps they're married with children now, lol. In the evening religious school I could still remember Azli because this boy was quite nice to talk with and he sits beside me. There were also three boys in my class who were like a cocky trio and I hate them. Perhaps they thought that they were popular or girls were attracted to them as they were achievers in school, rich and looked nice. I was not good in school because I was interrupted with the shifting periods and I didn't know how to fit myself as a traveler beside no one guide me. I learned basically through experience and environment.   

Lower Secondary School

My mother was worried because once I finished the national primary school, my name was sent together with other students in the school to secondary school known as Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Perimbon near Kajang. I didn't even get the chance to be a student there as my mother quickly urged my father to ask his elders where they could put me as she afraid I would also be a punk. She heard that the students in the school were notorious with bad students and there were teachers who told her about this. 

So, my father was advised by his elders to put me in the al-Alawiya madrasah in Arau, Perlis state. The school located close to Perlis Royal Palace, the Perlis Royal Family Tomb Complex, the Arau Masjid, the Arau Police station and behind was the rail way. Then off I was sent to further north of Malaysia. I began to hate my own family because we understood that those who were sent to madrasah were usually bad kids. I didn't understand what exactly was my fault? 

In Perlis also I began to be exposed to Buddhism of Theravada teachings when I did not return to my grandparents house but I went to the Thai Buddhist monasteries. I met a monk one day in a bus to Sungai Petani and he invited me to visit the monastery in Yan after I told him I didn't know where to go. I tried to go down to Sungai Petani because I didn't like to hear other maternal relatives who came by and cynically talking shits to me while they weren't even close to me or know how I feel to live like a refugee. From that incident I began to be exposed to Buddhism and its monastic teachings. When I told some Tabligh kids about this experience they asked me whether I was hypnotized by black magic? I just laugh to them. I was aware about environment around and I did not being a Buddhist in a blink of eyes. It happened stage by stage and I made notes for Buddhism studies. I had disposed those mantras and kathas before I went to pilgrimage in holy Mecca in 2005. 

In the madrasah, I made friend with a Chinese-Thai guy too in the madrasah known as Sufian. His mother was a Thai citizen but lived in Ipoh. Then he began to be cocky so I left him and changing dorm. I was there only for about a year and totally a loner in the school. I didn't join group of students. The madrasah was part of Insaniah corporation and was operated with students monthly fees. At that time, the madrasah was all-boys school. The religious subject teachers were educated from Umm al-Qura in Mecca, al-Azhar in Egypt and Jordan. The level when I was there is known as the I'dadi level. Religious science subjects were taught in Arabic and the level there was actually higher than the level of the second year in other states' religious schools. Before me, senior students studied even secular academic subjects in Arabic. At my time they just imposed Arabic as an obligatory language during certain selected days and only during school time. They frequently organizing night prayers known as Qiyaam al-Layl and I always skip them by hiding under the roof in the toilet, haha. 

Then my mother began to feel something wrong happened to me and came by to the madrasah after she heard that I was not at school waiting for my older cousin brother who worked in the canteen in the Arau UITM. She immediately shifted me to Selangor state religious secondary school known as Sekolah Menengah Agama Hulu Langat in Batu 10 and it was a painful application because I was from a private madrasah. I painfully trying to coup up with academic and religious science studies until 2000 and being divided with other students into streams. I had no close friends in school and I also had many kind of classmates in the school such as transvestite she-male students, demon worshiper students who were just a group of attention-seekers or wannabes acting like die-hard fans of black metal music band, pornographic videos seller students, politicians like students and others.

In 2001, I was divided into Shari'a stream. At that time I knew that I was not good in secular academics but more inclined to religious sciences. It has no place in society and my class was the last class placed on the top of the roof and located beside stinky not well-managed toilet. Around 1960's or 1970's perhaps religious studies are not a big deal. They existed separately but in parallel with secular studies in Malayan Peninsula. The schools for religious studies were separate from secular schools where those who went to religious school were dropped from "national monitoring authority". They were operated under sufi order frameworks and initiated by religious teachers skilled in Islamic sciences. But in 1990s up to 2000, where the Vision 2020 being a hit topic popularized by our leader who was talking about the quest in order to build up a developed country and look East policy which emphasized on the Japanese technology and their culture. It means that we had to deny our inclinations and capacity to suit the pattern of society. Secular studies and science being greatly highlighted until it overshadow us in our own place.

Now those in Europe please give attention to this and you can see what happened to us. We are talking about our history track just like those in the European Middle Ages going through Renaissance age. Around this time I began to be greatly influenced by Buddhism teachings and I even contacted Chinese Buddhist monks of Mahayana traditions while being a Muslim teenage. I tied Buddhist strings at my wrist again around 2000. Those in Europe perhaps had little contact with civilizations but here we are in contact with various oriental civilizations, philosophies and religions.

Higher Secondary School

I was humiliated by other school mates along with our unfortunate classmates and I fought discipline teacher when I was in form four around the early of 2001 because he said harsh things to us. Shari'a stream class ranked the last ranking in all streams hierarchy. There were four classes for form four students at the school in that time. The first ranking is the science stream, the second is economy, the third was geography and the last was the shari'a stream. When we walked passed the first ranking class, the teacher inside the class would insinuate us and looking to us like bunch of dogs in the "religious" school. I studied Shari'a, Usuluddin, National Language, English, Higher Classical Arabic, Arabic for communicative purpose, History, Maths and Account in our class. There was the lack of teachers because nobody care about us while we had to face Fourth Thanawi exam and the next year O-Level (SPM). So, I made up my mind and applying to technical school in Kajang because my mother said that she did not want to see me in normal secular school. I actually suffered more in the technical school but I can't return to the old school. I just went on until 2003 and I got the result equal to third grade in the previous generation's O-Level (SPM). 

The exam means a lot for young students at that time because we think that the only way to survive in the future. To survive was only by confining our selves to the leader's notion of vision 2020 and studying something which has to be related to the vision. And I was also a stupid kid who still play honest in the midst of bad students because they also cheated in the O-Level exam while there were also monitors around. I thought of many ways to die after taking the result at school and I just kept my silence without talking to anyone at home or around. I almost killed myself by starving it for days in deep Buddhist-Hindu meditation just to clear up my mind. I thought and believed that if I died in meditation I would be incarnated in brahmalogam (higher soul world) and would never endure sufferings anymore. I made a note and wrote to my family for my empty body to be cremated if I died. If they are ashamed then they could just send it away to any monastery without witnessing anything. But while meditating my mother had broken the room door with an axe. She forced me to eat and put beside me a Muslim prayer book. After that I just lay idle without any emotion or feeling anymore. 

In the middle of 2004, there was a call for national service program. So I was sent to Terengganu and being viewed by people around as a problematic teenager because people understood kids being sent to places through the program were bad kids. In this time period I began to read again religious sciences book. I just read and practiced again from the very beginning, step by step. I also went to High School. Perhaps I had talked about my experience there.               

Close the Treatise

So, this was the story of a Muslim Arab Peranakan youngster in Malayan Peninsula. Facing identity crisis and problem in order to fit well in society around. I did not have any close friends around to tell my problem or feelings when I was young not even to my parents or sisters because men and women function differently though still the same human-being. Until now it is still the same and I am used to it by time. Nobody is sympathetic to us but Allah is the only One who gives His full attention to us. Just the environment and the world hinder us to "see" how caring He is to us. 

About how I feel when being sent to madrasah or pondok melele, I am sure many who experienced this in 1990s would feel the same and understood what I am talking here, hehe. One thing that made me feel weird was when I saw kids of bombastic courses in university for example petro-chemical, geophysics, and etc who joined Tabligh Jama'at or Wahhabi-Salafi movements regardless what is their political inclinations whether to the coalition or to the opposition sides in our country. Even if they were from "religious school" but their streams were totally different to the unpopular "Shari'a stream" where I was kicked into with other "academically" incapable students in "religious secondary schooling time". Shari'a students were seen as retards by teachers, political leaders because they could just play around with religious authority for their influence on public and those of the "higher caste" streams students also looked down on us because we only learned about "the hereafter" thus making us imbalanced in everything in this world. So, when they face sad or bad incidents in their life or growing older, they would return to religion or Islam? Then talking like they're with the authority to issue "rulings" while the Shari'a was not their line since their early time and being looked down upon. People actually spit on the face of Shari'a students even in countries where Muslims are predominantly living and the notion about balanced life of dunia and akhirat is not truly displayed by people because we were only functioning for influential people to get reference to implant their influence or maybe useful in certain occasions related to wedding or death. We feel that we had no self-esteem and shy when talking to people. So, we keep our silence when there are people boasting about but that does not mean that we don't know anything. This is how we feel and I am telling it to the world. Our elders feel the same too when they saw the same thing happening in 1960s and 1970s which developed to today's situation. 

When reflecting about what happened in the past, in the society, in the global world, I just think that this world is nothing but just a test. Those notions of a "developed" country or being recognized by other "modern" countries are just stupid things being repeated throughout the history of man-kind. The world is closer to resurrection day by day for people who believe in Allah's promises.

What is the use to chase all of those things? To chase gold and money? For pride? To boast around to other human? To be rich? To be comfortable? How long are we going to live in this Earth? When the Earth dissolves as the the Day of Religion come, they are all of no use. Truly what ancient sages had taught man-kind about simple life and being moderate in everything. Allahu A'alam and Allah knows everything better than us who are just His servants.  

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!   

Science and Religion: Never Take Short Ones as the Measurer

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

If we wanted to reach the fact of the universe, we should not only using our own logical thinking. We have many components in our soul namely the mind, the sentiment or feeling, and the will. Even religious person is not guaranteed to have deep feeling in his religious belief if he only uses logical thinking in everything or in considering something. There are many wicked law-makers and jurists who used their minds and thinking to distort divine law or other kind of laws for their own benefits. If you wanted to escape from the ties of burdening religious practices, there are jurists who are good at finding the way out.

In tasawwuf science and Islamic terminologies, a person who is good at using the logic to reach the facts of truth is known as 'alim or 'ailom. When a person reached the highest stages in "feeling", they are known as an 'arif. The extension of the knowledge and sciences is known as ma'arifat.

Life itself has shown that a human though how strong his thought or thinking trying to achieve knowledge and faith, but it is only with feeling that he could get to reach to the mind. We are urged to maintain pure feeling in our religion. In this matter, prophet Muhammad s.a.w says that: "Sinful act is what you feel in your chest when you commit it". That is why spiritual ulamas had developed spiritual exercises according to their orders and chains in order to train the "feeling" to be closer to Allah. This is known as riyadhat or in English I would translate it as recreational activities to train mind and soul.

There are people with strong thoughts and intellects but weak in his feeling. They are just scholars. There are those with strong will but intellectually weak in thoughts and mind. He commenced the journey and later the journey will be continued by others after him. There are people who are discreet in their feeling and these kind of people usually become artists. They perhaps creating beautiful masterpiece of arts but forgotten to shave beards or even looking at their appearance in the mirror.

So, let the scholars and scientists researching the world as much as they want. Let them analyze it and comparing it. Continue with researches. But never forget that it is not enough to be called as a complete puzzle. The same thing to artists. Let them researching and observing the beauty of nature and absorbing them into their selves before presenting them to others. But never forget that it is not enough. Beside science and art, listen also to the prophets, messengers of Allah and honest sufis. These people are those who would bring us up toward the peak of knowledge and art.

As long as scholars letting off their egoism and arrogance because they are intellectuals. As long as religious people leaving behind their fanaticism and rough narrow faith which had walled themselves in their throne of ignorance. As long as they free their selves from interpretations of previous religious clerics that were thought as part of religion while they are just interpretations of previous people. Then the conflicts between "science" and religion could be avoided. Regarding the interpretations, what has been told in glorious Quran to us actually does not touching other people but it is also intended to us.  

Sometimes, I feel weird when listening to some Muslim brothers and sisters talking about this Yahudi or that Nasara while they are displaying the same attitude like what had been uttered on those Yahudi or Nasara from their mouth. The real problem is not about the Yahudi or Nasara or Sabeans or etc. The real thing that we need to conquer and understand is our selves.  

Knowledge and science would be complete with religion. Religion would be complete with knowledge. Both religion and knowledge are two inseparable components in the universe. Both of them exposed us to the secret of universe in many angles. Both them are inseparable drinks to satisfy the thirst of human soul so human could achieve a balanced life.

The goal of religion is to reach the truth and the fact of life. The goal of the science and knowledge is to get closer to the "ultimate truth". Knowledge to know and religion to feel it because we can't touch it with our hand. Knowledge is for the outer self. Religion is for the inner self.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aali Muhammad. Allah please protect us with Your wisdom and boundless sea of mercy compassionate. 

- finished the last part all praise due to Allah -

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin! 

Science and Religion: If Clergy Men are Wrong, Academicians are also Wrong!

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Problems in Terminologies and Reference Consistency

I don't know how to translate or interpret those words such as religious studies experts and non-religious studies scholars. The way I understood science is different from the mainstream views. So, basically what I refer to as clergy men are those who are known as priests, monks, ministers, preachers, pastors, imams or mullas. While academicians in this post refer to scientists or scholars in the universities as what we see today. 

Pre-Conditions to be a Believer of Science

For the scholars, they religiously believe in the science, theories and opinions while they had forgotten that the condition for this science is that; theories will always evolve to another one and if it is contested by the more plausible ones, the previous one will be unreliable. Theories are bounded to time period and the changes in the space. Science and knowledge generally is a group of evidence in evaluating the truth of certain things and matters. If the study is not half-cut in the middle of the research, there are many possibilities for the previous theory to be canceled by the new-founded one till it has to be developed again in other forms.

International Theories and Approach to View World Politics and Affairs

In International Relation and Social Studies for example, the notion by this ulama about "reliability of science" in his writing is the same as what had been lectured to us in our classes for first two semesters. We have political theories such as:

1. Realism

2. Liberalism

3. Marxism

4. Constructivism

And the world is viewed as a stage where the beings in world is viewed as actors. Who are these actors? They are basically those who are involved in decision-making and the basic one that I could provide here is the state and its system. There are also classifications of those mentioned theories into classical theories, neo-theories and post-theories or approaches in viewing the action of actors. This is my personal opinion dear brothers and sisters. We as religious studies students in madrasah must be exposed to these studies. We should not only study Quran and Sunnah. Because we live in the more globalized world where there are people of many views and kind which trying to defame us, Muslims with the notion of modernism, backwardness and fanaticism.

I am talking like one of madrasah students though I am an out caste due to that I was a madrasah students myself who were kicked out of the track due to harsh environment revolving around me and rising conflicts within myself. Now I am an International Studies students majoring in European continent institutional studies without any basic in my first degree certificate. I studied different things when I was an undergraduate student. In front of people, I might be looking like a scary all-black attire hermit, poor like a beggar and "stupid" but I am listening to what people are talking around besides mentally commenting their opinions. It also includes those of Mahasiswa Islam and Tabligh Jama'at discussions and I am just avoiding them because there are gaps in discussing things with people around and I do not want any conflict.

So, there are little kids who might come closer to me in the musalla and asking me why you are so silent? Most of the Mahasiswa Islam and Tabligh Jama'at members are not of social studies background but are of diverse part of sciences in the university which actually deals with crude sciences related to job skills for human labor or human capital needs. While most of my fellow religious studies brothers in Middle East are purely studying about Quran, religious sciences and Sunnah. I don't know how many people are experiencing things like me. If you have this experience please share or just paste your blogs in the comment box down here. I am listening, pondering and reading everything. This is my part as per Tabligh notion for "Fikir Ummat" or thinking for the nations. I had already been thinking about this since I was a little kid and it was conflicting within myself besides others are looking negatively at me. I had suffered alone for this and still am suffering. The feeling of suffer is like a metal being burnt in the stove. It begins with the "heart". 

Errors of Secular Scholars

A genuine scholar must have the confidence on not being confident. Ready to accept changes and re-evaluate what has been held as his belief after receiving new explanations. This is how science that we see in modern world evolve and we are tracing its historical tracks. Firmly holding a theory or approach for example this is sour or that is stale is a biggest mistake for scholars and scientists. It is as equally wrong with what has happened to clergy men in understanding the evidence in its literal sense!

The error of scholars, academicians and scientists would be even bigger if they thought that scientific research is the only way to reach the truth and fact. It is true that scientific and fact research is a tool to achieve or to be closer to the truth. However it is only a tool among tools. Not the only tool that exist!

I am having issues with these kind of people. They believe in only one approach and hold firm with it. Thus they are creating dogma without realizing it. What is the difference between them and the bigots in other groups of man-kind if this happen?

Physics for example could investigate and provide facts for things which are moving in the universe. However it is not applicable anymore when it comes to things beyond the universe. A wider way of thinking is not only limited to physics. It is goes beyond physics. The metaphysics.

This is what we call as metaphysical matters. They could check the phenomenon such as light and provide everything related to light what about thing which is beyond the light? Their research and questions would stop when it reaches it limit. Science could not reaching the Creator of the Universe or things beyond physical eyes. That is why we could see in American movies, they are trying to make everything scientific and to show that everything could be researched they begin to create stuffs such as aliens, superman, and other imaginary characters within the universe. They might perhaps talking about myth of deities in Greek mythologies or Hindu god pantheon as totally absurd from primitive people imagination. But what is the difference between them and those ancient people that they claim as primitive? The prophets, sages and philosophers of ancient time were talking about metaphysical stuffs. Of course they have no degree nor going to school or not graduated from universities with today's academic system and curriculum.          

Tools in Search of the Truth

Science is useful to reach what is material. But science has no strength and limited only to materials. Outside of material boundaries they could not reach it. Collections of evidences, results of researches, results of experiments, contemplation and observation, analysis and mental tools are for us man-kind to reach the truth. There are also other tools and ways to reach facts and truth which is not mentioned here.

Try to see how many people could disagree that artists, poets, philosophers, musicians or singers could also provide the way for others to be closer to the truth? Who would disagree that these an artist could send others into the secret of the universe merely with "senses" and not with forced thoughts. Senses and feelings which had rise in their soul were presented into humanity in the form of art works which could touch the discreet sentiment of others deeper than any other scientific research to develop something which took scientists and the so-called scholars in universities or research centers hundred of years conducting researches and experiments. 

The real truth is beautiful and beauty is the truth. This is the fact which is agreed by everyone. It is wrong for us to think that the way to achieve the truth is merely with science. Behold that art is from divine inspiration, pure soul and an open mind. This way is also the right and clear way as clear as science.

If the role of artists as the seekers of truth could be recognized by everyone, why not the role of prophets and sages who received divine inspiration and revelation from the God? Why not the genuine religious philosophers are not recognized for their contributions in musing the secret of universe? We would certainly never forget the contributions of religion and spirituality in developing the realm of humanity. Revelation and divine inspirations are among the main ways for man-kind to reach the truth. If with science, we are climbing up above to find the truth. But with revelation and divine inspirations, the truth is descending upon man-kind. It would be marvelously beautiful if both of these are in reconciliation and the pure happiness would be achieved  by everyone.

Conclusion of the Sub-Topic

People could accuse that there are fake prophets, fake imams, fake sheikhs and there are also fake religious philosophers which is known as sufis who sold spiritual matters for worldly fame. But we could also not disagree that there are fake artists, fake poets and scholars who only looking for material benefits.

Other than that. I personally disagree with some quotes from Harun Yahya, Ahmad Deedat, Zakir Naik or other Sheikhs' books or lectures by the public. Before we read the thoughts of a person, to agree or to disagree with them. We get to know them first what is their background and how they had gone through their life to form their worldview. These figures talk about different things but still the central of their argument is to bring people toward Islam through components of science and countering theories such as Darwinism or other accusations by Christian missionaries to Islam.

I agree in term of telling people about Islam, stating our views and spreading the word of Allah across the Universe. But I disagree in attacking other religious faith and belief because that is the way those Christian missionaries in Western European colonial lands did. That is also the way of scholars who religiously believe in their theories or the theories which are in accordance to their inclination. Those who quote these figures I know that they never gone through the torturing path of questioning and getting to know their selves. Go through it, then tell everyone how it feels. Just walk in the moderate middle path and this is an advise for everyone including myself.     

Prayers

May Allah lead us with His guidance and may the ruhul qudus shine upon us. Sanctify our soul ya Allah with Your mercy, forgiveness and eternal love. May we live under Your reign and blessed with Your Great Kingdom.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!   

Science and Religion: Development of European Studies of Humanity

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

I'm breaking these huge topic into sub-topics and fitting them again in few parts and posts. It is just to make it less complicated and we can review it one by one. Many of European thoughts were understood around the world but not Eastern thoughts as we have more complicated system of writing. We have many kinds of writing system which could not easily being conveyed through modern technology. And those who translated our literature were of European origin who happened to view others' way of life in their own shoes and not in others' shoes. This is what had been proposed by our International Relation lecturer when we talked for the topic such as Chinese economy and political thoughts. Not many Europeans are fluent in Chinese languages and dialects or well-versed in Chinese cultural sphere. The same thing happens to Muslim nations of diverse regions, cultural background and languages. For European way of thinking, there are also many pimps in Africa and Asia who are inferior about their own identity and they are more European than the real Europeans, hehe. I'm also still cracking my head to restructure my thesis about how Europeans view Muslim communities in their region.

Development of Studies of Humanity in Europe

After the scientific physical researches in the beginning of Renaissance age, there comes historians and archeologists in Europe. They unearthed archeology evidences of ancient civilizations, developed philology system to check retaliation of languages, deciphering writings on inscriptions, exploring caves, exploring pyramids in Egypt, researching civilizations such as Mesopotamia or Sumeria and others. Through these researches, they developed inquiries and bringing them up to "scientific" researches. Due to these, there are also criticisms toward ancient documents.

For example, they inquired whether the inheritance from Homerus. Are they really from Homerus? Possibly, not all of them were from Homerus. They have the opinion that perhaps there are of different stages of poetry developed throughout periods and generations after some of their researches. Perhaps there are also others' poems which has been claimed as coming from Homerus. And Homerus himself is a doubtful figure. Whether he exist or just a myth. They also researched the origins of the Greeks and Romans besides their myths. Later they find out that some of the myth were true and some were not true. 

Sometimes, they find out phrases in ancient script written in old inscriptions in deserts of Middle East. So, they compared them to the contents with the scriptures such as Old Testament. After that, they arranged theories about the linguistic style and they come to opinions out of their theories that Old Testament is not purely a scripture. They believe that Muhammad s.a.w was inspired to organize a religion by the law of nations before such as the Israelite and others. They believe that king David wrote the Psalter under the influence of other nations' poetry which were older.

Christian clerics in Europe again were at temper as their authority were challenged although those who researched and inquired were also clerics of the Church organizations in Europe. Many people lose their faith and those who claim themselves as scholars and intelligent feel ashamed or insecure to be associated with religion. This is what happen nowadays.

Those who researched found that everything that risen from their opinion and criticisms were in conflict with religion. All of these things shows that religion and "science" as what they understood are two different things. However, if we discreetly observe; there is no such thing as clear conflicts between religion and science. What had been in conflict is actually the scientists and the religious clerics.  It was the conflicts between scholars and their "former" Church clerics. More over, when the Church clerics were firm with literal meanings of scripture and holding fast with exegesis or lectures that they inherited since early times. These clerics refused to research as they were not educated like those scholars. While in the same time, the clerics were those who controlled the countries while scholars had no influence at all. Because of this, there were oppression and enforcement. Example for this, Galileo Galilei was forced by the Roman Catholic Church Holy authority to leave his blasphemous opinion that the Earth is round and it circulates the Sun.

My situation... I was not good in academics in formal schools because I could not understand why there are separations in subjects of sciences and religious studies. I was more inclined toward Sharia studies but I was not totally a narrow-minded religious studies student. My ancestors were all of Islamic religious background but since we were looked down upon and badly humiliated in our intellectual grasp so I turned to Buddhism and initiated as a public follower of lord Buddha with white string. I almost entering Buddhist monastic community since I secretly studied Buddhism, Brahmanism and Yogic views intensely and it was Allah who brings me back when I tried to make up my mind (suicide attempt), hehe. I was told that those who are specialized in Islamic studies would end up as poor religious teachers in villages and living a dull-life before going to die. While those who studied "sciences" as per in science streams would be successful, could easily find jobs and survive in the future industrial world. So I kind of feel detest with the life and disappointed. When I finished my master classes now though my thesis is still in progress, I could see all which had been told with me with bird eyes view. How could people who tell us those things were so sure what will happen in the future and they were also "believing" in something just like religious people.

Finally, the boundless authority of the Church was demolished by the Church itself. Europe enters its period of Reformation and followed by the Renaissance. The Church would not easily changing its freezing attitude if it is asked to change from inside. So, the schism happened among European Christians. The Roman Catholic Church members who disagree with the narrow-mindedness of Church high authority splitting themselves from the Church and forming Protestant groups of Christians. Because of the "science", the Church became a battle field where the "science" won. The Church is neglected due to the loathe toward it. Churches in Europe and its maintainers who were the monks and priests were made antique decorations where they are prohibited to meddle with "science and knowledge". And their specific place is only in the churches. 

People becoming more and more ashamed with them selves if they are religious. Religion is viewed as a symbol of narrow mindedness, not cool, primitive, awkward and fanaticism. Some people are just rejecting religion for them selves because they think that they are so intelligent and could not be defeated with whatever arguments. Some others are proud to claim them selves as Freethinkers. And if there are people who go to church, it is only customary for them. There are no "soul" in it nor spirit of faith anymore.       

In Europe, the Europeans were with the attitude as mentioned above. However in the Orient, they are different in their colonies. The French who are famous with their Revolution, their pride with Voltaire who had cast out religion of their daily life but were also active in Christian mission activities. Just take a look at Vietnam. I read few Catholic mission books in my late maternal grandparents' house and there are also French missions mentioned in them. My late maternal grandpa was a village mosque imam.

They developed a neutral education system to weaken the religious spirit in their colonial land citizens selves. In the same time, they had approved Christian missions to spread Christianity in the lands. In neutral and mission schools, they had produces Asian and African children who also begin to feel that they are pure intellectuals like the Europeans. It is because they also do not care about their religion say if they are of Muslim family, then they do not care about it anymore. Just like the Europeans who do not care about Christianity which had took its root for hundreds of years in European continent. From Western Europe, the influence of this "science" extending its wave to Eastern lands. From the Netherlands to the Dutch East India (modern Indonesian Islands). They believe that religion is an obstacle toward "modernism" and it is not suitable for intellectualism. Eastern people would be modern nations if they leave behind their native religion.

The first people, those in Western Europe talked about the history track that they had gone through. While the Easterners namely Asians and Africans talk like parrots who only follows their masters. In this case, the Western Europeans who are also human. This also happens in our country. I experienced being treated badly by these secondary type of people. Last time I was so sad and feel so low. But now not anymore, dear brothers and sisters. I just look at them as pitiful and marginalized. If beloved brothers and sisters could grab what I mean as pitiful (pathetic) here, hahaha. Hope brothers and sisters enjoy reading and spend holidays wisely. I don't know how to make writings look interesting but I just write anything that I feel.

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace and love, amin!